Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU

archived

The US Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner to survey >100 historical Arizona Toad locations and > 50 randomly selected suitable habitats in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Nevada. The intent is to determine the extent of distributional changes across the 4-state region where this species resides. The Arizona Toad is a candidate for listed under the US Endangered Species Act, and the proposed research will provide important data to help the USFWS make an informed listing decision. A combination of calling surveys, visual encounter surveys of potential breeding habitats, and collection of eDNA samples from survey habitats will be required. Not all sampling methods will be used at all sites. The eDNA samples are intended to allow for simultaneous evaluation of the presence of Arizona Toad as well as other rare amphibians, invasive species, and pathogens that are potential threats to the Arizona Toad. Expected deliverables will be the development of an eDNA assay (2 primers and a probe) for the Arizona Toad, a report that provides statistically valid estimates of the change in distribution based on historical observations, and a peer-reviewed journal article.

High