Spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) management plan 2014: part 3

 

5. Management Objectives

In the long term, the management objective is to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the threats to the Spring Salamander in Quebec in order to maintain and, if possible, increase the abundance of the subpopulations identified by COSEWIC[7] and the species' index of area of occupancy (currently 1 412 km²). To achieve this objective and measure the progress made, it is necessary, in the short term, to better delineate the distribution of the subpopulations identified by COSEWIC and to calculate a corresponding abundance index.

Rationale: It is critical to maintain the abundance of the various subpopulations and the index of area of occupancy in order to prevent the species from becoming threatened or endangered in Canada. Due to the specific habitat needs of the Spring Salamander (i.e. upstream reaches of small mountain streams devoid of fish), which tend to result in isolation of the various subpopulations, as well as to other limiting factors (e.g. low mobility, low recruitment rate, low density of individuals), this species has very little resilience to changes in its habitat. Given these same factors, it may be difficult to increase the abundance of the subpopulations or their index of area of occupancy. The management of this species is based on the current Quebec population since, despite search efforts in Ontario, the species has not been observed there since 1877. In the event of the rediscovery of the species in that province, the management objective will be reviewed.

6. Broad Strategies and Conservation Measures

6.1 Measures Already Completed or Currently Underway

A stream salamander recovery team was established in Quebec in 2001 (Bonin 2001). The team developed an initial recovery plan for the period 2004–2008 (Jutras 2003) and is currently completing a 10-year plan. To date, the team has been particularly active at Covey Hill (Adirondack Foothills), primarily because it is the only location in the province where the Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus), a species threatened in Quebec and Canada, occurs. A number of important measures have, however, been taken elsewhere within the range of the Spring Salamander, specifically by non-governmental organizations involved in the conservation of this species. The measures already completed or currently underway are grouped into three main areas: (1) management, conservation and stewardship of the species and its habitat; (2) search and monitoring efforts; and (3) outreach and communication. Unless otherwise indicated, the information presented comes from COSEWIC (2011).

Management, conservation and stewardship of the species and its habitat
In Quebec, the Spring Salamander population has benefited from the adoption of conservation measures--focused essentially on forest development activities--adopted to conserve stream salamander habitat. These measures are designed to provide a legal framework for forestry operations (e.g basal area removal, hauling, construction of bridges and culverts, protection of the riparian zone) on Crown land (Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec, 2008b). Information on these measures will also be disseminated to private landowners (see "Outreach and communication") for implementation on a voluntary basis. Thanks to the growing popularity of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, more and more managers of private forests are taking the needs of species at risk into account in their operations. These conservation measures are also used, in whole or in part, to provide a framework for other areas of activity such as wind farm projects (Nathalie Tessier, pers. comm.).

In the Adirondack Foothills, the conservation plan for stream salamanders at Covey Hill (Montérégie) has been developed (Frenette 2008). The plan identifies priority conservation areas and strategic elements to be implemented to conserve the assemblage of stream salamanders that occurs there. In this mountain complex, the Nature Conservancy of Canada currently owns 1.2 km² at Covey Hill, and a number of conservation easements have been signed with private landowners. In the Green Mountain Foothills, several non-governmental initiatives have resulted in the acquisition of over 68 km² of habitat in the centre of the species' range. The Nature Conservancy of Canada, in collaboration with Domtar Inc. and the organization Appalachian Corridor, has created the largest private protected area in Quebec in the Sutton Mountains (~ 67 km²), doubling the area of protected land within the Spring Salamander's Canadian range. The largest area of land protected by the Quebec government is also found in this mountain complex (Parc national du Mont Orford ~ 55 km², Réserve écologique de la Vallée-du-Ruiter ~ 1.2 km²). In the Monteregian Hills, a number of initiatives have been undertaken to conserve several subpopulations or adjacent areas, such as the Mount Shefford subpopulation, which is located in part on land used by the municipality of Granby for drinking water supplies.

In the eastern part of the species' range (White Mountain Foothills, Estrie Hills, Bécancour Hills), very few initiatives have been undertaken, although the Parc national du mont Mégantic (~ 55 km²) includes the headwaters of a stream used by one subpopulation. Spring salamanders are observed approximately 1 km downstream from the park boundaries.

