Biodiversity Guide - The Intertwine

appendix H Special Status Amphibians and Reptiles in the RegionH. Special Status Amphibians and Reptiles in the RegionStatusStateHeritageSpecies Federal WA OR Ranks Special Needs Limiting Factors Data Gaps Conservation ActionsAmphibians — SalamandersCloudedSalamander(Aneides ferreus)SV OR – S3 Forest habitats or burned areas.Require large decaying logs,especially Douglas fir.Limited range (occurs primarily inOregon). Loss of large logsHabitat relationships with burns;effects of fires on populations.Maintain large logs during forestmanagement activities.Oregon SlenderSalamander(Batrachosepswrightorum)SoC SU OR – S2S3 Late successional and secondgrowthforest where there areabundant mid to advanced decaystage,large-diameter Douglas firlogs and bark debris mounds at thebase of snags. Talus and lava fieldsthat retain moisture. Can clumptogether in groups to remain damp.Restricted range (only occurs inOregon); vulnerable to randomevents. Columbia River limitsdispersal. Require habitatcomplexity characteristic of oldgrowthand unmanaged youngerforests. High site fidelity forreproduction.Maternal care and life history.Habitat requirements. Effects ofhabitat fragmentation on generics.Improved survey methods.Maintain habitat with latesuccessional attributes suitable forthis species.Cope’s GiantSalamander(Dicamptodoncopei)SM SU OR – S2WA – S3S4Cold, fast-flowing, clear, permanentstreams in coniferous forests. Deepcobble and small boulder substratefor foraging and hiding. Rockystreambanks or in-channel logswith crevices for eggs and larvae.Limited range in Oregon. Rarely ornever metamorphose, so highlyvulnerable to channel dewateringand barriers; very small gill surfacearea, so sensitive to increases intemperature and sediment.Information on reproduction(maternal, care, number of clutchesper female per year). Frequencyof naturally occurring terrestrialindividuals.Maintain stream buffers to maintaincool water temperatures and waterclarity. Little or no sediment coatingor embedding rocky substrates.Replace culverts as needed toremove barriers in continuous,natural streambed and streambankhabitats.Dunn’sSalamander(Plethodondunni)SCOR – S4WA – S2S3Cool, moist, usually older forests,wet talus, seeps, and stream edges.Rare in WA. Populations maybe isolated by roads and forestfragmentation.Distribution in WA.Protect habitats. Targeted surveys.Larch MountainSalamander(Plethodonlarselli)SoC SS SV OR – S2WA – S3Basalt talus slopes of ColumbiaRiver Gorge and northern CascadeMountains. Adapted to welldrained,gravel to small cobblesizedtalus with significant amountsof fine litter and debris. Alsooccurs in late-successional forest,especially with gravel or fracturedrock in the soil.Specialized habitat. Presumed lowdispersal capability. Relatively smallclutch size. Pesticides or fertilizerscan affect salamanders and theirfood supply.Distribution and abundance.Reproduction and nesting ecology.Location of southern edge ofspecies range.Avoid disturbance of talus habitats(which can cause local extinctions);consider effects of potential grounddisturbingactivities. Avoid use ofpesticides adjacent to talus.229