PARENT SESSION
Poster Session #8: Conservation Planning and Monitoring.
Monday, August 5. Presentation from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Exhibit Hall B & C, TCC

Conservation planning in a suburban landscape: lessons from the Silicon Valley.

HOLTGRIEVE, GORDON^*,1, LAUNER, ALAN¹, LOARIE, SCOTT¹, ¹ Stanford University, Stanford, CA

ABSTRACT- Suburban landscapes are unique areas for conservation planning in that native species are typically subjected to multiple pressures, such as modified or degraded habitat, invasive exotic species and human encroachment, in a small, highly fragmented area. Currently, few multi-year studies have sought to monitor the populations of at-risk species within such a setting. From 1997 - 2001, two populations of threatened California red-legged frogs (CRLF), Rana aurora draytonii, were monitored in and around the Stanford University campus. Results of this study have shown the distribution of CRLF to be relatively consistent from year to year but critically tied to areas that can be characterized by key physical parameters, faunal cohabitants, and proximity to altered landscapes. In addition, the distribution of CRLF larvae indicates that habitats largely unaffected by combined negative pressures serve as reproductive sources for CRLF and are likely important for persistence of the population. The close relationship between CRLF distribution and distinct yet connected stretches of suitable habitat has conservation and management implications applicable to many species of conservation concern. The results of this study advocate the protection and restoration of riparian habitats within fragmented suburban landscapes and the importance of maintaining adequate riparian buffers. In addition, the significance of key reproductive areas in augmenting frog abundances elsewhere reveals the importance of determining relative source and sink habitats before making conservation related decisions.

KEY WORDS: conservation, planning, Rana aurora draytonii