METHODS AND MATERIALS 



Historic locations of amphibians and reptiles were found in the literature (see 

 Bibliography) and museum specimen records. Records were received from over 20 major 

 museums in North America. We have entered locations from these sources into a database and 

 digitized them. Records from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (University of California - 

 Berkeley) have not yet been received. 



Survey sites were chosen based on 4 criteria: 1) Location of streams, seeps and wetlands 

 on topographic maps; 2) past survey sites as given in the literature and personal communications; 

 3) accessibility of the wetlands by roads or hiking trails; 4) conversations with district biologists 

 on stream-seep-wetland locations and past Forest Service surveys. Based on the above, 2-6 sites 

 were chosen daily for surveys. Thirty minutes - 2 hours were spent at each site depending upon 

 the size of the area and what was found. Initially, the entire shoreline or a major part thereof, 

 was searched by walking slowly along the edge and up into the surrounding vegetation, including 

 rolling over rocks and logs. At regular intervals, the aquatic habitat was sampled for tadpoles or 

 larvae using dipnets. If the initial sampling showed amphibian/reptile species present, further 

 effort was expended in order to get some idea of abundance and distribution. Minnow traps were 

 occasionally used overnight to sample aquatic stages. Night sampling was common in seep 

 areas. Due to the short breeding season of many amphibians, each district was sampled 

 sequentially for one-three day intervals. After all districts were sampled, the cycle was repeated. 

 The drought and fires of 1 994 reduced sampling efforts in some areas. 



In July- August 1994, a significant amount of time was involved electro fishing streams for 

 the Tailed frog. Normal procedure involved sampling 10-100 m of stream using a frequency of 

 120 cps and 200-250 volt output. As soon as 1 or 2 of the tadpoles/adults were found, 

 electrofishing stopped (this often occurred in the first 10 m of stream). If no individuals were 

 found, sampling continued for about 100 m at which point either the stream was sampled at some 

 other point or not sampled again. The majority of streams were sampled at only one or two sites 

 but in several streams (Libby Creek, Grave Creek, Deep Creek), efforts were made to sample the 

 stream at numerous places (up to 8 sites) from lower to higher elevations in order to determine 

 distribution along the stream. Given the short segments of stream sampled and the low voltage, 

 rarely was fish mortality observed. At the request of district biologists, some areas were not 

 electro fished due to the presence of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) or interior redband trout 

 (Oncorhynchus mykiss gibbsi) populations in the streams. In those situations, efforts to capture 

 Tailed frogs were made by rolling over rocks with a net on the downstream side; this method is 

 not as effective as electrofishing. 



An attempt was made to collect the first few individuals of a species in any area, which 

 were identified, the development stage observed and/or measured for body length, sexed if 

 possible and released. Representative samples of the more common species in each latilong were 

 preserved for permanent museum records and will be deposited at the Idaho State University 

 Museum. Water temperature, air temperature, pH and a general description of the area were 

 recorded mdard data sheets used during this project are given in Appendix 4; the amphibian 

 sun sheet was developed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is used extensively by a 



