The Issue: Forests in the Pacific Northwest have changed substantially over the past hundred years because of logging, changing forest management methods, and climate change. These forests contain a dense network of small headwater streams that supply cold, clean water and support 52 amphibian species. These amphibians live both in the cold streams and in the cool, moist areas nearby. Natural resource managers are developing strategies to protect amphibians at risk of extinction.
How USGS will help: The USGS and partners will map amphibian habitat in headwater stream ecosystems and study how climate change impacts the availability of refugia habitat for key species of amphibians. We will look at key environmental and climatic factors that might help species persist in place and find habitat refugia. This will inform how changes in water availability may influence the functional connectivity between habitats.