Short-term effect of cattle exclosures on Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris) populations and habitat in northeastern Oregon
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Abstract
Livestock grazing is a common land use across the western United States, but concerns have been raised regarding its potential to affect amphibian populations. We studied the short-term effects of full and partial livestock grazing exclosures on Rana luteiventris (Columbia Spotted Frog) populations using a controlled manipulative field experiment with pre- and posttreatment data (2002–2006). Despite a significant increase in vegetation height within grazing exclosures, we did not find treatment effects for egg mass counts, larval survival, or size at metamorphosis 1–2 years following grazing exclosure installation. Water samples taken in late summer showed concentrations of nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, and orthophosphate that were low or near detection limits across all ponds and years. The results of this experiment do not support a hypothesis that limiting cattle access to breeding ponds will help conserve R. luteiventris populations in our study area. Further research is needed to evaluate regional variation and long-term effects of grazing exclosures on R. luteiventrispopulations.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Short-term effect of cattle exclosures on Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris) populations and habitat in northeastern Oregon |
| Series title | Journal of Herpetology |
| DOI | 10.1670/08-016R2.1 |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 2009 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles |
| Contributing office(s) | Toxic Substances Hydrology Program |
| Description | 7 p. |
| First page | 132 |
| Last page | 138 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |