Treesearch

Terrestrial salamanders are integral components of forest ecosystems and the examination of their feeding habits may provide useful information regarding various ecosystem processes. We studied the diet of the Del Norte Salamander (Plethodon elongatus) and assessed diet differences between age classes, genders, and seasons. The stomachs of 309 subadult and adult salamanders, captured in spring and fall, contained 20 prey types. Nineteen were invertebrates, and one was a juvenile Del Norte Salamander, representing the first reported evidence of cannibalism in this species. Mites and ants...

Many anuran species exhibit oviposition site selection. Female selection of oviposition sites may influence the success of offspring and increase overall fitness (Resetarits 1996). Egg mass placement (location and attachment substrate) may be determined by a number of factors including detectability by predators, water velocity, risk of desiccation or flooding, and temperature (Stebbins and Cohen 1997). Some lentic breeding anurans do not always attach their egg masses to substrates (Briggs 1987; Olson 2005; Reaser and Pilliod 2005; Wind 2005), making them vulnerable to involuntary...

Monitoring the distribution, population size, and trends of declining species is necessary to evaluate their vulnerability to extinction. It is the responsibility of scientists to alert management professionals of the need for preemptive action if a species approaches imminent, regional extirpation. This is the case with Rana cascadae (Cascades Frog) populations near Lassen Peak. From 1993 to 2007, we conducted 1,873 amphibian surveys at 856 sites within Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lassen National Forest, California, USA. These surveys encompassed all R. cascadae habitats: ponds,...

We analyzed environmental relationships of the Siskiyou Mountains salamander, comparing attributes at the landscape, macro- and micro-environmental scales, and the three scales combined, to determine which attributes best predicted salamander presence. Separate analyses were conducted for sites on the north and south sides of the Siskiyou Mountains which basically divide Oregon and California. We sampled 239 randomly selected sites (163 north and 76 south of the Siskiyou Crest), each in ¡Ý 5 ha of relatively homogeneous forest or post-forest (clearcut) habitat, 75 m from edge, in 7x7 m...

Amphibian declines have been documented worldwide; however the vast majority are species associated with aquatic habitats. Information on the status and trends of terrestrial amphibians is almost entirely lacking. Here we use data collected across a 12-yr period (sampling from 1984–86 and from 1993–95) to address the question of whether evidence exists for declines among terrestrial amphibians in northwestern California forests. The majority of amphibians, both species and relative numbers, in these forests are direct-developing salamanders of the family Plethodontidae. We examined...

Wildfires burned approximately 300,000 hectares (750,000 acres) across southern California in the fall of 2003. Over 10 million dollars were spent on Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) treatments following these fires. To support the BAER efforts, we designed a comprehensive strategy with standardized protocols to evaluate the effectiveness of various erosion control techniques. Road treatments, to control runoff and protect the roadbed, were monitored using photo points. Hillslope treatments, to control runoff and surface erosion from the hillsides, were monitored using repeat photograp...

Trees make our cities more attractive and provide many ecosystem services, including air quality improvement, energy conservation, stormwater interception, and atmospheric carbon dioxide reduction. These benefits must be weighed against the costs of maintaining trees, including planting, pruning, irrigation, administration, pest control, liability, cleanup, and removal. We present benefits and costs for representative small, medium, and large deciduous trees and coniferous trees in the Northeast region derived from models based on indepth research carried out in the borough of Queens, New...

Silviculture is increasingly being applied in ways that go beyond traditional timber management objectives. Across the National Forest System, on other public lands, and increasingly on private lands as well, foresters are working with professional colleagues and landowners to develop innovative silvicultural prescriptions designed to meet diverse resource management objectives. Some of those innovations involve treatments, timing, or intensity that are not supported by published or ongoing research studies. This can lead to problems over time, especially if the treatments fail to achieve...

This study is the second in a series of studies to evaluate perceptions of USDA Forest Service law enforcement personnel of the roles, responsibilities, and issues entailed in their jobs. An e-mail survey was administered to the nine Forest Service special agents in charge (SACs) across the United States. All nine completed and returned the survey. Communication with others in the Forest Service was important to the SACs, as evidenced by their efforts to communicate at group meetings, their use of the phone and e-mail, talking face-to-face with others, and being available to communicate. A...

The density and development of deerbrush (Ceanothus integerrimus Hook. & Arn.), other shrubs, forbs, graminoids, and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws. var. ponderosa) seedlings were evaluated in a young plantation in northern California from 1988 through 1997. Treatment regimes consisted of manual release (grubbing) over 3 to 6 years and resulted in vegetation recovery times of 4 to 10 years. Revegetation was remarkably diverse, rapid, and vigorous. At the end of the study, the dominant shrub, deerbrush, had significantly lower average density and foliar cover relative to the...