Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander
Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Introduction
Status
Ecological Requirements
RCIS Regions: Monterey Bay Coastline, Salinas River and Associated Corridor (USFWS 1999)
RCIS Natural Communities: Chaparral, Valley Oak Woodland, Coastal Oak Woodland, Freshwater Emergent Wetland (CDFW 2020; USFWS 1999, 2004a, 2019a)
Breeding habitat: Shallow, usually ephemeral freshwater ponds with clumps of vegetation or debris (CDFW 2020; USFWS 1999, 2004a)
Upland habitat: Spend a majority of life underground in small mammal burrows, under leaf litter and organic debris, in root systems of plants in upland coastal scrub, and in woodland areas of coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) or Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), and in strips of riparian vegetation, such as arroyo willows (Salix lasiolepis) (CDFW 2020; USFWS 1999, 2004a, 2009b)
Can disperse to upland habitat up to 1 mile from breeding site (USFWS 1999)
Extremely limited natural distribution (approximately 15 miles) restricted to Santa Cruz and Monterey counties (CDFW 2020; USFWS 1999, 2004a, 2019a)
Susceptible to fungal diseases, vehicle-impact mortality, and salt water intrusion (USFWS 2009b, 2019a)
Full species account available: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) Draft RevisedRecovery Plan (1999) and 5-Year Review: Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum), Summary and Evaluation (USFWS 2009b)
RCIS Conservation Target: Highest (very rare species, limited distribution of breeding habitat)
Range and Modeled Habitat
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
A species-specific climate change vulnerability assessment has not been conducted for the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (SCLTS); however, climate change projections for Santa Cruz long-toed salamander are likely similar to those for the Santa Lucia slender salamander because of its similar restricted present-day range (both have small ranges limited to Monterey County). Thus, it is likely that Santa Cruz long-toed salamander is at “high risk” from climate change. This estimate is based on the likely persistence of current populations through 2050 and the amount of current climatically suitable habitat likely to remain suitable. Wright et al. (2013) projects that in 2050 there will be a 40 to 80 percent reduction in the Santa Lucia slender salamander species distribution and a 20 to 50 percent decrease in available suitable habitat under low emission scenarios. High emission scenarios project a more than 80 percent reduction to the current species distribution, with a 50 to 99 percent decrease in suitable habitat. Limited and fragmented distribution of natural suitable habitat increases the impacts of local extirpations on long-term Santa Cruz long-toed salamander viability (USFWS 2009a). Climate change will likely exacerbate all the threats listed in Table 5 27.
EcoAdapt (2020) conducted a climate change vulnerability assessment of salamanders, including the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, in the Santa Cruz mountains adjacent to the RCIS area using expert input as well as scientific literature. As a group, salamanders are projected to have a High Overall Vulnerability Ranking. They are projected to be sensitive to climate stressors and disturbances such as warmer air and water temperatures, changes in precipitation, increased drought, altered wildfire regimes, and disease (EcoAdapt 2020). With its extremely limited range and distribution, the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander is vulnerable to impacts from drought and may not be able to adapt to changing conditions (CDFW 2021; EcoAdapt 2020). Non-climate stressors, such as development, non-native species, and contaminants, may exasperate these sensitivities by contributing to habitat loss and fragmentation (EcoAdapt 2020).
Conservation Strategies
Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander Goals, Objectives, and Actions
There are 48 proposed actions. For complete goals, objectives and actions explanations see the complete table of conservation strategies in the RCIS PDF.
Species Goals, Objectives, and Actions
Goal SCLTS 1
Promote persistence of Santa Cruz long-toed salamander populations in the RCIS area through protection, restoration, and enhancement of habitat.Objective SCLTS 1.1
Protect known occurrences and allow for expansion by protecting 45,000 acres of suitable habitat. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by the number of breeding locations, acres of adjacent upland habitat and adjacent/equivalent acres protected.Action SCLTS 1.1.2
Conduct surveys in suitable habitat to identify opportunities for habitat protection, enhancement, restoration, and/or creation. Focus surveys in areas identified in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1999 Recovery Plan, Inner dune face from Pajaro River to Salinas River, Upper Moro Cojo Slough drainages (between Dolan Road and Castroville Boulevard to the north and Tembladero Slough to the south), areas along Elkhorn Road to the east of Elkhorn Slough Reserve, and upper reaches of Elkhorn Slough (USFWS 1999).
