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Journal ArticleDOI

Distribution and Conservation Of Plethodon Salamanders On Federal Lands In Siskiyou County, California

01 Mar 2008-Northwestern Naturalist (Northwestern Naturalist)-Vol. 89, Iss: 1, pp 1-9
TL;DR: This paper conducted surveys at randomly selected points within the range of the Scott Bar Salamander and the southern portion of the Siskiyou Mountains Salamander (P. stormi) to assess the relative role that these allocations play in the long-term persistence of Plethodon salamanders in this region.
Abstract: The Northwest Forest Plan is a large-scale ecosystem management plan that establishes a system of federal reserves interspersed with matrix forestlands where timber and other commodity production are given priority. Generally, management on reserved lands attempts to protect species associated with older forests. Whereas management in matrix lands emphasizes timber production, it maintains some protections for species associated with older forests. We conducted surveys at randomly selected points within the range of the Scott Bar Salamander (Plethodon asupak) and the southern portion of the range of the Siskiyou Mountains Salamander (P. stormi). We conducted surveys on both reserved and matrix lands to assess the relative role that these allocations play in the long-term persistence of Plethodon salamanders in this region. At low elevations (<1219 m), the proportion of sample points with captures of Plethodon spp. was significantly higher in matrix lands than on reserved lands. However, the numbe...

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OtherDOI
01 Jan 2007

2 citations


Cites background from "Distribution and Conservation Of Pl..."

  • ...…aspects, darker-illumination indices, and precipitation patterns are three additional factors that can play dominant roles in microsite conditions for salamanders (see discussions in Nauman and Olson 2004b, Nauman 2005, Welsh et al. 2007, Reilly et al. in press, Suzuki and Olson in press)....

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  • ...…been addressed by: (1) observational studies recording conditions found at previously occupied sites (Bull et al. 2006, Farber 2007); (2) a Federal report which used a stratified random design to select survey sites (Nauman and Olson 2004b); and (3) a scientific publication (Welsh et al. 2007)....

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  • ...In general, these lands present better conditions for persistence of salamanders because they reside at lower elevations that receive more wet precipitation than higher elevation habitats (Nauman and Olson 2004b)....

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has developed an efficient system for inventory and evaluation of "elements-of-diversity" as discussed by the authors, which is used to identify stands that cumulatively encompass the full range of variation within each defined natural community type.

308 citations


"Distribution and Conservation Of Pl..." refers background in this paper

  • ...…has been a point of discussion in the US Pacific Northwest for over a decade and, although there are numerous desirable conservation attributes of large-scale reserves (Schwartz 1999), their utility is limited for rare species whose distributions do not coincide with reserved lands (Noss 1987)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The evidence in support of this shift toward larger scale conservation by contrasting the success of fine-filter (genes, populations, species) conservation and coarse-filter conservation is discussed in this paper.
Abstract: ▪ Abstract Over the past ten years the scientific basis for reserve selection and design have rapidly developed. This period has also been characterized by a shift in emphasis toward large spatial and organizational scales of conservation efforts. I discuss the evidence in support of this shift toward larger scale conservation by contrasting the success of fine-filter (genes, populations, species) conservation and coarse-filter (communities, habitats, ecosystems, landscapes) conservation. Conservation at both organizational scales has been successful and merits continued support, although fine-filter conservation is more straightforward. Ecological theory suggests that conservation at large scales is preferred. Despite this preference, both fine- and coarse-filter conservation objectives have been met by small reserves. In many landscapes there are no opportunities for the conservation of native species diversity that encompass a large spatial scale. Thus, reserve selection at any organizational scale may...

243 citations


"Distribution and Conservation Of Pl..." refers background in this paper

  • ...…has been a point of discussion in the US Pacific Northwest for over a decade and, although there are numerous desirable conservation attributes of large-scale reserves (Schwartz 1999), their utility is limited for rare species whose distributions do not coincide with reserved lands (Noss 1987)....

