Mapping Habitat Connectivity and Climate Refugia in Headwater Ecosystems to Support Amphibian Conservation

Forests of the Pacific Northwest have experienced substantial change over the last century, due to a legacy of resource extraction, changes in forest management practices, and the growing impacts of climate change. Within these forests exists an extensive network of headwater streams, which supply cold, clean water downstream and provide habitat for 52 amphibian species. Many of these amphibians also depend on the cool, moist microclimates in the riparian areas adjacent to streams created by these forests. However, the combined legacy of timber harvest, continued land-use change, and ongoing environmental change pose a challenge for resource managers seeking to develop conservation strategies for amphibians and other aquatic species at risk of extinction.

This project aims to address these management challenges by identifying and characterizing climate refugia — areas of suitable habitat that species can occupy because they remain relatively buffered from variable climatic conditions. These refugia can be used to guide conservation strategies for sensitive species. Collaborating closely with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and a Technical Advisory Group of regional resource managers, the project team will analyze and map the current and future distribution and availability of climate refugia in headwater-stream ecosystems that can be used to identify areas that are critical for maintaining habitat connectivity into the future. Collaborative field work lead by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be conducted to validate modeling approaches and outcomes.