Habitat Suitability Maps for Headwater Stream-Associated Torrent Salamanders
In the moist, coniferous forests of Oregon and Washington, a dense network of headwater streams supports high levels of amphibian species endemism and diversity, including the torrent salamanders (Rhyacotriton spp.). The Columbia and Cascade torrent salamanders (R. kezeri and R. cascadae, respectively) are species of greatest conservation need, but current information is insufficient for an adequate status assessment. We aimed to determine the current distributional extent, occurrence, and abundance of both species across their respective ranges, and to characterize watershed-scale habitat suitability. We conducted rangewide surveys for both species and used a novel, robust model development and refinement process to characterize habitat suitability based on climatic, topographic, forest-structure, hydrological, and water-balance drivers of their distributions. Results supported interspecific differences in range-wide occurrence and abundance patterns, as well as ecological associations that provide insights into potentially divergent patterns of resilience. Topographic, water-balance, and streamflow metrics were top predictors of Columbia torrent occurrences, whereas metrics of seasonal temperature and moisture were top predictors of Cascade torrent occurrences. Our findings can inform regional conservation planning efforts to identify likely climate refugia and habitat-connectivity pathways for gene flow and watershed-scale ecological resilience.
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Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | public |
| bureauCode |
[ "010:12" ] |
| contactPoint |
{ "fn": "Lindsey L Thurman", "@type": "vcard:Contact", "hasEmail": "mailto:lthurman@usgs.gov" } |
| description | In the moist, coniferous forests of Oregon and Washington, a dense network of headwater streams supports high levels of amphibian species endemism and diversity, including the torrent salamanders (Rhyacotriton spp.). The Columbia and Cascade torrent salamanders (R. kezeri and R. cascadae, respectively) are species of greatest conservation need, but current information is insufficient for an adequate status assessment. We aimed to determine the current distributional extent, occurrence, and abundance of both species across their respective ranges, and to characterize watershed-scale habitat suitability. We conducted rangewide surveys for both species and used a novel, robust model development and refinement process to characterize habitat suitability based on climatic, topographic, forest-structure, hydrological, and water-balance drivers of their distributions. Results supported interspecific differences in range-wide occurrence and abundance patterns, as well as ecological associations that provide insights into potentially divergent patterns of resilience. Topographic, water-balance, and streamflow metrics were top predictors of Columbia torrent occurrences, whereas metrics of seasonal temperature and moisture were top predictors of Cascade torrent occurrences. Our findings can inform regional conservation planning efforts to identify likely climate refugia and habitat-connectivity pathways for gene flow and watershed-scale ecological resilience. |
| distribution |
[ { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "Digital Data", "format": "XML", "accessURL": "https://doi.org/10.5066/P1G2IORE", "mediaType": "application/http", "description": "Landing page for access to the data" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "Original Metadata", "format": "XML", "mediaType": "text/xml", "description": "The metadata original format", "downloadURL": "https://data.usgs.gov/datacatalog/metadata/USGS.68d195eed4be0223d8da612c.xml" } ] |
| identifier | http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/USGS_68d195eed4be0223d8da612c |
| keyword |
[ "Cascade Mountain Range", "Cascade Range", "Cascade torrent salamander", "Climatology", "Coast Range", "Columbia torrent salamander", "Ecology", "Oregon", "Pacific Northwest", "Rhyacotriton cascadae", "Rhyacotriton kezeri", "USGS:68d195eed4be0223d8da612c", "Washington", "Water Resources", "Wildlife Biology", "biota", "geospatial analysis", "geospatial datasets", "habitat suitability", "habitat suitability index", "headwater streams" ] |
| modified | 2026-07-13T00:00:00Z |
| publisher |
{ "name": "U.S. Geological Survey", "@type": "org:Organization" } |
| spatial | -124.1995, 43.5840, -120.7196, 46.9770 |
| theme |
[ "geospatial" ] |
| title | Habitat Suitability Maps for Headwater Stream-Associated Torrent Salamanders |