Search and monitoring efforts
Since the late 1990s, a number of stream salamander surveys conducted in Quebec have resulted in close to 400 Spring Salamander observations, primarily in the Adirondack Foothills, Green Mountain Foothills and, more recently, the White Mountain Foothills and Bécancour Hills. Studies have been conducted to document the important characteristics of Spring Salamander habitat and have made it possible to begin identifying suitable habitat for the species (Boutin 2006, Ploss 2010). A protocol for monitoring the Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander population that has been developed and tested since 2008 in the Adirondack Foothills could also provide information on the Spring Salamander.

Outreach and communication
The main outreach and communication efforts have been conducted in the Adirondack Foothills and Green Mountain Foothills by non-governmental organizations working in the area of conservation (Nature Conservancy of Canada, Appalachian Corridor, Société de conservation du corridor naturel de la rivière au Saumon, Société de conservation et d'aménagement du bassin de la rivière Châteauguay). These organizations are primarily involved with landowners, but also with local and regional stakeholders. They have also designed and distributed best practices guides for private lands.

6.2 Broad Strategies

Like the management objective, the following broad strategies are focused on the current Quebec population.

  1. Eliminate or reduce the main threats to the species and its habitat in Quebec

    The long-term viability of the Spring Salamander population depends on the integrity of its habitat and the size of the population. Habitat integrity can be impaired by threats, particularly those of anthropogenic origin, which must therefore be reduced and, if possible, eliminated to ensure sustainable management of the species. Four approaches have been identified to guide the implementation of this broad strategy: (1) determine the level of concern related to certain threats; (2) safeguard the Spring Salamander and its habitat through stewardship, legal measures and other appropriate management measures; (3) develop communication strategies to reduce threats, and implement these strategies with targeted stakeholders; (4) monitor the effectiveness of the measures put in place to safeguard the species and its habitat.
  2. Obtain complete information on the distribution of Quebec subpopulations and initiate monitoring

    The various Quebec subpopulations are isolated from one another. As a result, management at the subpopulation scale appears to be appropriate (see strategy 3). Monitoring of distribution, together with monitoring of the species within the area of occupancy, is a management tool for reporting on the progress achieved or difficulties encountered. The implementation of monitoring to identify trends in subpopulations first requires obtaining basic demographic data for each subpopulation (or for subpopulations representative of a subset). A large part of the range of the Spring Salamander has never been surveyed in Quebec (Figure 1). To ensure consistent management of the species, complete information must be obtained on its distribution in order to determine the exact extent of its range.
  3. Identify the ecological knowledge that is required to ensure recovery

    Although the Quebec subpopulations are isolated from one another, the actual degree of divergence between the various subpopulations and between occurrences within the subpopulations is unknown. This information is required for the management of the Spring Salamander, particularly for confirming the scale used (i.e. subpopulation). It would also be appropriate to delineate suitable habitat as it has never been surveyed.

6.3 Conservation Measures

Table 3 presents the conservation measures to be implemented for each of the broad strategies identified. The conservation measures are limited to Quebec's current population and are based on the planning carried out by the Quebec stream salamander recovery team.

 

