2015 Wildlife Action Plan Inc Addendums 1 (2020) + 2 (2022)

3.2 Amphibians

Amphibian knowledge-gap priority species

T ABLE 3.6

Federal/ State Status*

Family

Scientifc Name

Common Name

ORDER: ANURA Hylidae

Hyla chrysoscelis Pseudacris brimleyi

Cope’s Gray Treefrog Brimley’s Chorus Frog

— — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Rana [Lithobates] virgatipes

Ranidae

Carpenter Frog Eastern Spadefoot

Scaphiopus holbrookii

Scaphiopodidae ORDER: CAUDATA Ambystomatidae

Ambystoma maculatum Ambystoma opacum

Spotted Salamander Marbled Salamander Two-toed Amphiuma

Amphiuma means

Amphiumidae Plethodontidae

Desmognathus marmoratus Eurycea chamberlaini Plethodon chlorobryonis

Shovel-nosed Salamander

Chamberlain’s Dwarf Salamander Atlantic Coast Slimy Salamander Eastern Red-backed Salamander White-spotted Slimy Salamander Southern Red-backed Salamander

Plethodon cinereus

Plethodon cylindraceus

Plethodon serratus

Pseudotriton montanus montanus

Eastern Mud Salamander

Pseudotriton ruber Necturus punctatus

Red Salamander Dwarf Waterdog

— —

Proteidae

* See Table 3.2 for abbreviations.

3.2.5 Management Needs

Te Taxa Team indicated current levels of management for the Carolina Gopher Frog are not sufcient to maintain long-term viable populations. Encroachment by woody shrubs and invasive plants in areas not subject to prescribed burns has reduced the number and quality of ephemeral pools. Vegetation removal and maintenance of these areas will main- tain and improve the condition of existing breeding habitats. Additionally, captive rearing of tadpoles, hatched from portions of egg masses, for release at existing sites should increase recruitment and eventually lead to more stable populations. An example of successful amphibian habitat restoration is work being conducted by NCWRC biologists and partners in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain ecoregions targeting SGCN species such as Carolina Gopher Frogs, Ornate Chorus Frogs, and Eastern Tiger Salamanders, although many other amphibian and reptile species also beneft. Tese SGCN require open-canopied, herbaceous ephemeral ponds for successful reproduction. Some upland ephemeral pools are maintained as open-canopy emergent wetlands because of naturally long hydroperiods that prevent the colonization of trees and shrubs (e.g.,

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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan

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