BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION A Petition to List All Populations of the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana muscosa and Rana sierrae) as Endangered under the California Endangered Species Act Photo © Todd Vogel CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, PETITIONER January 25, 2010 Petition to California Fish & Game Commission to List the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog as Endangered Center for Biological Diversity January 25, 2010 Notice of Petition For action pursuant to Section 670.1, Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR) and Sections 2072 and 2073 of the Fish and Game Code relating to listing and delisting endangered and threatened species of plants and animals. I. SPECIES BEING PETITIONED: Common Name: mountain yellow-legged frog (southern mountain yellow-legged frog and Sierra Nevada mountain yellow-legged frog) Scientific Name: Rana muscosa and Rana sierrae II. RECOMMENDED ACTION: List as Endangered The Center for Biological Diversity submits this petition to list all populations of the mountain yellow-legged frog in California the as endangered throughout their range in California, under the California Endangered Species Act (California Fish and Game Code §§ 2050 et seq., “CESA”). This petition demonstrates that the both the southern mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) and the Sierra Nevada mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana sierrae) clearly warrant listing under CESA based on the factors specified in the statute. III. AUTHOR OF PETITION: Name: Lisa Belenky, Senior Attorney, Center For Biological Diversity (with the assistance of Ellen Howard, B.A. EPO Biology, University of Colorado) Address: 351 California Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone: 415-436-9682 x 307 Fax: 415-436-9683 Email: [email protected] I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, all statements made in this petition are true and complete. Signature: Date: January 25, 2010 i Petition to California Fish & Game Commission to List the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog as Endangered Center for Biological Diversity January 25, 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 1 PROCEDURAL HISTORY......................................................................................................... 2 The CESA Listing Process and Standard For Acceptance of a Petition ................................. 3 1. POPULATION STATUS AND TRENDS .......................................................................... 4 A. R. sierrae................................................................................................................................5 B. R. muscosa.............................................................................................................................. 6 2. RANGE and DISTRIBUTION ............................................................................................... 8 A. Range Map B. Current Distribution, Rate of Loss, Extinction Prediction, and Habitat Condition ............... 9 (1) Historic Distribution ......................................................................................................... 10 (2) Current Distribution.......................................................................................................... 11 3. ABUNDANCE – Population Estimates & Changes............................................................. 12 A. Historic Population Declines ......................................................................................... 12 4. NATURAL HISTORY—Species Description, Biology, and Ecology ............................... 13 A. Description........................................................................................................................ 13 B. Taxonomy ......................................................................................................................... 15 C. Reproduction and Growth................................................................................................. 16 D. Movement ......................................................................................................................... 17 (1) Sierra Nevada Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog - R. sierrae ................................... 18 (2) Southern Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog - R. muscosa ......................................... 19 E. Feeding.............................................................................................................................. 20 F. Ecological Niche............................................................................................................... 20 G. Mortality ........................................................................................................................... 21 5. HABITAT REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................................. 21 6. FACTORS AFFECTING ABILITY TO SURVIVE AND REPRODUCE (species subspecies, and/or population)................................................................................................... 24 A. Present or Threatened Modification or Destruction of Habitat ........................................ 24 (1) Spread of Disease: Amphibian Chytrid Fungus ......................................................... 25 a. Chytrid and Mountain Yellow-Legged Frogs......................................................... 26 (2) Predation by Introduced Species: Trout Stocking ...................................................... 28 a. Studies of Trout Related Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Declines ............................. 29 b. Impacts of Trout Stocking on Sierran Ecosystems....................................................... 30 c. Trout Removal Studies ................................................................................................. 31 (3) Pesticides and Other Contaminants ............................................................................ 32 a. Pesticide Drift............................................................................................................... 32 b. Impacts of Pesticides on Amphibians........................................................................... 33 ii Petition to California Fish & Game Commission to List the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog as Endangered Center for Biological Diversity January 25, 2010 c. Impacts of Pesticides on Mountain Yellow-Legged Frogs........................................... 34 (4) Synergistic Effects from Multiple Threats..................................................................... 35 a. Combined Effects of Pesticides and Other Threats ................................................ 35 b. Introduced Trout and Disease ................................................................................. 36 (5) UV Radiation.................................................................................................................. 37 (6) Land Use Planning Impacts............................................................................................ 37 a. Fire and Fire Management...................................................................................... 37 b. Livestock Grazing................................................................................................... 38 c. Recreation ............................................................................................................... 40 d. Overexploitation ..................................................................................................... 41 (7) Water Pollution .............................................................................................................. 42 (8) Climate Change .......................................................................................................... 42 a. Hydrological Changes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains......................................... 42 b. Observed Effects on Amphibians .......................................................................... 43 c. Projected Changes in the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Range & Their Effects 43 B. Other Factors that may lead to extinction of the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog............ 44 7. NATURE, DEGREE, AND IMMEDIACY OF THREAT.................................................. 45 8. IMPACT OF EXISTING MANAGEMENT EFFORTS..................................................... 46 A. Federal Management Provides Insufficient Protection....................................................... 46 (1) Current Management Practices.................................................................................. 46 a. General Plans ...............................................................................................................46 b. National Forest Land Management Plans.................................................................... 47 B. State and Local Management Provides Insufficient Protection .......................................... 52 (1) California Department of Fish and Game Fish Stocking Programs............................... 52 C. Current Research on the Species....................................................................................... 54 (1) Sierra Nevada Monitoring Programs and Studies.......................................................... 54 a. California’s High Mountain Lakes Project .................................................................. 54 b. Sierra Nevada Amphibian Monitoring Program.........................................................