Objective SCLTS 1.2
Enhance occupied and suitable Santa Cruz long-toed salamander habitat throughout the RCIS area. Measure progress towards achieving this objective in acres of habitat and adjacent/equivalent acres enhanced and occupied by Santa Cruz long-toed salamander.Action SCLTS 1.2.1
Manage saltwater intrusion by maintaining tide gates in proximity with suitable Santa Cruz long-toed salamander breeding habitat, and install new tide gates as sea levels rise, where feasible (USFWS 2019a).
Action SCLTS 1.2.2
Conduct monitoring of ponds connected with tidally influenced marshes and translocate larvae when salinity levels are harmful (currently, three parts per thousand), in coordination with regulatory agencies. Coordination with scientific advisors, land managers, and universities is also advised (USFWS 2019a).
Goal SCLTS 2
Support stability and recovery of Santa Cruz long-toed salamander populations in the RCIS area through measures to reduce direct mortality factors.Objective SCLTS 2.1
Reduce vehicle-related mortality factors. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by the reduction of vehicle-related Santa Cruz long-toed salamander deaths detected compared to present day.Action SCLTS 2.1.1
Develop wildlife crossing infrastructure improvements, such as drift fences, wildlife tunnels, or the construction of elevated roads, in transportation corridors with high numbers of vehicle-related Santa Cruz long-toed salamander mortality. Focus on areas adjacent to known locations and protected habitats (USFWS 1999, 2009, 2019a).
Objective SCLTS 2.2
Reduce pathogen-related mortality factors. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by the reduction of pathogen-related Santa Cruz long-toed salamander deaths detected compared to present day.Action SCLTS 2.2.1
Monitor known and potential breeding ponds for presence of pathogens through traditional and eDNA methods.
Action SCLTS 2.2.2
Sterilize all equipment entering known or suitable Santa Cruz long-toed salamander breeding habitat to prevent introduction of disease.
Regional Goals, Objectives, and Actions
Goal RC 1
Sustain resilient, connected natural communities for the full range of native species, habitats, and ecological functions in the RCIS area through the protection of large blocks of continuous habitat supporting sensitive species.Objective RC 1.1
Protect and preserve existing intact non-marine habitats and resources and allow for expansion of habitat by protecting suitable or occupied habitat. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by the number of acres of habitat and adjacent/associated acres protected.Action RC 1.1.1
Acquire parcels with suitable habitat through fee title purchase or conservation easement.
Action RC 1.1.2
Conduct surveys using eDNA and/or traditional survey methods in suitable or potentially suitable habitat to locate undocumented occurrences of focal species and other conservation elements and opportunities for habitat protection, enhancement, restoration, and creation (USFWS 2008).
Action RC 1.1.3
Create and sustain long-term funding for protected areas maintenance.
Action RC 1.1.4
Establish an incentive program for private landowners to protect occurrences and manage habitat.
Action RC 1.1.5
Protect populations from impacts from construction, vegetation management, and/or activities, including by surveying areas such as roads/trails and implementing species protection measures.
Objective RC 1.2
Enhance occupied and suitable habitat. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by number of acres of habitat enhanced and/or occupied.Action RC 1.2.1
Manage current and future recreation access including off-road vehicles, biking, equestrian, foot traffic, and unleashed pets to reduce impacts and disturbance to sensitive species and habitats. Ensure recreation is compatible with suitable and future potentially suitable habitat and adjacent areas, and areas of known occurrences. Enforcement and fencing may be used to prevent illegal off-road vehicle use (USFWS 2010).
Action RC 1.2.10
Work with private landowners and stakeholders to research species biology, threats, populations, densities, and/or ranges.
Action RC 1.2.11
Create/enhance connections between ecologically required habitat types, such as between aquatic breeding and upland dispersal habitats.
