Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander
Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum
wHAT THE gOVERNMENT HAS pLANNED FOR THE sclts
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) must create a recovery plan for every federally-listed endangered species. The original recovery plan was written in 1997 and includes more figures and diagrams that show the exact locations of breeding ponds. It was revised in 1999; then The Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve Coastal Training Program (CTP) took the FWS’ plan and republished it in 2004 (they still recommend citing the FWS). The content is almost identical but the CTP reformatted it and removed all of the original maps, replacing a few with updated diagrams. Both documents provide excellent information and are frequently referenced (FWS, 1999) (FWS, 2004).
Preventative measures:
Four Threats to the SCLTS and what's being done to fix them
PROBLEMS
#1 A Major Roadblock
What happened when the highway was built?
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In 1955, shortly after the initial discovery of the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, California State Highway 1 was built straight through Valencia Lagoon in Aptos and Rio del Mar, Santa Cruz. The highway creates a major roadblock in the migration patterns of the salamanders, who are now restricted to either side of the road. It also creates a divide between subpopulations, effectively isolating them and leading to a decrease in genetic diversity (Hobbs, 2013). The building of roads is an example of the ways urbanization can threaten species. The needs of the human population are prioritized over the needs of local animals, thereby increasing the likeliness of eventual extinction.
#2 Salty Seaside Homes
How does salt water affect freshwater ponds?
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The Santa Cruz long-toed salamander is lucky to live in such a beautiful location so close to the ocean (local residents might pay millions for a seaside home), but proximity to the salty tides might be causing the salamanders more harm than good. Salamanders are meant to live in freshwater so a high-salinity environment is no good. Howell Pond, for example, is hydrologically connected to a marine marsh, which means if there is an especially strong tide, saltwater could come flowing into the pond. A breeding pond that has been infiltrated with salt is effectively barren. Furthermore, rising sea levels during storm season show the tangible effects of climate change as seawater continues to seep upstream (FWS, 2019)
#3 Longer Showers=
Shorter Lifespan
How does the drought affect salamanders?
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Ah rain, truly a blessing in California, especially because it seems we’re constantly having to conserve our water. Droughts don’t only make it hard for us to enjoy our long showers, they also dry up the ponds where Santa Cruz long-toed salamander live and breed. These salamanders need a depth of at least 12in to survive (Anderson, 1967). That's less than your bathtub! Dried up land surrounding the ponds also deposit excess sediment into the ponds which increases turbidity, creating an unhealthy environment for the other aquatic species in the ecosystem. Drought prevents larvae from going through metamorphosis and aging into adulthood (at which point they can breed), thereby reaching their full biotic potential (FWS, 2019).
#4 The harming of farming
How are farms polluting ponds?
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Although many locals are determined to save these precious amphibians, other local businesses are unwittingly participating in their decline. Fertilizer and insecticide runoff from nearby farms are degrading water quality. Chemical pesticides not only kill mosquitoes but other invertebrates which are vital aspects of the food web, as well as the main food source of the salamanders. Mosquito abatement activities such as the introduction of the invasive species mosquitofish are also contributing to the population decline (FWS, 2019)
soLUTIONS
#1 Portals Under Highways
How did the salamander cross the road?
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Although the ultimate solution to the problem of urbanization would be to restrict the building of roads and developments near breeding sites, this would be near impossible due to consumer demand, and the ever-increasing human population. One solution would be to build amphibian tunnels underneath the roads. Amphibian tunnels allow roads to stay as they are, and they allow amphibians such as frogs and salamanders to travel across roads safely. This eliminates the risk of small animals getting hit by cars, and it still enables different populations to breed with each other, thereby expanding the gene pool. Tunnels have already been installed on smaller roads that go through Valencia Lagoon, but no efforts have been made at the Ellicott Slough four miles down the road (Hobbs, 2013).
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#2 A Gated Community
How can tide gates change salinity in freshwater ponds?
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The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve already protects many of the ponds where the Santa Cruz long-toed salamanders live. They extracted and translocated most individuals from the ponds closest to the ocean to ponds further east. Tide gates (which were already in place, but failed) are being repaired and by adding more, so this can be prevented in the future. On the other hand, tide gates are expensive and can make it challenging for anadromous fish to migrate between freshwater and the ocean so finding other solutions might be preferred. Translocating salamanders, which doesn’t necessarily harm fish, not only prevents death by salt, it also encourages breeding across metapopulations, further increasing the gene pool.
#3 Running low on water
How can we help to minimize the drought?
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Maybe in the future, technology will be advanced enough to make it rain, but for now, we can do our part as civilians to reduce climate change, which directly increases drought conditions. The overall increase in atmospheric temperature changes weather patterns, making rain sparse in the southwest region of the U.S. (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, 2019). Drought efforts are in place across the state and legislature has been established to encourage cities to restrict water usage. Every little bit helps, so if Californians can continue to minimize water usage and reduce their carbon footprint, the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander can to thrive in its environment. In the meantime, the CDFWS and ESNERR are working to deepen ponds, and captive breeding programs can relocate salamanders to man-made areas that have been tailored to fit the exact habitat requirements, such as water depth and temperature. Scroll down to read more about this!
#4 mo'skeeters for mo' eaters
Why mosquitoes aren’t the enemy we think they are
To prevent pollution, landowners should communicate with local farms to negotiate a system in which less nitrate fertilizer is used and to restrict the usage of pesticides. Mosquito abatement is hard to completely eradicate because, in many ways, mosquitoes pose a risk to human health. In situations like this, human health is valued over the wellbeing of local animals. Mosquito abatement districts can refrain from introducing mosquitofish into areas where delicate species live. They can also forgo the use of chemical pesticides in exchange for natural ones. Allowing mosquitos to stay in the sloughs and restricting human access would prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases while restoring the food chain. It would even further protect the salamanders from human activities. Ultimately, expanding the refuges and preservation sites will allow land managers autonomy, giving them the ability to restrict the usage of harmful substances and continue to rehabilitate the land.
SUPPORTIVE ACTIONS:
The Ultimate Solution to Increasing the Population of the Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander
Each solution proposed to the threats can only be improved with the help of captive breeding. This supportive action is costly, but it helps to increase what little populations already exist, whereas the other solutions merely prevent the population from declining any further. The CDFW and FWS have already led a captive breeding program in 2015 by emergency salvaging 450 larvae from the Buena Vista Pond on the Ellicott Unit of the SCLTS Ecological Reserve [include map here]. Efforts to help the SCLTS are in full swing, and 16 out of the 32 known breeding ponds are owned by environmental protection groups such as California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, California Department of Parks and Recreation, Elkhorn Slough Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Most breeding ponds are closed to the public to ensure tranquility until the population rises, at which point the hope is for everyone to be able to see these majestic creatures up close (FWS, 2019)
(Oregon Sea Grant, 2015)