Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Wildlife Habitat Relationship

Transcription

1 Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Wildlife Habitat Relationship ID 2647 Model Name SWReGAP Taxa code (ITIS) Scientific Nam Common Name Created By Date Sensitive Data Bufo microscaphus southwestern toad bdeitner 9/27/2004 2:44:48 PM Last Modified By J Judson Wynne Date 7/21/ :35:51 AM Model Descriptio Background Please refer to first paragraph for description on modeling this species. This model will require special development considerations. First, two models using elevation should be devleoped. Elevational range identified for Arizona is meters and elevational range for NM is This will require developing models based upon the elvational correlate only, and hten joining the two maps to form an elevation base map. Secondly, to best incorporate permanent streams and riparian vegetation, model should be developed by developing two models -- one with hydrology only, the other with vegetation only. Distribution Stebbins (1985) describes distribution as ranging from southern Nevada to southern Durango, Mexico, and also from coastal southern California to northwest Baja California, occurring in many isolated populations. The western populations are currently regarded as a distict species, the Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus). In New Mexico, the species is known from Catron, Grant, and Sierra, and Socorro counties, and is common along the rivers and lakes of the Gila and San Francisco river drainages (Degenhardt et al. 1996). Price and Sullivan (1988) described the distribution as a series of isolated populations along the Mogollon Plateau of SW New Mexico to the Colorado and Virgin River basins in NW Arizona, S Nevada, and SW Utah. Recorded in SW Utah at Zion National Park (Nowak et al. 2002, Wauer 1964) and SE Utah at Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument (Oliver 2003). Wauer (1964) described it as abundant in side canyons of Zion Canyon, but rare in Zion Canyon itself, and occurring below the rim of the plateau. Recent range extensions in Arizona include Pinto Creek at Forest Road 287, the first record on the south side of Roosevelt Lake (Seim 1994), and Clear Creek at Hamilton Crossing, which extended the range 10 km further downstream from Mack s Crossing (Sullivan 1993) and suggests they may be more widespread in drainages north of the Mogollon Rim (DeMarais and Waters 1994). Schwaner and Sullivan (in press) state that current distribution is likely similar to historic distribution, except that in some areas of Arizona and southern Nevada they are being replaced by Thursday, July 21, 2005 Page 1 of 6

2 Woodhouse s toads. Identifying HUCs "possible" was necessary due to the differences between actual species range and the articulation of HUCs within the project area. If range extended greater than or equal to half of the HUC, it was considered "Known" range. If range extended into less than half the HUC, it was considreed "Possible" range. Therefore, to retain this distinction in range, the "possible" category should be included. Published distribution maps A generalized rangewide distribution map is found in Stebbins (1985). A combination generalized and dot map is presented in Price and Sullivan (1988). Dot maps for Arizona are found in Sullivan (1993) and Sullivan and Lockwood (1994). Sullivan and Lockwood (1994) contains associated locality data. A dot map for New Mexico is presented in Degenhardt et al. (1996). Habitat (general) Stebbins (1985) describes the species as occurring in washes, streams and arroyos in semiarid parts of the southwest, including sandy banks grown to willows, cottonwoods, or sycamores, and also in rocky streams in the pine-oak belt in Arizona and New Mexico. Sweet (1992, cited in Schwaner and Sullivan in press) listed habitat for similar arroyo toads in California as sandy marginal zones or terraces with a mixture of dense willow and open flats of flood channels within 100 m of the stream, and also adjacent terraces of cottonwood and live oak. In New Mexico, Bufo microscaphus is usually associated with permanent ponds and rocky streams with shallow water flowing over sandy or rocky bottoms, usually in unaltered riparian areas where the vegetation is sycamore or cottonwood within grasslands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and ponderosa pine forests (Degenhardt et al. 1996). As opposed to most other true toads (Bufo) in New Mexico, this species is less likely to occupy agricultural fields, irrigation ditches, or broad river bottoms (Degenhardt et al. 1996). In Arizona, Lowe (1964) described the habitat as being rocky stream canyons and floodplains in Arizona Upland desertscrub and evergreen woodlands of the Mogollon Rim. More recently, Price and Sullivan (1988) described habitat in Arizona as relatively shallow permanent or intermittent flowing water over sandy or rocky substrates, from desert to pine-fir forest. In contrast to Degenhardt et al. (1996), Price and Sullivan (1988) state that artificial habitats, such as irrigated cropland and reservoirs, are increasingly utilized. Wauer (1964) described habitat in Zion National Park as being very shallow streams. In the Flagstaff area (i.e. upper Oak Creek Canyon drainage), occurs in running water within pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine forest (Aitchison and Tomko 1974). Jones (1988) recorded the following habitats for Bufo microscaphus: Ponderosa Pine Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Closed Chaparral, Desert Grassland, Mixed Broadleaf Riparian, Cottonwood-Willow Riparian, Juniper / Mixed Shrub Woodland, Mesquite Bosque / floodplain woodland Vegetation Vegetation seems relatively unimportant, as the species seems to occupy mid elevation streams of particular water and substrate characteristics within numerous vegetation zones within its range (see habitat). Schwaner and Thursday, July 21, 2005 Page 2 of 6

3 Sullivan (in press) list cottonwood, willow, and seep willow as common plants found in lower elevation riparian areas used by southwestern toads. Sweet (1992, cited in Schwaner and Sullivan in press) listed habitat for similar arroyo toads in California as sandy marginal zones or terraces with a mixture of dense willow and open flats of flood channels within 100 m of the stream, and also adjacent terraces of cottonwood and live oak. Substrate Usually associated with rocky or sandy stream bottoms (see habitat). Jones (1988) recorded the species from rocky sites, with permanent water at all sites. Water Usually associated with permanent ponds and rocky streams with shallow water flowing over sandy or rocky bottoms (Degenhardt et al. 1996). Breeds at the edges of streams or shallows, backwashes, and side pools where flow is minimal (Schwaner and Sullivan in press). Dahl et al. (2000, cited in Schwaner and Sullivan in press) found toads in Oak Creek, Utah to select areas with numerous side pools and warmer daytime water temperatures, possibly created by a reduction in canopy cover of tall trees in these areas. Jones (1988) recorded the species from rocky sites, with permanent water at all sites. Special habitat features See water and substrate (above). Elevational range Stebbins describes the species (including Bufo californicus) as occurring from near sea level to around 6000 ft (1830 m) in the U.S. (and up to 8500 ft/2590 m in Mexico). However, Price and Sullivan (1988) describe the overall range (including Mexico) as from about m. In New Mexico, occurs from m (Degenhardt et al. 1996). Painter (NMHERP 1996) suggests this species occurs within the Gila/San Francisco drainages; small areas of Rio Grande drainage, Socorro and Sierra Counties; riparian areas ca ' elev." Elevational range identified for Arizona is meters and elevational range for NM is Due to the degree of variation between the lower elevational bounds for Arizona and New Mexico, two models should be independently developed to incorporate this geographic variation in the elevation correlate. Model Development Key features of habitat within the species range appear to be streams that are relatively shallow, and rocky or sandy substrates (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Lowe 1964, Price and Sullivan 1988). Streamside vegetation is typically willow or cottonwood, with surrounding vegetation ranging from grasslands and Arizona Upland desertscrub to Ponderosa Pine forest (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Lowe 1964, Price and Sullivan, 1988). Sources differ on the tendency of this species to use artificial habitats such as reservoirs and irrigated fields (cf. Degenhardt et al and Price and Sullivan 1988). Jones (1988) recorded the following habitats for Bufo microscaphus: Ponderosa Pine Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Closed Chaparral, Desert Grassland, Mixed Broadleaf Riparian, Cottonwood-Willow Riparian, Juniper / Mixed Shrub Woodland, Mesquite Bosque Thursday, July 21, 2005 Page 3 of 6