Table 3a. Implementation schedule*
Strategy 1. Eliminate or reduce the main threats to the species and its habitat in Quebec
Préciser le niveau de préoccupation de certaines menaces
Conservation Measures Priority Threats** or Concerns Addressed Timeline
For each subpopulation, document the measures put in place to conserve habitat High Knowledge gaps 2014–2016
Characterize the threats to each subpopulation High All threats 2014–2019
Characterize and monitor the impact of sedimentation on Spring Salamander habitat High 1, 3, 5 and 6 2014–2019
Characterize and monitor fish introductions/stocking that could have an impact on the area of occupancy Medium 4 2014–2019
Develop and implement indicators to monitor the impacts of climate change Medium 5 2014–2019
Characterize and monitor activities that could affect the hydrological regime and water quality in the area of occupancy Medium 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 2014–2019
Table 3b. Implementation schedule*
Approach 1B. Safeguard the Spring Salamander and its habitat through stewardship, legal measures and other appropriate management measures
Conservation Measures Priority Threats** or Concerns Addressed Timeline
Prioritize sites to be conserved and implement measures to conserve priority sites High 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 2014–2019
Define and map the habitat under the Quebec Act Respecting Threatened or Vulnerable Species High 1, 2 2014–2019
Establish regional zoning for streams in which no fish stocking would be allowed High 4 2014–2019
Ensure conservation of the habitat needed to enable the mobility of individuals in subpopulations Medium 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 2017–2019
Amend, where necessary, regulations (federal, provincial and municipal) respecting the water environment, as well as prescriptive guides and technical factsheets regarding work in the water environment, to take into account the needs of the Spring Salamander Medium 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 2019
Table 3c. Implementation schedule*
Approach 1C. Develop communication strategies to reduce threats, and implement them with targeted stakeholders
Conservation Measures Priority Threats** or Concerns Addressed Timeline
Promote the application of sound forestry practices in private forests for stream salamanders High 3 Ongoing
Develop and implement a communication strategy in order to reduce specific threats and protect habitat High 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 2014–2019
Define sound agricultural practices and promote their application on privately owned land Medium 2, 6 2015–2019
Promote and maintain cooperative management of transboundary Spring Salamander subpopulations with stakeholders in the United States (New York, Vermont, Maine) Low All threats Ongoing
Table 3e. Implementation schedule*
Approach 1D. Monitor the effectiveness of the measures put in place to safeguard the Spring Salamander and its habitat
Conservation Measures Priority Threats** or Concerns Addressed Timeline
Monitor the effectiveness of the sound practices (agricultural, forestry or measures related to fish stocking) that are implemented Medium 3, 4, 6 2014–2019
Assess whether legal and regulatory measures, land use plans, prescriptive guides and factsheets related to the protection of the water environment or the riparian zone adequately protect the species and its habitat Medium 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 2014–2018
Table 3f. Implementation schedule*
Strategy 2: Obtain complete information on the distribution of Quebec subpopulations and initiate monitoring
Approach 2A. Document and monitor distribution
Conservation Measures Priority Threats** or Concerns Addressed Timeline
Inventory suitable habitat within the species' range that has never been visited High Knowledge gaps 2014–2019
Monitor the species' area of occupancy Medium Knowledge gaps 2014–2019 (annual)
Table 3g. Implementation schedule*
Approach 2B. Monitor the species within its area of occupancy
Conservation Measures Priority Threats** or Concerns Addressed Timeline
Document the catch per unit effort at sites where such a calculation is possible High Knowledge gaps 2014–2019
Develop and implement a program to monitor trends in subpopulations High Knowledge gaps 2014–2019
Confirm the presence of subpopulations that have not been seen for over 25 years High Knowledge gaps 2014–2019
Monitor the quality of occurrences in the CDPNQ Medium Knowledge gaps 2019
Table 3h. Implementation schedule*
Strategy 3: Identify the ecological knowledge that is required to ensure recovery
Approach 3A. Design and conduct the necessary studies.
Conservation Measures Priority Threats** or Concerns Addressed Timeline
Locate suitable habitat using a landscape analysis approach (watershed scale) High Knowledge gaps 2014–2019
Assess genetic connectivity within the various subpopulations as a function of landscape characteristics Medium Knowledge gaps 2014–2019

* Responsibility for the implementation of the activities listed in Table 3 will be established by a process of consultation involving the responsible jurisdictions and organizations concerned.
** 1: Residential, recreational/tourism and wind power generation; 2: Groundwater pumping for residential, agricultural and commercial use; 3: Logging; 4: Fish introductions/stocking; 5: Climate change; 6: Agricultural production; 7: Alteration of surface water quality by acid rain and de-icing salts.

7. Measuring Progress

The performance indicators presented below provide a basis for defining and measuring progress toward achieving the management objectives established for the Spring Salamander in Canada. Success in implementing this management plan will be evaluated every five years using the following performance indicators:

  • The index of area of occupancy of the subpopulations identified by COSEWIC[7] is maintained at a minimum of 1412 km².
  • The threats to the subpopulations identified by COSEWIC[7] are reduced or eliminated.
  • The abundance of the subpopulations identified by COSEWIC[7] is maintained or increased.

7 The Portneuf subpopulation is excluded from this objective; see section 3.2 for further details.

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