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.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Title | Short-term effect of cattle exclosures on Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris) populations and habitat in northeastern Oregon |
| DOI | 10.1670/08-016R2.1 |
| Authors | M. J. Adams, Christopher Pearl, Brome McCreary, Stephanie Galvan, Stephanie J. Wessell, Wendy Wente, Chauncey W. Anderson, Allison B. Kuehl |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Journal of Herpetology |
| Index ID | 70199994 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Toxic Substances Hydrology Program |
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Michael J Adams
Supervisory Research Ecologist
Christopher A Pearl
Wildlife Biologist
Brome McCreary
Wildlife Biologist
Stephanie K Galvan
Ecologist/Science Data Coordinator
Chauncey Anderson
Hydrologist, Water-Quality Specialist
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Michael J Adams
Supervisory Research EcologistEmailPhoneChristopher A Pearl
Wildlife BiologistPhoneBrome McCreary
Wildlife BiologistEmailPhoneStephanie K Galvan
Ecologist/Science Data CoordinatorPhoneChauncey Anderson
Hydrologist, Water-Quality SpecialistEmailPhone