Disappearance of the cascades frog Rana cascadae at the southern end of its range, California, USA

Fellers, Gary M.; Drost, Charles A.

doi:10.1016/0006-3207(93)90447-9

Cited by 145 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Presumably the widespread occurrence of Bd in our study has had an impact on local anurans, especially Rana, which have been involved in most of the declines in California (e.g., Fellers and Drost 1993;Drost and Fellers 1996;Vredenburg et al 2007). We have been conducting research on pond breeding amphibians in the Olema watershed since 1993 (Fellers et al 2001b;Shaffer et al 2004;Kleeman 2006, 2007), in part to evaluate population trends of amphibians, especially R. draytonii.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Comparing the Status of Two Sympatric Amphibians in the Sierra Nevada, California: Insights on Ecological Risk and Monitoring Common Species

Brown¹,

Wilkinson²,

Kiehl³

2014

Journal of Herpetology

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Abstract.-We found amphibian chytrid fungus (Bd = Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) to be widespread within a coastal watershed at Point Reyes National Seashore, California and within two high elevation watersheds at Yosemite National Park, California. Bd was associated with all six species that we sampled (Bufo boreas, B. canorus, Pseudacris regilla, Rana draytonii, R. sierrae, and Lithobates catesbeianus). For those species sampled at 10 or more sites within a watershed, the percentage of Bd-positive sites varied from a low of 20.7% for P. regilla at one Yosemite watershed to a high of 79.6% for P. regilla at the Olema watershed at Point Reyes. At Olema, the percent of Bd-positive water bodies declined each year of our study (2005)(2006)(2007). Because P. regilla was the only species found in all watersheds, we used that species to evaluate habitat variables related to the sites where P. regilla was Bd-positive. At Olema, significant variables were year, length of shoreline (perimeter), percentage cover of rooted vegetation, and water depth. At the two Yosemite watersheds, water depth, water temperature, and silt/mud were the most important covariates, though the importance of these three factors differed between the two watersheds. The presence of Bd in species that are not declining suggests that some of the amphibians in our study were innately resistant to Bd, or had developed resistance after Bd became established.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Comparing the Status of Two Sympatric Amphibians in the Sierra Nevada, California: Insights on Ecological Risk and Monitoring Common Species

Brown¹,

Wilkinson²,

Kiehl³

2014

Journal of Herpetology

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“…Based on historical accounts, museum records, and extensive searches at 16 historical sites. Fellers and Drost (1993) concluded that Cascades frog populations in northern California have exhibited a precipitous decline for more than 15 years. Causes of these losses may include drought conditions, fish introductions, pathogens (see Blaustein and others 1994b), and habitat loss.…”

Section: Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The biology of amphibians and reptiles in old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest.

