| Cascades frog (Rana cascadae) populations were once prevalent throughout the southern Cascade Range, including Lassen Volcanic National Park (LVNP). There is growing concern due to their rapid decline in these areas. Recent local extinction at LVNP has been driven by the introduction of non-native fish, habitat loss, drought, and chytridiomycosis. We aim to determine candidate areas in LVNP for the reintroduction of Cascades frogs. To achieve this, we will use a modeling approach to assess habitat conditions throughout the southern Cascade Range, where Cascades frogs are found breeding and identify sites with similar conditions within LVNP. Maxent and HEMI will be used to create habitat suitability models using continuous variables, such as temperature, and categorical variables, such as fish presence. The models generated will recommend suitable sites within LVNP for the reintroduction of Cascades frogs.
This paper is a work in progress. |