Meeting data needs to inform recovery, conservation and management of imperiled flatwoods salamanders

摘要: The federally listed flatwoods salamanders (Ambystoma bishopi and A. cingulatum) are at imminent risk of extinction. To inform recovery, management, and conservation efforts, we asked:(1) How much of their historic range is still occupied?(2) Have losses of breeding sites threatened the sustainability of larger metapopulations?(3) Does designated critical habitat reflect the conservation needs of each species?(4) How do we best establish assurance colonies, breeding programs, and execute reintroductions/translocations?(5) Last, while habitat is being restored, what immediate actions are crucial to maintain populations on the landscape? We addressed the first three questions by compiling locality data and using GIS tools to calculate distances between neighboring breeding ponds, as well as several features of critical habitat units (CHU’s). Of 458 known historical locations for flatwoods salamanders, currently …