PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 17: Reptiles and Amphibians: Habitat; and Communities
Monday, August 8, 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Meeting Room 524 B, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas) movement patterns and habitat use in south-central Utah.

Goates, Michael ^*,1, Hatch, Kent¹, ¹ Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT- Boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas) population sizes have declined dramatically in many areas of the western United States. The impact of management decisions (timber harvests and grazing) on toad populations is under investigation. Understanding habitat use and seasonal movement patterns of boreal toads is critical for evaluating possible effects of various management practices on recruitment and survivorship of toads on public land. We monitored several toad populations on the Dixie and Fishlake National Forest of south-central Utah to determine habitat use, movement patterns, and distance traveled from water sources. Beginning in early summer, we placed external radio transmitters on 41 toads in 2003 and on 43 toads in 2004. We located toads each week throughout the summer until late September. We recorded the location, habitat type, and distance to nearest water for each toad sighting. Results indicate that female toads dispersed more widely than male toads immediately following breeding. In the drier summer of 2003, female toads moved further away from water sources into upland habitats than male toads. In the wetter summer of 2004, both male and female toads moved regularly into upland habitats away from water. Both female and male toads showed increased movement in late summer prior to entering hibernation. We most often located toads in wet habitats such as wet meadows and open still water. However, during late summer we observed a significant percentage of toads in upland areas such as mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata vaseyana) communities, occasionally at distances greater than 100 m from the nearest water source. Results indicate that several populations previously considered isolated may be connected through migration. The current buffering zone of approximately 30 m around traditional breeding sites may not be large enough or appropriately shaped to reduce negative impacts of management practices on toad survivability. Small unmapped seeps and springs used as hibernacula locations may fall outside of current protected areas. We recommend implementation of a buffering system that fully incorporates all seeps and streams utilized by toads near breeding ponds.

Key words: Bufo boreas boreas, habitat use, migration, radio telemetry