Publications

Long-toed salamander occupancy trends in the Kananaskis

Description

The Alberta Wild Species General Status Listing (GOA 2010) classifies the long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) as Sensitive because the distribution may be declining due to vulnerability... More ≫

Description

The Alberta Wild Species General Status Listing (GOA 2010) classifies the long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) as Sensitive because the distribution may be declining due to vulnerability to habitat alteration associated with industrial, recreational, and transportation development. This report provides an update on the population trends of long-toed salamanders in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis area.

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Analysis of researching amphibian numbers in Alberta (RANA) project : amphibian captures at pitfall trapping sites 1997-2008

Description

Declines in amphibian populations at local, regional and global scales have focused attention on this group of vertebrates. Of the 10 amphibian species in Alberta, seven are listed as "at risk" by... More ≫

Description

Declines in amphibian populations at local, regional and global scales have focused attention on this group of vertebrates. Of the 10 amphibian species in Alberta, seven are listed as "at risk" by provincial or federal agencies. In response to concern about amphibians populations, and a lack of amphibian monitoring in the province, the Researching Amphibian Numbers in Alberta (RANA) program was initiated in 1997 with two main objectives: to collect long-term information on amphibian populations, and to increase public awareness of the importance of amphibians and wetland conservation. Seven RANA sites were established in Alberta and monitored using pitfall trapping at a designated poind within each study area. This report presents an analysis of pitfall trapping data collected between 1997 and 2008.

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Occurrence and prevalence of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in amphibian species of Alberta

Description

Infectious diseases are one of a suite of factors implicated in the declines and extinctions of amphibians worldwide. One such disease, chytridiomycosis, is caused by the chytrid fungus... More ≫

Description

Infectious diseases are one of a suite of factors implicated in the declines and extinctions of amphibians worldwide. One such disease, chytridiomycosis, is caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Chytrid fungus was discovered in Alberta in 1999 from necropsies of several specimens of boreal toads and northern leopard frogs collected near Caroline. In late 2006, a pilot-study was conducted to determine whether Bd was present at northern leopard frog sites in southern Alberta. The detection of Bd at multiple sites, and in a provincially Threatened species, led to the expansion of Bd surveillance to other areas of the province, and to other amphibian species between 2007 and 2010. The results, reported in this study, provide a base-line for the occurrence and prevalence of Bd in Alberta. This information is required for the effective conservation and management of a broad suite of amphibian species, many of which are of high conservation concern in Alberta.

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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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Distribution and habitat associations of the long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) in the Oldman River drainage

Description

Long-toed salamanders are designated as Sensitive in Alberta due to their occurrence in patchy, isolated populations, and their vulnerability to habitat destruction or alteration. The objectives... More ≫

Description

Long-toed salamanders are designated as Sensitive in Alberta due to their occurrence in patchy, isolated populations, and their vulnerability to habitat destruction or alteration. The objectives of this study were: to increase knowledge of the distribution of long-toed salamanders in southwest Alberta; to merge data derived from seven independent amphibian surveys in southwest Alberta; and to characterize habitat/occurrence associations for long-toed salamanders in southwest Alberta, focusing on their distribution relative to introduced fishes. Results of a simulated pond experiment that examined the effects of various predators on long-toed salamanders are also presented. Results of this project provide improved understanding of long-toed salamander habitat requirements, specifically the effects of non-native fishes on long-toed salamanders. Recommendations include continued long-toed salamander surveys, environmental monitoring, aquatic habitat restoration, and effective...

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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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Columbian Mountain amphibian surveys, 2001

Description

An amphibian survey of breeding habitat in the montane and subalpine subregions of the Oldman, Crowsnest and Castle River drainages was carried out in 2001. The survey was designed to collect... More ≫

Description

An amphibian survey of breeding habitat in the montane and subalpine subregions of the Oldman, Crowsnest and Castle River drainages was carried out in 2001. The survey was designed to collect information on occurrence of breeding ponds for long-toed salamander and Columbia spotted frog, and also provided information on western toad and tiger salamander. Threats to subalpine and montane amphibian populations were identified. They included fish stocking, loss of wetlands, degradation and loss of terrestrial habitat, and all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) use in breeding ponds. Project recommendations include long-term monitoring with a repeat of this survey in 5 years, establishment of a Researching Amphibian Numbers in Alberta (RANA) site in the Castle drainage, maintenance of buffers around breeding ponds, rerouting of ATV trails, and research on long-toed salamanders in fish bearing vs. nonfish-bearing ponds.

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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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