Action RC 1.2.2
Control non-native invasive species from occupied and/or suitable habitat, and areas designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as critical habitat throughout the RCIS area.
Action RC 1.2.3
Reduce/eliminate pesticide, rodenticide (especially first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides), and herbicide use, including for roadside vegetation removal projects as part of integrated pest management efforts in identified suitable habitat, and sensitive natural communities. Promote alternative pest reduction methods, such as promoting natural predator populations (Ventura County Public Works Agency 2017).
Action RC 1.2.4
Minimize impacts from native and non-native predator populations that have increased due to anthropogenic factors, including through educational outreach and trainings on how to safely coexist with native predators and predator removal programs where appropriate.
Action RC 1.2.5
Reduce anthropogenic impacts on habitat, including infrastructure construction and maintenance, inappropriate grazing, uncontrolled grazing, or overgrazing, off-road vehicles, foot traffic, fire suppression, recreational development and activities, non-native plants, and sand mining
Action RC 1.2.6
Manage infrastructure construction and maintenance projects, including transportation, solar energy facilities and projects on military properties, to be compatible for sensitive species.
Action RC 1.2.7
Manage grazing, including the installation of wildlife-friendly fencing, to ensure it is compatible with suitable and future potentially suitable habitat and adjacent areas, and areas of known occurrences. Grazing in sensitive natural communities, public lands should be reduced.
Action RC 1.2.8
Reduce trash dumping in areas with suitable and future potentially suitable habitat and adjacent areas, and areas of known occurrences.
Action RC 1.2.9
Enhance and restore native vegetation in occupied habitat and suitable but unoccupied habitat.
Goal RC 2
Promote persistence of species and important natural communities through the establishment and improvement of habitat connectivity in the RCIS area.Objective RC 2.1
Establish and improve habitat connectivity between large blocks of suitable habitat. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by the number of improved connectivity corridors used by sensitive species.Action RC 2.1.1
Install, repair, and improve infrastructure, such as adding large culverts, under crossings, overcrossings, bridges, directional fencing, scuppers, barrier breaks, roadside animal detection systems, sound barriers, limiting lighting at constructed or natural linkages and remove existing barriers to promote wildlife movement and reduce road mortality (Yap and Rose 2019). Focus on areas with high numbers of vehicle-related mortality, areas with high Area of Conservation Emphasis Terrestrial Connectivity rankings and include areas to create corridor redundancy.
Action RC 2.1.2
Enhance habitat on either side of crossing structures, including protecting adjacent areas, restricting human activity nearby, etc.
Action RC 2.1.3
Create and sustain long-term funding for long-term management of crossings, including acquisition and maintenance of adjacent habitat where suitable.
Action RC 2.1.4
Work with transportation districts or others to collect and analyze roadkill data to identify hotspots where mortality occurs to inform the design of wildlife crossing infrastructure improvements (Yap and Rose 2019).
Water Goals, Objectives, and Actions
Goal Water 1
Improve conditions of water resources, aquatic and riparian habitats, and connectivity throughout the RCIS area through enhancement and restoration.Objective Water 1.1
Improve freshwater aquatic and riparian habitat conditions in areas with sensitive species and habitats. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by the improvement and restoration of aquatic and riparian conditions (inundation duration, water depth, water chemical composition, stream substrate composition and/or stream characterization, habitat structure, native species diversity, percent cover), water quality, and connectivity of water resources.Action Water 1.1.1
Reduce water pollutants such as fine sediments, pesticides, herbicides, sewage effluent, and other non-point and point source waste discharges, including through development and implementation of stormwater policy and infrastructure.
Action Water 1.1.3
Improve quality of wetland habitats and create new wetland habitats, including through invasive species control, increased water period, and recontouring to enhance proper elevation, etc.
Action Water 1.1.5
Minimize impacts to water resources from construction, military activities, and agricultural practices.
Action Water 1.1.7
Improve and expand existing riparian and upland buffers and create new buffers where they are lacking around stream and wetland habitats, as well as connectivity corridors between heterogeneous habitats. A qualified biologist and the best available science should determine buffer distances.
