Redwood Reader

Threat to Amphibians Rising
L.A. Times Staff Writer Marla Cone
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fg-frogs15oct15,1,4990234.story?coll=la-news-environment
Amphibian declines have been discussed for quite some time. A new report points out the extent of the problems as well as lot of areas needing more studies.
More than 500 scientists efforts were included in the first global amphibian assessment, a three-year effort by researchers with IUCN — a conservation group — the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science of Conservation International and NatureServe, published online in Science Thursday. The reports tell a sad tale of extinctions and habitat degradation and loss as well as threats from chemicals, disease, parasites, invasive predators, thinning ozone layer, and global climate change but half of the declines are from unknown causes. Amphibians disappearing are not the only problem they are facing. Repeated reports of deformed amphibians continue to appear in news stories, and many of the same players mentioned above are suspected in these cases. One big concern is environmental estrogens, often a breakdown product of agricultural chemicals. This week it was reported male largemouth bass were laying eggs in the lower Potomac, regarded as relatively pollution free. Other stories tell of frog disappearances when trout were introduced in Sierra Nevada lakes. Most of the stories represent unintended consequences, as amphibians are rarely the focus of human activity.

“The report evaluated the status of all the 5,743 known species of amphibians and concluded that 1,856, or 32%, were critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable to extinction.
Too little is known about 1,300 others among the total to determine their status, but scientists believe that most of them also are in peril. That means that as many as 55% of all known species, more than 3,000, could be on the verge of extinction, plus scores that have yet to be identified. Only 359 are considered not threatened… Similar surveys have found species at risk to be 23% for mammals and 12% for birds.
In the U.S., 21% of known species are threatened or extinct. California has more threatened amphibians than any other state, Conservation International says, with 13 of the nation's 54. Many are in the higher Sierra Nevada, including Yosemite National Park.
Nine of 34 known extinctions have occurred since 1980 — the onset of what is considered an age of accelerated, unnatural extinction driven by human activities. An additional 113 species have not been seen recently in the wild and are probably extinct, according to the report's lead author, Simon Stuart.”

The Redwoods to the Sea region contains inconsistent reports of extent amphibian species across the various groups. Pacific Tree Frog, western Toad, California Slender Salamander, Rough Skinned Newt, Pacific Giant Salamander, and the Red-Legged Frog are listed in HRSP Interpretive Association. KRIS Mattole lists tailed frogs and southern torrent salamanders as indicators of prime habitat. They also say foothill yellow legged frogs are common, red-legged frogs are less capable indicators of habitat and that Pacific Giant salamanders were amazingly adaptable. http://www.krisweb.com/aqualife/amphib.htm.
KRIS Mattole makes it clear the tailed frog and southern torrent salamander are excellent indicator of watershed health as their tolerances are finer than even anadramous fish as far as sediment, streambed gravel, temperature, pools, shade and cover are concerned. They are the first indicators of disruption and probably a good indicator of recovery. In the sense of trying to accelerate recovery their return would be a measure of success. It seems, and is, more plausible to restore frog habitat pool by pool than coordinating watershed wide or even creek side projects. All the types of habitat improvement in the DFG Salmonid Habitat Restoration handbook benefit amphibians as well as fish. BLM Arcata Field Office lists no amphibians.
Salmon Creek Flora and Fauna, our neighbors and partners on Gilham Butte have their own website, with excellent information and great photos. Their list includes species not found but should be present, including both tailed frogs and southern torrent salamanders. Several of the salamanders I recognized seeing in the past but would never have found without this local guide, especially in and around old slash piles in headwater areas.
http://www.salmoncreekflora-fauna.org/Amphibians/amphibians.html#black%20Salamander.
Southern Torrent Salamander*
Del Norte Salamander*
Pacific Giant Salamander
North Western Salamander
Arboreal Salamander*
Clouded Salamander
Black Salamander
California Slender Salamander
Ensatina
Red-bellied Newt
Rough-skinned Newt
Tailed Frog*
Northern Red-legged Frog
Foot Hill Yellow-legged Frog
Pacific Treefrog
Bull Frog (introduced)
Western Toad