Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Annual Amphibian Monitoring Report

Welfelt, Jaime

Amphibian monitoring has been conducted annually in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (KLGO) since 2004. KLGO has two confirmed amphibian species, boreal toads (Bufo boreas) and Columbia Spotted Frogs (Rana luteiventris). Boreal toads, also called western toads are the primary focus of monitoring efforts due to their relative abundance in the Taiya River watershed. The primary goal of the project is to monitor long-term changes in amphibian distribution, abundance, reproduction, and survival rates at core breeding sites in lower Taiya River Watershed. The 2011 monitoring season spanned a five-month period between April 24 and September 30. 176 routine amphibian surveys were conducted at nine core breeding sites in Dyea, four non-core sites, and five extensive sites along the Chilkoot Trail corridor. Columbia Spotted frog surveys were conducted at 153 sites in the White Pass Unit. B. boreas were observed at eight core sites with breeding activity observed at 4 of the core sites, all of which exhibited a fully successful breeding cycle. A total of 43 adult boreal toads, 18 of which were in amplexus, 110 juvenile, 23 egg masses, ~71, 000 tadpoles, and ~11,500 metamorphs were detected during the 2011 monitoring season. For the first time since 2008 a PIT tagged adult boreal toad was recaptured, initially tagged in 2006. Two adult R. luteiventris were counted in the White Pass survey but no evidence of breeding was detected. Testing for chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) was not conducted in the 2011 season.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Annual Amphibian Monitoring Report

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