Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Oregon
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Oregon Project


Population monitoring of the Oregon Slender Salamander

January 2011 - December 2013


Personnel

Participating Agencies

  • Weyerhaueser Company
  • ODFW Conservation Strategy Implementation Grant

The Oregon Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps wrighti) is a forest-associated species geographically restricted to the Oregon Cascade Mountains. It has been strongly associated with late-successional forest and decaying down wood, and is considered "sensitive" throughout it's range. This species is small and sedentary, which likely makes them susceptible to timber harvest practices that would require individuals to relocate. Unfortunately much basic information on this species is lacking because of their cryptic behavior and difficulting detecting them with typical amphibian surveys, which also tend to destroy downed wood habitat. The objectives of this study are to design and implement surveys to determine occupancy and if possible population size, using techniques that do not negatively impact their habitat. We will also attempt to increase our understanding of this species' habitat needs and their response to forest management activities.

Research Publications Publication Date
Kroll, A.J., T.S. Garcia, J. Jones, K.M. Dugger, B. Murden, J. Johnson, S. Peterman, B. Brintz, and M. Rochelle. 2015. Evaluating Multi-level Models to Assess Occupancy State Responses of Plethodontid Salamanders. PLoS ONE 10(11): e0142903. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142903. November 2015