Species

Rana pretiosa

Common Name(s)

Oregon Spotted Frog

Region where program is based

North America

Country where program is based

Canada

The authority that recommended this species for an ex situ program

Unknown (TBD), Unknown (TBD)

Has a genetic analysis been performed on wild populations to define the target taxon, i.e., verify that single, viable Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU's) that are managed as separate populations, are not confounded by cryptic species or polymorphisms?

No

Name of the institution managing the ex situ population

Vancouver Aquarium

Year the program started

2010

Is at least some portion of the captive population maintained in range country?

Yes

Are sufficient resources available to manage the ex situ population?

Yes

Are adequate numbers of skilled staff available with the appropriate ex situ amphibian experience?

Is sufficient space available for the required population size?

Additional Support required

Has a Taxon Management Coordinator for the ex situ population been appointed?

Yes

Taxon Management Coordinator

Dennis A. Thoney of Vancouver Aquarium

Has a Taxon Management Group or Recovery Team been established?

Yes

Has a Taxon Management Plan, Recovery Plan or Species Action Statement been written?

Web link to Taxon Management Plan

Have Husbandry Guidelines been written?

Web link to Husbandry Management Guidelines

Have any knowledge gaps in the species biology or in their interaction with potential threats been identified that could benefit from research using the ex situ population?

Have founder needs been calculated using the AArk Amphibian Population Management Guidelines ?

Have sufficient potential founders been collected? ( AArk Amphibian Population Management Guidelines recommends a minimum of 20 pairs of found animals).

Is the ex situ population managed by nationals from the range country?

Yes

What tools are used to maximize retention of genetic diversity?

Has the population produced viable offspring?

Yes

Have the first generation captive-bred animals bred successfully?

Yes

Is the ex situ population housed in permanent isolation from other populations occurring outside its range?

Is work being supported to study and mitigate threats to the species in the wild, either by the institution or by a regional wildlife agency?

Have captive-bred or captive-reared animals been released into the wild?

Yes

If releases were undertaken, have disease screening protocols or veterinary health checks been conducted prior to releases to the wild?

Is follow-up work being carried out to monitor progress of the released animals?

Yes

Is the taxon again secure in the wild, even if it might still require some ongoing in situ management? i.e. has the need for a captive assurance population been obviated such that we can call this a successfully terminated captive rescue program?

No

Comments

2017: 1,000 tadpoles released near Agassiz. Currently they are released at a site they were historically found but had been extirpated from that site. The recovery team did habitat alterations to the site to return it to a site suitable for spotted frogs. They have found frogs from previous years at the site and have started to find a few egg masses in recent years. The tadpoles are not marked at release, they are too small. The recovery team does capture, mark and release to monitor frogs they find. (Darren Smy) 2015: This is the fourth year the Aquarium has successfully bred this species. The program has produced over 16,000 tadpoles for release since 2010 and for the first time since the program began, B.C.’s Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery Team recently found juvenile frogs in the wild, indicating that the tadpoles released in recent years are surviving and growing. In March 2015, the Vancouver Aquarium produced 435 Oregon spotted frog tadpoles — 300 were released into the wild, 15 were kept at the Aquarium, and 120 were given to the Greater Vancouver Zoo and released in the fall.