OCCURRENCE OF A SUITE OF STREAM-OBLIGATE AMPHIBIANS IN TIMBERLANDS OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, EXAMINED USING ENVIRONMENTAL DNA

摘要: Stream-obligate amphibians are important indicators of ecosystem health in the Pacific Northwest, but distributional information to improve forest management is lacking many regions. We analyzed archived DNA extracted from water samples 60 pools streams on private timberlands Mendocino County, California, for 3 California Species Special Concern—Coastal Tailed Frogs (Ascaphus truei), Foothill Yellow-legged (Rana boylii), and Southern Torrent Salamanders (Rhyacotriton variegatus)—to better understand their distributions region. Detection probabilities eDNA Coastal were positively influenced by temperature. occurrence both frogs was affected whether silt or organic matter a dominant substrate sampled pool, Frog also had strong, positive association with temperature, unlikely below 14°C very likely above 16°C, substrates pools, which an indicator higher-order stream reaches. In contrast, negative substrates. Historical visual detections generally congruent findings using eDNA, differences highlight areas further study. did not detect at any sites. Our study reinforces that ecological relationships these species varied, shows importance maintaining integrity diverse characteristics conserving amphibians.