Oregon Spotted Frog Active
The Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) is a medium-sized anuran native to the northwestern United States. Body coloration ranges from brown or tan to brick red, usually overlaid with dark, ragged spots. Oregon spotted frogs can be distinguished from other native species by their relatively short hind legs, orange or red wash of color on underside of abdomen and legs, and upturned chartreuse eyes. They are associated with freshwater marshes and lakes where they breed in early spring in warm emergent vegetated shallows. The Oregon spotted frog is highly aquatic and reliant on connected seasonal habitats for breeding, summer foraging, and overwintering.
Oregon spotted frogs once occurred from southwest British Columbia to northeastern California. They appear to be lost from California and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Hypothesized reasons for their decline include habitat loss and alteration, invasive predators and competitors, and water quality degradation. Most of known populations are currently located along the Cascade Range in central Oregon. The Oregon spotted frog was listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2014.
USGS Research – Status and Trends, Threat Assessments
The USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC) is the Pacific Northwest hub for the US Department of Interior’s Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI). Over the past 15 years, biologists in Dr. Michael Adams’s laboratory at FRESC have monitored occupancy patterns, abundance, and population demography to better understand the status of Oregon spotted frog in Oregon. Through a combination of observational, experimental, and modeling techniques, researchers examine relationships between Oregon spotted frog population trends and habitat variables to understand factors contributing to Oregon spotted frog declines.
USGS and partners have also evaluated interagency efforts to translocate Oregon spotted frogs. Long-term monitoring of relocated populations through mark-recapture efforts allows researchers to estimate probabilities of site colonization or extinction, as well as survival and growth rates for different sexes and life stages. This information can help managers plan for future translocations by understanding the underlying causes for a project’s success or failure.
USGS researchers disseminate their findings on Oregon spotted frog conservation to the public through various modes, including formal Oregon spotted frog status reports, peer-reviewed journal publications, and the popular media.
The Herpetology Lab works with a variety of academic, non profit, and federal and state agency partners. Results are disseminated in a variety of ways, including peer-reviewed journal publications, scientific meetings, public presentations, and the popular media.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Widespread occurrence of the chytrid fungus batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on oregon spotted frogs (rana pretiosa)
Range-wide phylogeographic analysis of the spotted frog complex (Rana luteiventris and Rana pretiosa) in northwestern North America
Demography and movement in a relocated population of Oregon Spotted Frogs (Rana pretiosa): Influence of season and gender
Occurrence of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the Pacific Northwest
Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) movement and demography at Dilman Meadow: Implications for future monitoring
Feeding behavior and aquatic habitat use by Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa) in central Oregon
Asymmetrical effects of introduced Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) on native Ranid Frogs in Oregon
- Overview
The Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) is a medium-sized anuran native to the northwestern United States. Body coloration ranges from brown or tan to brick red, usually overlaid with dark, ragged spots. Oregon spotted frogs can be distinguished from other native species by their relatively short hind legs, orange or red wash of color on underside of abdomen and legs, and upturned chartreuse eyes. They are associated with freshwater marshes and lakes where they breed in early spring in warm emergent vegetated shallows. The Oregon spotted frog is highly aquatic and reliant on connected seasonal habitats for breeding, summer foraging, and overwintering.
Oregon spotted frogs once occurred from southwest British Columbia to northeastern California. They appear to be lost from California and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Hypothesized reasons for their decline include habitat loss and alteration, invasive predators and competitors, and water quality degradation. Most of known populations are currently located along the Cascade Range in central Oregon. The Oregon spotted frog was listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2014.
USGS Research – Status and Trends, Threat Assessments
The USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC) is the Pacific Northwest hub for the US Department of Interior’s Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI). Over the past 15 years, biologists in Dr. Michael Adams’s laboratory at FRESC have monitored occupancy patterns, abundance, and population demography to better understand the status of Oregon spotted frog in Oregon. Through a combination of observational, experimental, and modeling techniques, researchers examine relationships between Oregon spotted frog population trends and habitat variables to understand factors contributing to Oregon spotted frog declines.
USGS and partners have also evaluated interagency efforts to translocate Oregon spotted frogs. Long-term monitoring of relocated populations through mark-recapture efforts allows researchers to estimate probabilities of site colonization or extinction, as well as survival and growth rates for different sexes and life stages. This information can help managers plan for future translocations by understanding the underlying causes for a project’s success or failure.
USGS researchers disseminate their findings on Oregon spotted frog conservation to the public through various modes, including formal Oregon spotted frog status reports, peer-reviewed journal publications, and the popular media.
The Herpetology Lab works with a variety of academic, non profit, and federal and state agency partners. Results are disseminated in a variety of ways, including peer-reviewed journal publications, scientific meetings, public presentations, and the popular media.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
- Data
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
- Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 19Widespread occurrence of the chytrid fungus batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on oregon spotted frogs (rana pretiosa)
The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been associated with amphibian declines in multiple continents, including western North America. We investigated Bd prevalence in Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa), a species that has declined across its range in the Pacific Northwest. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of skin swabs indicated that Bd was prevalent within populations (420 of 6AuthorsC.A. Pearl, J. Bowerman, M.J. Adams, N.D. ChelgrenRange-wide phylogeographic analysis of the spotted frog complex (Rana luteiventris and Rana pretiosa) in northwestern North America
The dynamic geological and climatic history of northwestern North America has made it a focal region for phylogeography. We conducted a range-wide phylogeographic analysis of the spotted frog complex (Rana luteiventris and Rana pretiosa) across its range in northwestern North America to understand its evolutionary history and the distribution of clades to inform conservation of R. pretiosa and GreAuthorsW.C. Funk, C.A. Pearl, H.M. Draheim, M.J. Adams, T.D. Mullins, S. M. HaigDemography and movement in a relocated population of Oregon Spotted Frogs (Rana pretiosa): Influence of season and gender
We used five years of recapture data and Bayesian estimation to assess seasonal survival, movement, and growth of Oregon Spotted Frogs (Rana pretiosa) relocated into created ponds at Dilman Meadow in Oregon, USA. We evaluate hypotheses specific to the relocation and elucidate aspects of R. pretiosa life history that are poorly known. The odds of survival of relocated individuals during the first yAuthorsN.D. Chelgren, C.A. Pearl, M.J. Adams, J. BowermanOccurrence of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the Pacific Northwest
Chytridiomycosis (infection by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) has been associated with amphibian declines in at least four continents. We report results of disease screens from 210 pond-breeding amphibians from 37 field sites in Oregon and Washington. We detected B. dendrobatidis on 28% of sampled amphibians, and we found ??? 1 detection of B. dendrobatidis from 43% of sites. Four of sAuthorsC.A. Pearl, E. L. Bull, D. E. Green, J. Bowerman, M.J. Adams, A. Hyatt, W.H. WenteOregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) movement and demography at Dilman Meadow: Implications for future monitoring
From 2001 to 2005, we studied the demography and seasonal movement of Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa) translocated into created ponds in Dilman Meadow in central Oregon. Our objectives were to inform future monitoring and management at the site, and to elucidate poorly known aspects of the species’ population ecology. Movement rates revealed complementary use of sites seasonally, with one smaAuthorsNathan D. Chelgren, Christopher A. Pearl, Jay Bowerman, M. J. AdamsFeeding behavior and aquatic habitat use by Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa) in central Oregon
No abstract available.AuthorsChristopher A. Pearl, Jay Bowerman, Donnie KnightAsymmetrical effects of introduced Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) on native Ranid Frogs in Oregon
Introduced American Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) have become widely established in the Pacific Northwest over the last century and are thought to be an important predator of native amphibians throughout the western United States. The Northern Red-Legged Frog (Rana aurora aurora) and Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) historically coexisted in portions of the Pacific Northwest now invaded by R. caAuthorsC.A. Pearl, M.J. Adams, R.B. Bury, B. McCreary