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Researching amphibian numbers in Alberta (RANA) : 2005 provincial summary

Description

The Researching Amphibian Numbers in Alberta (RANA) program was initiated in 1997 in response to the global decline of amphibians and aims to establish long-term amphibian population and... More ≫

Description

The Researching Amphibian Numbers in Alberta (RANA) program was initiated in 1997 in response to the global decline of amphibians and aims to establish long-term amphibian population and distribution data while increasing public awareness of the importance of amphibians and their wetland habitat. This report summarizes results from the 2005 field season of the RANA program and presents amphibian population trends from the history of the program.

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Researching amphibian numbers in Alberta (RANA) : 2004 provincial summary

Description

Field data collection for the Researching Amphibian Numbers in Alberta (RANA) program was initiated in 1997 in response to the global decline of amphibians. RANA has two primary objectives: to... More ≫

Description

Field data collection for the Researching Amphibian Numbers in Alberta (RANA) program was initiated in 1997 in response to the global decline of amphibians. RANA has two primary objectives: to collect long-tenn data on amphibian species populations in Alberta, and to provide public education on the importance of amphibians and wetland conservation. This document is a compilation of 2004 field results from the six existing RANA sites at Kananaskis (Bow Valley), Hinton (Athabasca Valley), Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Saskatoon Island Provincial Park, and Manook Biological Research Station near Athabasca.

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Researching amphibian numbers in Alberta (RANA) : 2003 provincial summary

Description

Field data collection for the Researching Amphibian Numbers in Alberta (RANA) program was initiated in 1997 in response to the global decline of amphibians. RANA has two primary objectives: to... More ≫

Description

Field data collection for the Researching Amphibian Numbers in Alberta (RANA) program was initiated in 1997 in response to the global decline of amphibians. RANA has two primary objectives: to collect long-tenn data on amphibian species populations in Alberta, and to provide public education on the importance of amphibians and wetland conservation. This document is a compilation of 2003 field results from the six existing RANA sites at Kananaskis (Bow Valley), Hinton (Athabasca Valley), Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Saskatoon Island Provincial Park, and Manook Biological Research Station near Athabasca.

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Western (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and eared (Podiceps nigricollis) grebes of central Alberta : 2004 field summary

Description

The information presented in this report represents the findings from the second year of surveying western and eared grebes within the Stony Plain study area in Alberta. The surveys are projected... More ≫

Description

The information presented in this report represents the findings from the second year of surveying western and eared grebes within the Stony Plain study area in Alberta. The surveys are projected to span a five year period and the project is designed to monitor population trends and reproductive success of western grebes and eared grebes within the Stony Plain study area. In 2004, surveying effort was focused on the primary western and eared grebe populations identified in the previous years of this project. Ground nest surveys were conducted after the nesting period, the results of which were used to derive a total breeding adult population estimate. In addition, surveys were initiated in the Parkland region in 2004, to identify waterbodies that supported potential western grebe breeding colonies.

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Long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) conservation in the Alberta foothills : 2002 field summary report

Description

Long-toed salamanders are small, cryptic, nocturnal, forest-dwelling salamanders whose range is at its northern limit in Alberta, where they are largely restricted to river valleys in the Rocky... More ≫

Description

Long-toed salamanders are small, cryptic, nocturnal, forest-dwelling salamanders whose range is at its northern limit in Alberta, where they are largely restricted to river valleys in the Rocky Mountain foothills. Long-toed salamanders are listed as a species of "Special Concern" in Alberta. In 2001, a longtoed salamander monitoring program was introduced, placing emphasis on surveying ponds known to contain breeding salamander populations as well as surveying new ponds for presence of salamanders. In 2002, this program was expanded and this report looks at the results of this expanded program.

