Demography, Habitat, and Movements of the Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana sierrae) in Streams

Brown, Cathy; Wilkinson, L.R.; Wilkinson, Kathryn K.; Tunstall, Tate; Foote, Ryan H.; Todd, Brian D.; Vredenburg, Vance T.

doi:10.1643/ce-19-196

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…In general, anurans show intraspecific variation in length of the larval period, but multiyear larval periods are relatively rare (Berven et al, 1979; Bury and Adams, 1999; Morrison and Hero, 2003; Brown et al, 2019). Intraspecific variation in larval period is likely a response to the interplay between fixed physical conditions and varying environmental conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Larval Life History of Coastal Tailed Frogs (Ascaphus truei) Across an Elevational Gradient in Northern California: Implications for a Changing Climate

Macedo,

Demianew,

Garwood

et al. 2023

Journal of Herpetology

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Coastal Tailed Frogs (Ascaphus truei) range across the Pacific Northwest from northern California, USA, into British Columbia, Canada, and from sea level to >2,131 m. Previous work has shown a variable larval period but has not clearly separated elevational from latitudinal effects. Therefore, we examined size at beginning of metamorphosis, larval period, individual growth rates, and timing of metamorphosis of A. truei populations along an elevational gradient from 152 to 2,131 m across a small latitudinal range (29 km) to reduce potential latitudinal effects, all within the Klamath Mountains of northern California. We sampled larvae at 15 study sites, of which we used 6 sites as intensive capture–mark–recapture (CMR) locations, and the other 9 for supplemental data on larval period and size at metamorphosis. In CMR sites, we individually marked tadpoles to determine within-season growth rates. We found that the A. truei larval period in these populations ranges from 2 yr in low and middle elevations to ‡3 yr in high-elevation populations. We also found decreased size at beginning of metamorphosis and increased growth rates of tadpoles with increasing elevation. Our high-elevation populations had the longest larval period documented in California. The associations of growth and timing of metamorphosis to elevation in A. truei populations suggest that responses to changing climate may differ across elevations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Larval Life History of Coastal Tailed Frogs (Ascaphus truei) Across an Elevational Gradient in Northern California: Implications for a Changing Climate

Macedo,

Demianew,

Garwood

et al. 2023

Journal of Herpetology

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“…Larger populations were found in intermittent creeks than in perennial streams in one study (Brown et al 2020). Further, frogs used varying microhabitats in diverse streams, preferred pools in three of four streams (Brown et al 2019), and preferred shallow, slow water which could be found in various geomorphic unit types (e.g., pools, riffles, cascades, Yarnell et al 2019). Here, we advance our understanding of R. sierrae habitat use in streams by explicitly modeling variation in habitat selection across temporal and spatial scales and by comparing habitat selection of wild and captive-reared frogs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Thus, while we have extensively quantified habitats at multiple scales (also Brown et al 2019), we suggest these relationships be used as guidance and not prescriptive, and caution against using simple habitat suitability cutoffs to make specific management and conservation decisions (Cecala et al 2018). While our results provide such guidance for identifying candidate reintroduction streams, we do not show data for breeding or overwintering habitats, two components critical for population persistence that warrant further study (Brown et al 2019). Importantly, our study suggests that release designs can be based on wild frog habitat preferences.…”

Section: Candidate Streams For Reintroductionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untangling multi‐scale habitat relationships of an endangered frog in streams to inform reintroduction programs

