Beaver Creation of AmphibianBreeding, Foraging, and Overwintering Habitat

Bryce A. Maxell

Interim Director / Senior Zoologist

Montana Natural Heritage Program

(406) 444-3655

bmaxell@mt.gov

http://mtnhp.org

Montana Wetland Council Meeting – January 6, 2011

Montana Amphibians & Reptiles that use Beaver Created Habitats

Complex Life Histories = Complex Use of Habitat

Breeding

ForagingWintering

•Managers Need to Consider Full Triangle of Habitats Required and Migration Corridors

Importance of Lentic Site Structure to Amphibian Habitat

nativeoverwintering

nativebreeding/foraging

• Powerpoint overview of Montana’s amphibian and reptile species, including identification, habitat use, site occupancy rates, and Maxent and CART model outputs: http://mtnhp.org/animal/presentations/060709_MT_Herps_ID_Status_files/frame.htm

• MT Amphibian and Reptile Status Assessment, Literature Review, and Conservation Plan: http://mtnhp.org/reports/Amphibian_Reptile_Conservation_Plan.pdf

• Montana Field Guide http://fieldguide.mt.gov/

Links to Resources on Montana’s Amphibians and Reptiles

Issues of Concern-Fish introduction-Piscicides-Bullfrogs-Water impoundments-Pest/Herbicides and Fertilizers-Heavy metals / mining-Loss of beaver

Columbia Spotted Frog(Rana luteiventris)

Habitat UseBreeding: -Temporary or permanent waters with emergent vegetation

Foraging: -Aquatic margins and nearby terrestrial habitats Overwintering: -Deeper permanent water bodies and streams

Migration: -Individuals are known to migrate up to 1.5 kilometers between foraging and breeding areas and disperse more than 7 kilometers

Elevation: -Approximately tree line

Migration

Breeding

ForagingWintering

Mig

ratio

n

Migration

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000

Elevation (M)Survey: N = 3,422; Min = 652 M; Max = 3,475 MDetection: N = 811; Min = 652 M; Max = 2,956 M

Per

cen

t o

f S

ites

wit

h B

reed

ing

Elevation Distribution

From Maxell (2009)

Issues of Concern-Regional Declines-Pathogens-Local population viability?-Roads-Exotic species-Grazing-Pest/Herbicides and Fertilizers

Northern Leopard Frog(Rana pipiens)

Migration

Breeding

ForagingWintering

Mig

ratio

n

Migration

Habitat UseBreeding: -Usually more permanent waters with emergent vegetation, but some ephemeral sites may be used

Foraging: -Aquatic margins and nearby terrestrial habitats Overwintering: -Deeper permanent water bodies and streams

Migration: -Individuals are known to migrate at least 1 kilometer between foraging and breeding areas and disperse up to 8 kilometers

Elevation: -Up to 6,700 ft

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%

600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000

Elevation (M)Survey: N = 1,546; Min = 613 M; Max = 2,615 MDetection: N = 205; Min = 680 M; Max = 1,199 M

Per

cen

t o

f S

ites

wit

h B

reed

ing

Elevation Distribution

From Maxell (2009)

Western Painted Turtle

Breeding

Foraging Wintering

Site Origins

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12

Strata

Pe

rce

nt

of

Sit

es

Beaver

Depressional

Human

Water

Funk et al. 2005. Population structure of Columbia Spotted Frogs (Rana luteiventris) is strongly affected by the landscape. Molecular Ecology 14:483-496.

Issues of Gene Flow

Amish, S.J. 2006. Ecosystem engineering: beaver and the population structure of Columbia Spotted Frogs in western Montana. M.S. Thesis. University of Montana, Missoula, MT. 82 pp. + appendices

Beaver and Population Structure of Columbia Spotted Frogs

• Beaver occupied watersheds had four times as many lentic and breeding sites as non-beaver watersheds

• Frog breeding sites were more evenly distributed across the elevation gradient in beaver occupied watersheds

• Beaver occupied watersheds showed higher levels of genetic connectivity (i.e. less genetic divergence between breeding sites and overall higher levels of genetic diversity)

Lentic Site Differences

Differences inPopulation Structure

Beaver, Willow, and Cattle Grazing in the Big Hole Valley1942 2005

…one old male beaver, whom we fondly named "Geronimo,'" was dropped again and again on the flying field. Each time he scrambled out of the box, someone was on hand to pick him up. Poor fellow!  He finally became resigned, and as soon as we approached him, would crawl back into his box ready to go aloft again. You may be sure that "Geronimo" had a priority reservation on the first ship into the hinterland, and that three young females went with him. Even there he stayed in the box for a long time after his harem was busy inspecting the new surroundings. However, his colony was later reported as very well established.  In the fall of 1948, 76 live beavers were dropped with only one casualty.

Heter, E. W. 1950. Transplanting beavers by airplane and parachute. Journal of Wildlife Management 14:143-147.

Cost of Transplanting 4

Upcoming Webinars On Heritage Data Resources

Title:                 Overview of MT Natural Heritage Program Data ResourcesDate:                Tuesday January 25th, 1-2 p.m.  Instructor:         Bryce Maxell, bmaxell@mt.gov Title:                 Wetland Data ResourcesDate:                Tuesday February 15th, 1-2 p.m.Instructor:         Linda Vance, livance@mt.gov Title:                 Using the Natural Heritage Map Viewer and Tracker

Applications to access animal, plant, species occurrence, land cover, and stewardship data

Date:                Wednesday February 23rd, 1-2 p.m.Instructor:         Allan Cox, acox@mt.gov

http://mtnhp.org