Mapping Habitat Connectivity and Climate Refugia in Headwater Ecosystems to Support Amphibian Conservation
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By Climate Adaptation Science Centers
December 31, 2023
Forests in the Pacific Northwest support an extensive network of headwater streams and critical habitats for over 50 amphibian species, but face challenges from historical resource extraction, forest management, and climate change. Researchers supported by this Northwest CASC project will identify and map climate refugia to guide conservation strategies for at-risk amphibians, producing tools and resources for regional managers to enhance habitat connectivity and prioritize adaptation strategies for long-term ecosystem resilience.
Forests of the Pacific Northwest have experienced substantial change over the last century, due to a legacy of resource extraction, changes in forest management practices, and the growing impacts of climate change. Within these forests exists an extensive network of headwater streams, which supply cold, clean water downstream and provide habitat for 52 amphibian species. Many of these amphibians also depend on the cool, moist microclimates in the riparian areas adjacent to streams created by these forests. However, the combined legacy of timber harvest, continued land-use change, and ongoing environmental change pose a challenge for resource managers seeking to develop conservation strategies for amphibians and other aquatic species at risk of extinction.
This project aims to address these management challenges by identifying and characterizing climate refugia — areas of suitable habitat that species can occupy because they remain relatively buffered from variable climatic conditions. These refugia can be used to guide conservation strategies for sensitive species. Collaborating closely with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and a Technical Advisory Group of regional resource managers, the project team will analyze and map the current and future distribution and availability of climate refugia in headwater-stream ecosystems that can be used to identify areas that are critical for maintaining habitat connectivity into the future. Collaborative field work lead by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be conducted to validate modeling approaches and outcomes.
Forests of the Pacific Northwest have experienced substantial change over the last century, due to a legacy of resource extraction, changes in forest management practices, and the growing impacts of climate change. Within these forests exists an extensive network of headwater streams, which supply cold, clean water downstream and provide habitat for 52 amphibian species. Many of these amphibians also depend on the cool, moist microclimates in the riparian areas adjacent to streams created by these forests. However, the combined legacy of timber harvest, continued land-use change, and ongoing environmental change pose a challenge for resource managers seeking to develop conservation strategies for amphibians and other aquatic species at risk of extinction.
This project aims to address these management challenges by identifying and characterizing climate refugia — areas of suitable habitat that species can occupy because they remain relatively buffered from variable climatic conditions. These refugia can be used to guide conservation strategies for sensitive species. Collaborating closely with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and a Technical Advisory Group of regional resource managers, the project team will analyze and map the current and future distribution and availability of climate refugia in headwater-stream ecosystems that can be used to identify areas that are critical for maintaining habitat connectivity into the future. Collaborative field work lead by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be conducted to validate modeling approaches and outcomes.
- Source: USGS Sciencebase (id: 669ac440d34e9ac16e1678ff)
Roy Sando
Supervisory Research Physical Scientist
Supervisory Research Physical Scientist
Email
Phone
Lindsey Thurman, Ph.D.
Partnerships Ecologist
Partnerships Ecologist
Email
Phone
Nicholas A. Sutfin
Hydrologist and Surface Water Specialist
Hydrologist and Surface Water Specialist
Email
Phone
Forests in the Pacific Northwest support an extensive network of headwater streams and critical habitats for over 50 amphibian species, but face challenges from historical resource extraction, forest management, and climate change. Researchers supported by this Northwest CASC project will identify and map climate refugia to guide conservation strategies for at-risk amphibians, producing tools and resources for regional managers to enhance habitat connectivity and prioritize adaptation strategies for long-term ecosystem resilience.
Forests of the Pacific Northwest have experienced substantial change over the last century, due to a legacy of resource extraction, changes in forest management practices, and the growing impacts of climate change. Within these forests exists an extensive network of headwater streams, which supply cold, clean water downstream and provide habitat for 52 amphibian species. Many of these amphibians also depend on the cool, moist microclimates in the riparian areas adjacent to streams created by these forests. However, the combined legacy of timber harvest, continued land-use change, and ongoing environmental change pose a challenge for resource managers seeking to develop conservation strategies for amphibians and other aquatic species at risk of extinction.
This project aims to address these management challenges by identifying and characterizing climate refugia — areas of suitable habitat that species can occupy because they remain relatively buffered from variable climatic conditions. These refugia can be used to guide conservation strategies for sensitive species. Collaborating closely with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and a Technical Advisory Group of regional resource managers, the project team will analyze and map the current and future distribution and availability of climate refugia in headwater-stream ecosystems that can be used to identify areas that are critical for maintaining habitat connectivity into the future. Collaborative field work lead by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be conducted to validate modeling approaches and outcomes.
Forests of the Pacific Northwest have experienced substantial change over the last century, due to a legacy of resource extraction, changes in forest management practices, and the growing impacts of climate change. Within these forests exists an extensive network of headwater streams, which supply cold, clean water downstream and provide habitat for 52 amphibian species. Many of these amphibians also depend on the cool, moist microclimates in the riparian areas adjacent to streams created by these forests. However, the combined legacy of timber harvest, continued land-use change, and ongoing environmental change pose a challenge for resource managers seeking to develop conservation strategies for amphibians and other aquatic species at risk of extinction.
This project aims to address these management challenges by identifying and characterizing climate refugia — areas of suitable habitat that species can occupy because they remain relatively buffered from variable climatic conditions. These refugia can be used to guide conservation strategies for sensitive species. Collaborating closely with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and a Technical Advisory Group of regional resource managers, the project team will analyze and map the current and future distribution and availability of climate refugia in headwater-stream ecosystems that can be used to identify areas that are critical for maintaining habitat connectivity into the future. Collaborative field work lead by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be conducted to validate modeling approaches and outcomes.
- Source: USGS Sciencebase (id: 669ac440d34e9ac16e1678ff)
Roy Sando
Supervisory Research Physical Scientist
Supervisory Research Physical Scientist
Email
Phone
Lindsey Thurman, Ph.D.
Partnerships Ecologist
Partnerships Ecologist
Email
Phone
Nicholas A. Sutfin
Hydrologist and Surface Water Specialist
Hydrologist and Surface Water Specialist
Email
Phone