et al. 2021

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Successful reintroductions of endangered species rely on comprehensive knowledge of habitat requirements across spatial and temporal scales. To inform designs of reintroduction programs, we studied habitat selection of the federally endangered Sierra Nevada yellow‐legged frog (Rana sierrae) in streams in its northern range. We quantified multi‐scale habitat use across diverse streams, habitat types within streams, and seasonal flows. In one intermittent stream, we compared habitat selection between wild and captive‐reared frogs that were released as a population augmentation. We analyzed habitat selection of seasonal habitat unit types (e.g., pool, riffle, cascades) and dimensions, and microhabitat hydrology and cover. R. sierrae appeared able to meet its ecological requirements in a variety of habitats. Study streams ranged from third‐order perennial streams to first‐order intermittent headwater creeks. Perennial streams retained a variety of habitats across flows whereas intermittent streams dried to just a few pools. Frogs used all seasonal habitat types but selected deeper pools most often relative to available habitats in intermittent streams and selected riffles or showed no preference in perennial streams. Frogs avoided fast deep‐water microhabitats, but, otherwise, preferred flowing water or deeper water without flow. Our results suggest that diverse streams can be considered candidates for reintroductions. Within intermittent streams, deeper perennial pools may provide more stable release sites, whereas non‐pool habitats may be safer in perennial streams with fish. Importantly, captive‐reared frogs selected similar habitats as wild frogs, suggesting that captivity does not alter habitat selection behaviors post‐release and that reintroduction designs for this species can be based on wild frog preferences. By improving our understanding of how habitat use varies among different types of streams and differs seasonally in response to changing habitat conditions, our results inform the design of effective reintroduction programs for frogs in streams.

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“…By relying on genetic material, instead of phenotypic characteristics, the collection of eDNA has the potential not only to more accurately monitor the distribution of these two vulnerable amphibians, but also detect the fungus Bd that has impacted both species. The systems that these frogs inhabit vary in flow, mixing, size, and substrate (Brown et al, ) and pose unique challenges when creating an overall sampling plan. We investigated elements of efficient eDNA sampling protocols in situ at lotic and lentic sites occupied by the two target species and analyzed the impact of volume, temporal variation, filter type, and spatial arrangement of samples on detection rate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The systems that these frogs inhabit vary in flow, mixing, size, and substrate (Brown et al, 2019) and pose unique challenges when creating an overall sampling plan. We investigated elements of efficient eDNA sampling protocols in situ at lotic and lentic sites occupied by the two target species and analyzed the impact of volume, temporal variation, filter type, and spatial arrangement of samples on detection rate.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal patterns of environmental DNA detection to inform sampling protocols in lentic and lotic systems

Bedwell

Goldberg

2020

Ecology and Evolution

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The development of efficient sampling protocols for the capture of environmental DNA (eDNA) could greatly help improve accuracy of occupancy monitoring for species that are difficult to detect. However, the process of developing a protocol in situ is complicated for rare species by the fact that animal locations are often unknown. We tested sampling designs in lake and stream systems to determine the most effective eDNA sampling protocols for two rare species: the Sierra Nevada yellow‐legged frog (Rana sierrae) and the foothill yellow‐legged frog (Rana boylii). We varied water volume, spatial sampling, and seasonal timing in lakes and streams; in lakes we also tested multiple filter types. We found that filtering 2 L versus 1 L increased the odds of detection in streams 5.42X (95% CI: 3.2–9.19X) in our protocol, from a probability of 0.51–0.85 per technical replicate. Lake sample volumes were limited by filter clogging, and we found no effect of volume or filter type. Sampling later in the season increased the odds of detection in streams by 1.96X for every 30 days (95% CI: 1.3–2.97X) but there was no effect for lakes. Spatial autocorrelation of the quantity of yellow‐legged frog eDNA captured in streams ceased between 100 and 200 m, indicating that sampling at close intervals is important.

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Demography, Habitat, and Movements of the Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana sierrae) in Streams

Cited by 8 publications

References 40 publications

Larval Life History of Coastal Tailed Frogs (Ascaphus truei) Across an Elevational Gradient in Northern California: Implications for a Changing Climate

Larval Life History of Coastal Tailed Frogs (Ascaphus truei) Across an Elevational Gradient in Northern California: Implications for a Changing Climate

Untangling multi‐scale habitat relationships of an endangered frog in streams to inform reintroduction programs

Spatial and temporal patterns of environmental DNA detection to inform sampling protocols in lentic and lotic systems

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