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Researching amphibian numbers in Alberta (RANA) : 2002 provincial summary

Description

Field data collection for the Researching Amphibian Numbers in Alberta (RANA) program was initiated in 1997 in response to the global decline of amphibians. RANA has two primary objectives: to... More ≫

Description

Field data collection for the Researching Amphibian Numbers in Alberta (RANA) program was initiated in 1997 in response to the global decline of amphibians. RANA has two primary objectives: to collect long-tenn data on amphibian species populations in Alberta, and to provide public education on the importance of amphibians and wetland conservation. This document is a compilation of 2002 field results from the five existing RANA sites at Kananaskis (Bow Valley), Hinton (Athabasca Valley), Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park, Saskatoon Island Provincial Park, and Manook Biological Research Station near Athabasca.

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Western (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and eared (Podiceps nigricollis) grebes of central Alberta : 2002 field summary

Description

The information presented in this report represents the findings from the second year of surveying western and eared grebes within the Stony Plain study area in Alberta. The surveys are projected... More ≫

Description

The information presented in this report represents the findings from the second year of surveying western and eared grebes within the Stony Plain study area in Alberta. The surveys are projected to span a five year period and the project is designed to monitor population trends and reproductive success of western grebes and eared grebes within the Stony Plain study area. In 2002, surveying effort was focused on the primary grebe populations identified in the initial year of the project. The regional population of western grebes was estimated to be approximately 2611 adults on six lakes. The Wabamun Lake colony continues to show signs of poor nesting success, which we now believe to be attributed to high rates of corvid nest depredation. This is a major concern since this colony is ranked nationally significant. Eared grebes were found on 10 lakes, for a conservative overall population estimate of 8633 adults.

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Western (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and eared (Podiceps nigricollis) grebes of central Alberta : inventory, survey techniques, and management concerns

Description

This project focused on western grebes and eared grebes inhabiting the Stony Plain area, which is within the Parkland and Boreal natural regions of central Alberta. These grebe species have a wide... More ≫

Description

This project focused on western grebes and eared grebes inhabiting the Stony Plain area, which is within the Parkland and Boreal natural regions of central Alberta. These grebe species have a wide distribution across western and central North America, yet indications are that they may be declining and could become threatened over the long-term. Relatively little research and monitoring attention has been directed toward these species. To address some of these concerns, surveys were conducted to locate grebe colonies, estimate population sizes, and assess their reproductive success. Various survey methods were also developed, tested, and evaluated, thereby providing a framework for future surveys. In doing so, trend data can now be gathered for western and eared grebes, which will enable local and regional status assessment. Management implications are also provided in this report.

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Long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) monitoring study in Alberta : summary report 1998-2001

Description

Long-toed salamanders are listed as “sensitive” in Alberta due to isolated and discontinuous populations, limited breeding range, and vulnerability to habitat change. There are several known... More ≫

Description

Long-toed salamanders are listed as “sensitive” in Alberta due to isolated and discontinuous populations, limited breeding range, and vulnerability to habitat change. There are several known breeding areas in Alberta, all of which have been the subject of inventory. Variation in protocol makes it difficult to compare populations between years and study sites, and identify possible population trends. However, there has been a trend to discovering more breeding ponds with increased survey effort. There are a number of threats to long-toed salamander populations, primarily due to alteration or destruction of breeding ponds, and direct disturbances in shoreline areas, such as cattle and human activities, which destroy eggs. This document is an account of study results at each of the breeding areas, including considerations for continued monitoring, management and conservation.

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Protocol for monitoring long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) populations in Alberta

Description

This document is intended as a guide for studying long-toed salamanders, with emphasis on survey techniques and long-term monitoring. Egg surveys are recommended as the best method by which to... More ≫

Description

This document is intended as a guide for studying long-toed salamanders, with emphasis on survey techniques and long-term monitoring. Egg surveys are recommended as the best method by which to identify salamander presence, unless water turbidity limits visibility. Egg surveys can also be used as an indirect way to track population trends over time. Larvae searches can be used as an ancillary method to search for presence, but tend to be less reliable because larvae are mobile and cryptic. Capture methods include pitfall and minnow trapping. Capturing adults is useful for gathering data on body parameters and general health, and is considered secondary to pond surveys. Mark-recapture is the only method by which to gather data on population size or relative abundance, although it is a long-term, time-consuming process that is confounded by the stochasticity inherent in amphibian populations. Long-term monitoring of known breeding ponds is necessary to understand population trends and...

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