Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center In Cooperation with Mount Rainer National Park Inventory of Aquatic Breeding Amphibians, Mount Rainier National Park, 1994-1999 January 2003 Mount Rainier from Eunice Lake. (NPS Photo) U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Inventory of Aquatic Breeding Amphibians, Mount Rainier National Park, 1994-1999 By Torrey J. Tyler1 C. David McIntire2 Barbara Samora3 Robert L. Hoffman4 Gary L. Larson5 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1 U.S. Geological Survey Western Fisheries Research Center 6937 Washburn Street Klamath Falls, OR 97603 2 Department of Botany and Plant Pathology Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331 3 National Park Service Mount Rainier National Park Tahoma Woods Star Route Ashford, WA 98304 4 College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences Oregon State University 104 Oceanography Administration Building Corvallis, OR 97331 5 U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center 777 NW 9th Street, Suite 400 Corvallis, OR 97330-6169 Corvallis, Oregon 2003 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Gail Norton, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names is this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S.Geological Survery For additional information and outreach write Copies of this report can be purchased to: from: U.S. Geological Survery U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center Information Services 777 NW 9th St. Box 25286 Suite 400 Federal Center Corvalis, OR 97330-6169 Denver, CO 80225 II TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... III List of Figures............................................................................................................................... IV List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. V List of Appendix I ........................................................................................................................VII List of Appendix II .................................................................................................................... VIII List of Appendix III ...................................................................................................................... IX Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................... X Executive Summary........................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3 Study Area ................................................................................................................................ 4 Amphibian Records .................................................................................................................. 4 Methods .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Site Selection and Survey Timing ............................................................................................ 5 Water Sample Collection .......................................................................................................... 5 Alkalinity, Conductivity, Water Temperature, and pH ............................................................. 6 Dissolved Oxygen Concentration (DO) and Temperature Profiles .......................................... 6 Water Turbidity and Transparency Measurements ................................................................... 6 Fish Presence ............................................................................................................................ 7 Lentic Amphibian Transects ..................................................................................................... 7 Lentic Amphibian Techniques .................................................................................................. 7 Lotic Amphibian Transects .......................................................................................................8 Lotic Amphibian Techniques .................................................................................................... 9 Database Structure and Analyses.............................................................................................. 9 Lentic Structure .................................................................................................................. 9 Lentic Analysis .................................................................................................................10 Lotic Structure .................................................................................................................. 11 Lotic Analysis ................................................................................................................... 12 Results .......................................................................................................................................... 13 Description of Lentic Sites and Species ................................................................................. 13 Lentic Species Cluster Analysis ............................................................................................. 14 Ordination of Lentic Sites and Species................................................................................... 15 Lentic Environmental Cluster Analysis .................................................................................. 15 Principle Components Analysis of Lentic Environmental Variables...................................... 15 Correlation Analyses Among Lentic Species and Environmental Variables .......................... 16 Lentic Fishless and Fish Habitats ........................................................................................... 16 Description of Lotic Sites and Species ................................................................................... 16 Lotic Cluster Analysis ............................................................................................................ 17 PCA Ordination of Lotic Sites Relative to Life History Stages of Ascaphus......................... 18 Correlation Analysis of Lotic Species and Environmental Variables ..................................... 18 Discussion..................................................................................................................................... 19 Lentic Surveys ........................................................................................................................ 19 Cascades Frog, (Rana cascadae) ...................................................................................... 20 Northwestern Salamander, (Ambystoma gracile) ............................................................. 21 Long-toed Salamander, (Ambystoma macrodactylum) ..................................................... 21 Rough-skinned Newt, (Taricha granulosa) ...................................................................... 21 III TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued ) Discussion—Lentic Surveys (continued) Pacific Treefrog, (Hyla regilla) ........................................................................................ 21 Western Toad, (Bufo boreas) ............................................................................................ 21 Lotic Surveys .......................................................................................................................... 22 Tailed Frog, (Ascaphus truei) ........................................................................................... 23 Giant Salamander, (Dicamptodon sp.)............................................................................. .23 Northwestern Salamander, (Ambystoma gracile) ............................................................. 24 Cascades Frog, (Rana cascadae) ..................................................................................... .24 Red-legged Frog, (Rana aurora) ...................................................................................... 24 Recommendations for Future Monitoring .............................................................................. 24 Survey Method ....................................................................................................................... 25 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................. 27 Appendix I. Lentic Data ............................................................................................................... 45 Appendix II. Lotic Data ................................................................................................................ 72 Appendix III. Species Distribution Maps ..................................................................................... 89 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1a. Detrended correspondence analysis of proportional abundance of six amphibian species observed at 205 lentic sites during a 1994-1999 survey of Mount Rainier National Park revealed amphibian abundance gradients by site ordination (a) and by species