YOSEMITE TOADS AND WILDFIRES: A HABITAT IN TRANSITION | |||
Tiffany A May; Yosemite National Park/San Francisco State University; aurora6853@gmail.com; Carson Lillard Van Delden, Robert L. Grasso | |||
Frequent and more severe fires are affecting wildlife across the Western United States, including higher elevation species such as the Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus). While there have been studies on the effects of fire on western toads (Anaxyrus boreas), the impacts of fire on Yosemite toads are largely unknown. Fires can alter the hydrology of breeding habitat, destroy the upland forests needed for foraging, and reduce overwintering burrowing habitat by decimating rodent populations. Over the past 30 years, fires have significantly impacted Yosemite toad habitats in Yosemite National Park, transforming large portions of the landscape. This presentation will explore the role of fire in Yosemite toad habitats and examine its effects on both historical and current populations. | |||
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