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Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2000
TL;DR: Analysis of geographic protein variation in two closely related complexes of southern Appalachian woodland salamanders shows that there are 16 genetically divergent groups within the P. glutinosus complex and all were recognized taxonomically as separate species.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analyze geographic protein variation in two closely related complexes of southern Appalachian woodland salamanders. The Plethodon jordani complex is restricted to the southern Appalachian Mountains, and the P glutinosus complex is widely distributed in the eastern and central United States. When we began our allozyme studies on eastern Plethodon, both complexes were regarded as monophyletic and each was made the subject of a separate study. Each complex previously had been recognized as a single variable species, Plethodon glutinosus (Green,1818), and Plethodon jordani Blatchley (1901) (Hairston,1950; Highton,1962, Highton,1970, Highton,1972). Highton and MacGregor(1983) and Highton (1984, 1989), showed that there are 16 genetically divergent groups within the P. glutinosus complex and all were recognized taxonomically as separate species. Seven of these occur in the southern Appalachians and three, P. aureolus (Highton 1984); P. glutinosus, and P. teyahalee Hairston (1950), are sympatric at a site in Polk County, Tennessee, without evidence of hybridation (Highton 1984). Both complexes are geographically variable in coloration and size but most individuals are easily identified. Members of the P. glutinosus complex are characterized by the possession of dorsal white or brassy spotting (except in P. chattahoochee) and lateral white or yellow spotting. Salamanders of the P. jordani complex are characterized by usually lacking dorsal spotting, and, except for two groups, most populations lack lateral spotting.

120 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Survey and Manage Program of the Northwest Forest Plan represents an unparalleled attempt to protect rare, little-known species associated with late-successional and old-growth forests on more than 9.7 million ha of federal lands.
Abstract: The Survey and Manage Program of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) represents an unparalleled attempt to protect rare, little-known species associated with late-successional and old-growth forests on more than 9.7 million ha of federal lands. Approximately 400 species of amphibians, bryophytes, fungi, lichens, mollusks, vascular plants, arthropod functional groups, and one mammal were listed under this program because viability evaluations indicated the plan's network of reserve land allocations might not sustain the species over time. The program's standards and guidelines used an adaptive approach, protecting known sites and collecting new information to address concerns for species persistence and to develop management strategies. Since implementation in 1994, approximately 68,000 known sites have been recorded at an expense of several tens of millions of dollars. New knowledge from surveys reduced concern for nearly 100 species, and they were removed from the protection list. Although successful in protecting hundreds of rare species not typically considered in most conservation programs, some of the enacted conservation measures created conflicts in meeting other management objectives of the plan, particularly timber harvest. The program accrued important gains in knowledge, reduced uncertainty about conservation of a number of species, and developed new methods of species inventory that will be useful in future management planning and implementation at many scales. The program, however, was not completed because of changes in land-management philosophy. Ongoing litigation regarding its termination and potential changes to the plan cast further uncertainty on how the original goal of maintaining persistence of late-successional and old-growth species will be met and measured. The outcomes, controversies, and management frustrations of the program exemplify the inherent difficulties in balancing broad, regional conservation goals with social and economic goals of the NWFP. Defining acceptable trade-offs to reach that balance and developing practical conservation solutions remain challenges for the science and management communities. Lessons learned from the program provide a valuable biological and managerial reference to benefit future discussion on meeting those challenges.

64 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Phylogenetic relationships among haplotype groups differ in separate analyses of the genes but converge on a well‐supported topology, with P. elongatus and P. stormi as monophyletic sister taxa, in combined Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood analyses.
Abstract: Plethodon elongatus and P. stormi (Caudata: Plethodontidae) are Pacific Northwest endemic species which occur in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon. Studies on these salamanders have resulted in differing taxonomic conclusions, but the underlying historical hypotheses, at both inter- and intraspecific levels, have never been examined in a molecular framework. Here, representatives of 81 populations from throughout the range of both taxa are sequenced. Portions of three mitochondrial protein-coding genes (cytochrome b, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4, and ATPase 6) were sequenced. Four haplotype groups with nonoverlapping geographical ranges were recovered in separate and combined analyses of the data. One clade corresponds to the distribution of P. stormi, while the remaining three comprise P. elongatus. Phylogenetic relationships among haplotype groups differ in separate analyses of the genes but converge on a well-supported topology, with P. elongatus and P. stormi as monophyletic sister taxa, in combined Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood analyses. Population genetic analyses of mismatch distributions and Tajima's D-statistic are consistent with range expansion for the largest clade within P. elongatus, covering the northern two-thirds of the species range. In contrast, the P. stormi haplotype clade and the P. elongatus clade from the southern third of the species range may have been relatively stable. Morphological boundaries between P. elongatus and P. stormi are largely congruent with mitochondrial DNA breaks and continued treatment as sister taxa is supported. Although mitochondrial DNA haplotype groups may reflect historical separation within P. elongatus, genetic barriers are incongruent with intraspecific patterns of morphological variation.

50 citations


"Distribution and Conservation Of Pl..." refers background in this paper

  • ...1; Clade II in Mead and others 2005a; DeGross 2004; Mahoney 2004); While the range of this population is small and its geographic extent is poorly defined (DeGross 2004), occupancy rates and abundances appeared to be higher in the range of this lineage than in areas farther to the east....

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