Montana amphibian and reptile status assessment, literature review, and conservation plan
By: submitted to the following cooperators: Native Species Coordinator (Kristi DuBois), Aquatic Ecologist (Ann Carlson), Wetland Coordinator (Lynda Saul), Wildlife, Fisheries, and Threatened and Endangered Species Program Lead (Gayle Sitter), Research Zoologist (Stephen Corn) ; submitted by: Bryce A. Maxell, Paul Hendricks, M.T. Gates, and S. Lenard
Contributors: Hendricks, Paul, 1951-, author; Gates, M.T., author; Lenard, Susan, author; DuBois, Kristi; Carlson, Ann; Saul, Lynda; Sitter, Gayle; Corn, Stephen; Montana Natural Heritage Program; Montana. Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; United States. Forest Service. Northern Region; Montana. Department of Environmental Quality; United States. Bureau of Land Management. Montana State Office; Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
Published: 2009
Language: eng
Number of pages: 642
Subjects: Reptiles; Indicators (Biology); Habitat (Ecology); Wildlife conservation; Geographical distribution; Law and legislation; Amphibians
Description: This document summarizes a great deal of information on the distribution, status, and biology of  amphibians and reptiles known or thought to potentially inhabit Montana and is intended to  become a dynamic living document that can be updated on a regular basis from research  conducted in Montana or elsewhere. The document will be posted on the Montana Natural  Heritage Programs website at http://nhp.nris.state.mt.us/reports.asp as well as Montana Fish,  Wildlife, and Parks Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy website at  http://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/cfwcs/swg/planning.html  The document begins with taxonomic checklists for amphibians and reptiles that: (1) have been  documented as native species; (2) are potentially present as native species; (3) have been  documented as exotic species successfully reproducing in the state; (4) have been documented as  successfully reproducing in the state but for which there is uncertainty about their status as native  or exotic species; and (5) have been documented in the state but for which there is no evidence of  successful reproduction.  Presence and status ranks for amphibians and reptiles are then summarized for various land  management regions in Montana and background information is provided as to why species were  assigned these ranks and what the associated management implications are for each state,  federal, or tribal agency. Status ranks are described for Global Ranks (G ranks) assigned to  species by NatureServe and State Ranks (S ranks) assigned to species by the Montana Natural  Heritage Program because they are often used by federal and state agencies when they are  developing their own special status ranks for species they will give special protections or  considerations in land use planning. Status ranks and summaries of distribution and/or site  occupancy rates from recent amphibian inventory surveys are provided for: (1) Region 1  National Forests; (2) Bureau of Land Management Field Offices; (3) tribal reservations; (4) Fish,  Wildlife, and Parks Regions; and (5) National Wildlife Refuges or refuge complexes.  General habitat associations are then summarized in tables listing major habitat types and all of  the amphibian and reptile species that are typically found in these habitats.  Laws and regulations applicable to Montanas amphibians and reptiles are then summarized,  including federal laws and regulations, tribal regulations, portions of Montana Code Annotated  relevant to nongame and endangered species, and portions of Montana Code Annotated relevant  to importation, introduction, and translocation of wildlife.  A review of literature relevant to conservation of amphibians and reptiles includes sections on  (1) ecological function and importance of amphibians and reptiles, (2) amphibian and reptile  biology and disturbance regimes relevant to management, (3) risk factors relevant to the viability  of amphibian and reptile populations including: (a) global amphibian declines; (b) timber  harvest; (c) grazing; (d) fire and fire management activities; (e) nonindigenous species and their  management; (f) road and trail development and on- and off-road vehicle use; (g) development  and management of recreational facilities and water impoundments; (h) harvest and commerce;  and (i) habitat fragmentation and metapopulation impacts. This review is currently somewhat  biased toward amphibians, both because of the much higher recent concern over the status of  amphibians and because this literature review drew from previous efforts focused on amphibians.  Accounts for individual species then summarize what is known about the species distributition,  taxonomy, maximum documented elevation, habitat use and natural history, and conservation  status. Sections on identification of various life history stages and priority research and  management issues are also included. Finally, an attempt was made to compile a complete  bibliography of published and gray literature for each species in order to provide everyone easy  access to this information. These accounts are intended to be updated on a regular basis in order  to provide everyone access to the latest information.  A contact list for members of the Montana Amphibian and Reptile Working Group is included in  order to promote communication between agency biologists, resource managers, students,  researchers, and anyone interested in the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Montana.  An overview of the statewide inventory and monitoring program for amphibians and reptiles  provides background information on the sampling schemes used, methods used for surveys, and  the survey forms used for a variety of amphibian inventory work.  Watershed summaries for the lentic breeding amphibian and aquatic reptile surveys complete the  current version of this report in order to provide resource managers easy access to this  information. Georeferenced site photos associated with this inventory work have been posted on  the Montana Natural Heritage Programs TRACKER website which can be accessed at:  http://mtnhp.org  It is recommended that users of this document first use the tables at the beginning of the  document to identify management status, likelihood of a species presence in the area of interest,  and the complement of species that are typically found in each general habitat type. Users  should then examine individual species accounts in order gain a more thorough understanding of  a species distribution, status, resource needs, factors that may pose a threat to population  viability, and management actions that may mitigate these threats. Finally, users can review  results of field surveys contained in individual watershed reports or see up-to-date distribution  information for each species on the Montana Natural Heritage TRACKER website at:  http://mtnhp.org
Notes: "Last updated: 11 June 2009"

Cover title.

Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Suggested Citation; title: Acknowledgements; title: Table of Contents; title: Executive Summary; title: Checklist of Montana's Amphibian and Reptile Species; title: Presence and Status Ranks for Amphibians and Reptiles in Various Land Management Regions in Montana; title: General Habitat Associations for Amphibians in Montana; title: General Habitat Associations for Reptiles in Montana; title: Laws and Regulations Applicable to Amphibians and Reptiles in Montana; title: Review of Literature Relevant to the Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in General; title: Introduction to Species Accounts; title: Species Accounts for Species Documented in Montana; title: Species Accounts for Amphibian and Reptile Species Potentially Present in Montana; title: Contact Information for Montana's Amphibian and Reptile Working Group; title: Field Data Forms.