Beaver Creation of AmphibianBreeding, Foraging, and Overwintering Habitat
Bryce A. Maxell
Interim Director / Senior Zoologist
Montana Natural Heritage Program
(406) 444-3655
http://mtnhp.org
Montana Wetland Council Meeting – January 6, 2011
Montana Amphibians & Reptiles that use Beaver Created Habitats
Complex Life Histories = Complex Use of Habitat
Breeding
ForagingWintering
•Managers Need to Consider Full Triangle of Habitats Required and Migration Corridors
Importance of Lentic Site Structure to Amphibian Habitat
nativeoverwintering
nativebreeding/foraging
• Powerpoint overview of Montana’s amphibian and reptile species, including identification, habitat use, site occupancy rates, and Maxent and CART model outputs: http://mtnhp.org/animal/presentations/060709_MT_Herps_ID_Status_files/frame.htm
• MT Amphibian and Reptile Status Assessment, Literature Review, and Conservation Plan: http://mtnhp.org/reports/Amphibian_Reptile_Conservation_Plan.pdf
• Montana Field Guide http://fieldguide.mt.gov/
Links to Resources on Montana’s Amphibians and Reptiles
Issues of Concern-Fish introduction-Piscicides-Bullfrogs-Water impoundments-Pest/Herbicides and Fertilizers-Heavy metals / mining-Loss of beaver
Columbia Spotted Frog(Rana luteiventris)
Habitat UseBreeding: -Temporary or permanent waters with emergent vegetation
Foraging: -Aquatic margins and nearby terrestrial habitats Overwintering: -Deeper permanent water bodies and streams
Migration: -Individuals are known to migrate up to 1.5 kilometers between foraging and breeding areas and disperse more than 7 kilometers
Elevation: -Approximately tree line
Migration
Breeding
ForagingWintering
Mig
ratio
n
Migration
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000
Elevation (M)Survey: N = 3,422; Min = 652 M; Max = 3,475 MDetection: N = 811; Min = 652 M; Max = 2,956 M
Per
cen
t o
f S
ites
wit
h B
reed
ing
Elevation Distribution
From Maxell (2009)
Issues of Concern-Regional Declines-Pathogens-Local population viability?-Roads-Exotic species-Grazing-Pest/Herbicides and Fertilizers
Northern Leopard Frog(Rana pipiens)
Migration
Breeding
ForagingWintering
Mig
ratio
n
Migration
Habitat UseBreeding: -Usually more permanent waters with emergent vegetation, but some ephemeral sites may be used
Foraging: -Aquatic margins and nearby terrestrial habitats Overwintering: -Deeper permanent water bodies and streams
Migration: -Individuals are known to migrate at least 1 kilometer between foraging and breeding areas and disperse up to 8 kilometers
Elevation: -Up to 6,700 ft
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
20%
600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000
Elevation (M)Survey: N = 1,546; Min = 613 M; Max = 2,615 MDetection: N = 205; Min = 680 M; Max = 1,199 M
Per
cen
t o
f S
ites
wit
h B
reed
ing
Elevation Distribution
From Maxell (2009)
Western Painted Turtle
Breeding
Foraging Wintering
Site Origins
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12
Strata
Pe
rce
nt
of
Sit
es
Beaver
Depressional
Human
Water
Funk et al. 2005. Population structure of Columbia Spotted Frogs (Rana luteiventris) is strongly affected by the landscape. Molecular Ecology 14:483-496.
Issues of Gene Flow
Amish, S.J. 2006. Ecosystem engineering: beaver and the population structure of Columbia Spotted Frogs in western Montana. M.S. Thesis. University of Montana, Missoula, MT. 82 pp. + appendices
Beaver and Population Structure of Columbia Spotted Frogs
• Beaver occupied watersheds had four times as many lentic and breeding sites as non-beaver watersheds
• Frog breeding sites were more evenly distributed across the elevation gradient in beaver occupied watersheds
• Beaver occupied watersheds showed higher levels of genetic connectivity (i.e. less genetic divergence between breeding sites and overall higher levels of genetic diversity)
Lentic Site Differences
Differences inPopulation Structure
Beaver, Willow, and Cattle Grazing in the Big Hole Valley1942 2005
…one old male beaver, whom we fondly named "Geronimo,'" was dropped again and again on the flying field. Each time he scrambled out of the box, someone was on hand to pick him up. Poor fellow! He finally became resigned, and as soon as we approached him, would crawl back into his box ready to go aloft again. You may be sure that "Geronimo" had a priority reservation on the first ship into the hinterland, and that three young females went with him. Even there he stayed in the box for a long time after his harem was busy inspecting the new surroundings. However, his colony was later reported as very well established. In the fall of 1948, 76 live beavers were dropped with only one casualty.
Heter, E. W. 1950. Transplanting beavers by airplane and parachute. Journal of Wildlife Management 14:143-147.
Cost of Transplanting 4
Upcoming Webinars On Heritage Data Resources
Title: Overview of MT Natural Heritage Program Data ResourcesDate: Tuesday January 25th, 1-2 p.m. Instructor: Bryce Maxell, [email protected] Title: Wetland Data ResourcesDate: Tuesday February 15th, 1-2 p.m.Instructor: Linda Vance, [email protected] Title: Using the Natural Heritage Map Viewer and Tracker
Applications to access animal, plant, species occurrence, land cover, and stewardship data
Date: Wednesday February 23rd, 1-2 p.m.Instructor: Allan Cox, [email protected]
http://mtnhp.org