Amphibian richness, rarity, threats, and conservation prospects across the U.S. National Park System

Benjamin J LaFrance; Andrew M Ray; Michael T Tercek; Robert N Fisher; Blake R Hossack

doi:10.1038/s44185-024-00067-1

Amphibian richness, rarity, threats, and conservation prospects across the U.S. National Park System

NPJ Biodivers. 2024 Nov 21;3(1):35. doi: 10.1038/s44185-024-00067-1.

Authors

Benjamin J LaFrance¹, Andrew M Ray², Michael T Tercek³, Robert N Fisher⁴, Blake R Hossack^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ National Park Service, Greater Yellowstone Network, Bozeman, MT, 59715, USA.
² National Park Service, Southern Plains Network, Pecos, NM, 87552, USA.
³ Walking Shadow Ecology, Gardiner, MT, 59030, USA.
⁴ U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego, CA, 92101, USA.
⁵ U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA. blake_hossack@usgs.gov.
⁶ Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA. blake_hossack@usgs.gov.

Abstract

We assessed amphibian diversity, rarity, and threats across the National Park System (U.S.A.), which covers 3.5% of the country and 12% of federal lands. At least 230 of 354 (65%) amphibian species documented in the country occur on National Park Service lands. Of species in parks, 17% are at-risk globally and 20% are uncategorized, reflecting still-widespread data deficiencies. National parks in the Northwest and Northeast had the steepest species‒area relationships. Non-native crayfishes and amphibians occur within 50 km of 60% and 25% of parks, respectively, illustrating the broad threat of non-native predators. Projected mid-century (2040-2069) changes in climatic water deficit, based on 25 climate futures, produced an expected 34% increase in dryness across all national parks in the conterminous U.S.A. Our analyses highlight the extent and regional differences in current and future threats and reveal gaps in species protection, but also reveal opportunities for targeted expansion and active management.