Blaustein¹,

Beatty²,

Olson³

et al. 1995

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This file was created by scanning the printed publication. Text errors identified by the software have been corrected; however, some errors may remain. The amphibian and reptile fauna of older forest ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest includes several endemic species, species with unique behavioral and ecological characteristics, and species whose populations have been in decline in recent years. We review the biology of these species and include information oh their distinguishing characteristics, behavior, and ecology. Herpetofaunal associations with forest characteristics and the impact of habitat loss are addressed.Keywords: Amphibian, reptile, old-growth forest, Pacific Northwest, ecology. (Ehrlich 1988, McNeely and others 1990, Soule' 1986. A continual loss of biodiversity can have far-reaching ecological, economic, social, medical, and ethical consequences (for example, Green and Losos 1988, Oldfield 1984, Soule' 1986, Wilson 1988. Members of all taxonomic groups are affected, and threatened species exist in all the vertebrate classes.As part of the overall biodiversity crisis, several recent reports have suggested that many species within the vertebrate classes Amphibia and Reptilia are undergoing population declines and range reductions (Beebee 1992, Blaustein and Wake 1990, Blaustein and others 1994a, Phillips 1990, Vial and Saylor 1993. The declines of some species are especially perplexing because they are disappearing in areas of the world that are devoid of obvious habitat destruction, pollution, and exotic competitors or predators.Amphibians and reptiles are important components in many ecosystems. They can occupy key trophic positions in food webs of both aquatic and terrestrial systems. As adults, they can be top carnivores, and as larvae or juveniles, they may be the major food source of many other species including birds, mammals, fish, and invertebrates. In some forest ecosystems, amphibians may comprise the major component of the vertebrate biomass (for example, Burton and Likens 1975, Bury 1988). Moreover, under certain conditions, amphibians may be good "bioindicators" of environmental stress because of various aspects of their life histories, including their physiological and behavioral characteristics, morphogenetic patterns, and aspects of their population biology. The decline in amphibians may be an early warning signal that, ultimately, other organisms also may be in danger of decline and extinction.There is growing concern over the impact of potential losses in biodiversity in the Pacific Northwest, particularly in forest systems/The herpetofauna of these forests can reach relatively high densities and comprise the dominant component of faunal biomass (for example, Bury 1988). Additionally, some forest species are unique and extremely interesting, such as the giant salamanders (Dicamptodon species) which are thought to be the largest terrestrial salamanders, the tailed frog (Ascaphus truei) whose males have copulatory organs, the Cascades frog (R. cascadae) whose larvae may aggre...

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“…Resurveys of historic breeding sites in Michigan suggest that succession to closed-canopy conditions over a 30 yr period and associated hydrological changes due to succession may be a primary factor contributing to local extirpations of amphibian populations (Skelly et al, 1999). In the southern Cascade Mountains, the cessation of cattle grazing and fire suppression has resulted in loss of open flooded-meadow habitat which may be one of several factors contributing to the disappearance of Cascade's frog (Rana cascadae) in northern California (Fellers and Drost, 1993). The loss of breeding habitat from encroachment of shrubs into seepage bogs in the southeastern U.S. may be responsible for declines of the threatened Pine Barrens treefrog (Means and Moler, 1979).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire and amphibians in North America

Pilliod

Bury²,

Hyde³

et al. 2003

Forest Ecology and Management

151

139

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Information on amphibian responses to fire and fuel reduction practices is critically needed due to potential declines of species and the prevalence of new, more intensive fire management practices in North American forests. The goals of this review are to summarize the known and potential effects of fire and fuels management on amphibians and their aquatic habitats, and to identify information gaps to help direct future scientific research. Amphibians as a group are taxonomically and ecologically diverse; in turn, responses to fire and associated habitat alteration are expected to vary widely among species and among geographic regions.Available data suggest that amphibian responses to fire are spatially and temporally variable and incompletely understood. Much of the limited research has addressed short-term (1-3 yr) effects of prescribed fire on terrestrial life stages of amphibians in the southeastern United States.Information on the long-term negative effects of fire on amphibians and the importance of fire for maintaining amphibian communities is sparse for the high number of taxa in North America.Given the size and severity of recent wildland fires and the national effort to reduce fuels on federal lands, future studies are particularly needed to examine the effects of these landscape disturbances on amphibians. We encourage studies to address population-level responses of amphibians to fire by examining how different life stages are affected by changes in aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Research designs need to be rigorous and credible, yet provide information that is relevant for fire managers and those responsible for assessing the potential effects of various fuels reduction alternatives on rare, sensitive, and endangered amphibian species.

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Disappearance of the cascades frog Rana cascadae at the southern end of its range, California, USA

Cited by 145 publications

References 11 publications

Comparing the Status of Two Sympatric Amphibians in the Sierra Nevada, California: Insights on Ecological Risk and Monitoring Common Species

Comparing the Status of Two Sympatric Amphibians in the Sierra Nevada, California: Insights on Ecological Risk and Monitoring Common Species

The biology of amphibians and reptiles in old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest.

Fire and amphibians in North America

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