California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) - Emilio Uranga III

 

California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense)




SPECIES DESCRIPTION
California Tiger Salamanders are stocky terrestrial salamanders ranging in sizes from 6 to 9 inches. They have flat rounded snouts.
Adults often have yellow or white dots randomly across their body, hence the comparisons to Tigers.

HABITAT
Historically, the California Tiger Salamander was endemic to the San Joaquin-Sacramento
River valleys. They exist at elevations from sea level to up to almost 4000 feet of elevation. Their historic habitat puts them in grassland-oak woodland and low foothills with grassland. They require pools or ponds for breeding, and favor vernal (or seasonal) pools in grasslands. They require burrows formed by other animals like ground squirrels to hibernate during the dry months.
The Salamander frequently now use livestock ponds on ranch land to breed.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/California_Tiger_Salamander_Ambystoma_californiense_distribution_map_3.png

This land is located mainly in the California Central Valley, and on the western side of the the coastal mountain ranges. San Luis Obispo is one of the southernmost areas where Tiger Salamanders are found.

THREATS FACING THE SALAMANDER
The biggest threat to the California Tiger Salamander is habitat loss. The Central Valley's vernal pools are being dried or paved over for ranch land, or urban development. Habitat fragmentation has also led to isolation and a 20.7 percent drop in known Salamander occurrences in California.
They have also been subjected to diseases and predation by invasive bullfrogs.

Climate change was not considered a threat when it was listed as threatened, however scientists now think climate change will have a considerable impact on the Salamander and other amphibians. Persistent drought is one of the biggest concerns for the Salamander. If breeding ponds dry up permanently or for longer and longer periods, the Salamander may not be able to adapt quickly enough.

The Tiger Salamander only breeds once or twice during their lifetime, meaning there is a low rate of population growth. This slows down how quickly the population can recover after their habitat is fragmented.

It is estimated that 55-58% of historic breeding sites have been lost, and 75% of overall vernal pool habitat has been developed for human activity.

http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/portals/68/docs/regulatory/Santa%20Rosa/ponding.jpg

CONSERVATION EFFORTS
Numerous agencies have been involved with the conservation of the Tiger Salamander.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that over 50,000 acres of land home to the Salamander is protected by conservation easement or owned by the government for conservation. 
 







LISTING DATE
On August 8, 2004 the California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) was listed as threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. There is no concrete data on how many Salamanders are out in the wild, but evidence suggests it is over 10,000. Breeding ponds fluctuate between very well stocked to almost none depending on factors like rainfall timing, rainfall amount, and temperature.

As of 2017 it is still listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

They are adorable too

RECOVERY STRATEGY
The main focus of recovering the Salamander population has been to save the habitat of the Tiger Salamander from fragmentation or development. Vernal Pools, a type of seasonal wetland known for its brilliant displays of colorful rings of different flowers are an indicator of Salamander habitat. The salamanders use them for breeding, and conserving the health of the pools can help maintain healthy populations of the salamander. 

Recovery goals include (1) permanently protecting the habitat of self-sustaining populations, (2) fix or remove current threats to the species, and (3) restore ecosystems to where they can support self-sustaining populations.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Engage with conservationists.
Support the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
 https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Accounts/Amphibians-Reptiles/es_ca-tiger-salamander.htm

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/1098/0

REFERENCES 
"Recovery Plan for the Central California Distinct Population Segment of the California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense),"U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 8 August 2004, https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/Signed%20Central%20CTS%20Recovery%20Plan.pdf