Action Water 1.1.8
Preserve and protect intact aquatic and riparian resources where protection is lacking.
Objective Water 1.2
Improve appropriate hydrology and hydrological functions to support sensitive species and habitats. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by the improvement of hydrological indicators such as water depth, stream flow, water temperature and chemical composition.Action Water 1.2.1
Moderate extreme water temperature fluctuations by controlling water flow regimes downstream of impoundments, water diversions, and residential or industrial developments.
Action Water 1.2.2
Ensure releases from water storage and diversion facilities maintain surface flows necessary for all life history stages of sensitive species (NMFS 2013).
Action Water 1.2.3
Maintain appropriate management of flood-control activities (both routine and emergency) to be compatible with sensitive species (NMFS 2013).
Action Water 1.2.4
Restore hydrological functions of waterways to mimic natural flow, temperature regimes, and sediment loads where feasible (Hayes et al. 2016).
Action Water 1.2.5
Develop and implement operating criteria to ensure the pattern and magnitude of groundwater extractions and water releases provide essential ecological functions.
Amphibian Goals, Objectives, and Actions
Goal Amphibian 1
Promote persistence of amphibian populations in the RCIS area through habitat protection, restoration, and enhancementObjective Amphibian 1.1
Enhance occupied and suitable habitat for focal amphibians throughout the RCIS area. Measure progress towards achieving this objective by the acres of habitat and adjacent/associated acres enhanced and/or occupied.Action Amphibian 1.1.1
Manage for suitable vegetation structure surrounding breeding and upland habitat to support appropriate vegetative cover for breeding and amphibians.
Action Amphibian 1.1.2
Manage grazing (e.g., fencing, seasonal timing, stocking rates) and wildfire fuel reduction practices to benefit amphibians.
Action Amphibian 1.1.3
Reduce/eliminate the use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, petroleum products, and other chemicals near breeding and upland habitats, including collaboration with mosquito abatement divisions to prevent negative impacts from mosquito abatement activities (USFWS 1999, 2019a). Wildlife-friendly alternative, such as installation of bat boxes and nesting boxes for insectivorous birds, near ponds and wetlands could provide insect control.
Action Amphibian 1.1.4
Reduce sources of sedimentation (e.g., bank erosion, livestock grazing, timber harvestings, unpaved roads and trails, and recreation) near known and potential breeding ponds and remove excess sedimentation where feasible (USFWS 2019a).
Action Amphibian 1.1.5
Remove non-native aquatic species such as bullfrogs, mosquitofish, other non-native predatory fish, and non-native turtles from breeding ponds, stream segments, and artificial ponds (USFWS 2002). This includes managing hydrology to decrease suitability for non-native species. Removal of non-native upland species, such as trapping of feral pigs (Sus scrofa), will protect ponds/wetlands and listed amphibian species (Seward et al. 2004).
Action Amphibian 1.1.6
Manage for appropriate ephemeral breeding pond hydrology and phenology.
Action Amphibian 1.1.7
Work with private landowners of known breeding locations to promote positive management of those sites, including maintaining natural hydrology, limiting non-native species, and conducting appropriate management of upland habitats (USFWS 2009).
Action Amphibian 1.1.8
Manage breeding pond hydrology to control for aquatic predator populations.
Objective Amphibian 1.2
Restore occupied and suitable habitat and create new habitat. Measure progress towards achieving this objective in acres of habitat and adjacent/associated acres restored or created habitat and number of breeding ponds.Action Amphibian 1.2.1
Establish native emergent and other biologically suitable vegetation in suitable ponds and wetlands to provide cover where little or none exists.
Action Amphibian 1.2.2
Establish native vegetation with suitable density and structure in upland habitats within dispersal distance of known breeding locations.
Action Amphibian 1.2.3
Create suitable breeding habitat, such as artificial perennial and/or ephemeral ponds within the dispersal distance of known breeding locations.
Action Amphibian 1.2.4
Create suitable upland habitat within dispersal distance of known and suitable breeding habitat.