Status of the Relict Leopard Frog and Plans for Future Management

Authors: Ross D. Haley, Jef R. Jaeger, Rebeca Rivera, Michael Burroughs, Jon C. Sjoberg, Michael J. Sredl

Year: 2016 (xlviii)

Abstract

By the late 20th century, Rana (Lithobates) onca was restricted to eight historical sites in two areas of southern Nevada, with an estimated 1100 frogs in existence. Speculation on the causes for population declines focused on loss or degradation of habitat, introduction of predators, and epizootic disease. The species was petitioned for listing in 2002, with the U.S. Fish and Wild life Service (USFWS) determining that listing was warranted but precluded by higher priorities. Prior to the petition, an interagency and volunteer conservation team had formed and was already conducting management actions. By 2005, the team had developed a formal conservation agreement and strategy (CAS). Management actions have predominately focused on monitoring populations, establishing new, experimental populations, and conducting small-scale projects to improve, maintain or create habitat. Under multidistrict litigation, the USFWS recently conducted a Species Status Assessment and once again, chose not to list the species. We summarize more than a decade of management actions conducted under the CAS, and describe stressors and threats. Since systematic management began, remnant historical populations have been monitored and maintained and translocation efforts have established R. onca at numerous experimental sites. Overall, management actions have substantially increased the number of sites occupied by R. onca, and monitoring indicates an increasing trend in relative abundance and a modest overall increase in global population size. The CAS was a 10 year multi-agency agreement which expired in July of 2015. A new agreement has been drafted and submitted for agency review and signature to facilitate and guide management actions for the next 10 years.