4 / floodplain woodland. Sources specific to the Southwest GAP area list elevation range as 900 m (based on record south of Roosevelt Lake; Seim 1994) to 2700 m (Degenhardt et al. 1996, for NM). Level of Knowledge (1-5) Distribution: 5. Habitat: 5 Description Changes Relationships Elevation ; Slope Min Precipitation Temperature Soil Depth Aspect Landform Distance to Water Soil associations Mountain Ranges Ecological System 0-60m from Permanent Streams S094 North American Warm Desert Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland S097 North American Warm Desert Riparian Woodland and Shrubland S098 North American Warm Desert Riparian Mesquite Bosque S118 Great Basin Foothill and Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland D04 Invasive Southwest Riparian Woodland and Shrubland Citations Aitchison, S.W. and D.S. Tomko 1974 Amphibians and reptiles of Flagstaff, Arizona Plateau 47(1): Degenhardt, William G., Charles W. Painter, and Andrew H. Price 1996 Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 429 pages Jones, K.B 1988 Distribution and habitat associations of amphibians and reptiles in Arizona: comparisons by ecosystem Pp in Management of Amphibians, Reptiles, and Small Mammals in North America. U.S. Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rpt. RM-166, Fort Collins, Colorado Thursday, July 21, 2005 Page 4 of 6

5 Lowe, C.H 1964 The amphibians and reptiles of Arizona In The Vertebrates of Arizona. Pages In C.H. Lowe (editor). University of Arizona Press, Tucson Stebbins, R.C 1985 A Field Guide to western reptiles and amphibians, second edition, revised Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Mass. 336 pages Aitchison, S.W. and D.S. Tomko 1974 Amphibians and reptiles of Flagstaff, Arizona Plateau 47(1): Blair, A.P 1955 Distribution, variation, and hybridization in a relict toad (Bufo microscaphus) in southwest Utah American Museum Novitates 1722: 1-38 Dahl, A., M.P. Donovan and T.D. Schwaner 2000 Egg mass deposited by Arizona toads, Bufo microscaphus, along a narrow canyon stream Western North American Naturalist 60: DeMarais, S. and D. Waters 1994 Bufo microscaphus microscaphus geographic distribution Herpetological Review 25(4): 159 Nowak, E.M., T.B. Persons, R. Platenberg, and T. Graham 2002 First-year results for herpetofauna inventories of southern and northern Colorado Plateau National Parks Report to northern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring network. USGS Colorado Plateau Field Station, Flagstaff, Arizona Price, A.H. and B.K. Sullivan 1988 Bufo microscaphus Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles: Schwaner, T.D., and B.K. Sullivan. (In Press) 0 Bufo microscaphus In M.J. Lannoo, editor. Status and Conservation of U.S. Amphibians. Volume 2: Species Accounts. University of California Press, Berkeley Seim, S.G 1994 Bufo microscaphus microscaphus geographic distribution Herpetological Review 25(1): 32 Sullivan, B.K 1993 Distribution of the southwestern toad (Bufo microscaphus) in Arizona Great Basin Naturalist 53(4): Sullivan, B.K. and C. Lockwood 1994 Distribution and status of the Arizona toad, Bufo microscaphus microscaphus Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix Sweet, S.S 1992 Initial report on the ecology and status of the arroyo toad (Bufo microscaphus californicus) on the Los Padres National Forest of southern California, with management recommendations U.S.D.A. contract report, U.S. Forest Service, Goleta, California Wauer, R.H 1964 Reptiles and Amphibians of Zion National Park Zion Natural History Association Painter, C. and L. Pierce 1996 NMHerp database and General process to produce expected range shapefiles of New Mexico amphibians and reptiles. Shapefiles and document produced to provide range and elevation estimates for NM amphibians and reptiles. Internal report. Pps. 66. Painter, C. and L. Pierce 1996 NMHerp database and General process to produce expected range shapefiles of New Mexico amphibians and reptiles. Shapefiles and document produced to provide range and elevation estimates for NM amphibians and reptiles. Internal report. Pps. 66. Oliver, G.V Amphibians and repitiles of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: distribution, abundance and taxonomy Utah Divison of Wildlife Resources. Final Report, February 2003 Thursday, July 21, 2005 Page 5 of 6

6 Oliver, G.V Amphibians and repitiles of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: distribution, abundance and taxonomy Utah Divison of Wildlife Resources. Final Report, February 2003 Oliver, G.V Amphibians and repitiles of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: distribution, abundance and taxonomy Utah Divison of Wildlife Resources. Final Report, February 2003 Blair, Kathleen 2005 Species list of the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge. Unpublished data. Thursday, July 21, 2005 Page 6 of 6