Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

The U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), in collaboration with the Alaska Science Center, is offering a funding opportunity to study the effects of wildfires and fuel treatments on habitat characteristics and food resources of the Jemez Mountains salamander (JMS) in the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VALL), NM. The JMS is an endangered, subterrain species endemic to the Jemez Mountains that generally only goes aboveground to mate and feed. They are strongly associate with cover objects like logs and rocks and are sensitive to temperature (12.7 C is optimal, 33.5 C is fatal). About 50% of VALL’s forested landscape is potential habitat for JMS, which is susceptible to high-severity wildfires—thought to be the greatest threat to JMS. VALL is working with its partners to reintroduce fire into the VALL’s ecosystem in a way that reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires; however, it is unknown how JMS will respond to fuel reduction treatments. Forest managers need information on how JMS and critical aspects of their habitat, including food resources, might respond to their treatments. This opportunity will allow for 1) sampling of soil and litter microarthropods and macroarthropods in various management and wildfire units, 2) quantification of soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH in the same units, and 3) the evaluation of experimental forest management approaches that best support habitat characteristics benefitting JMS. Monitoring of the experimental forest management approaches will include quantifying soil moisture, temperature, organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus—metrics likely to directly or indirectly affect JMS and their food resources. The proposed sampling and assessments are needed to provide VALL forest managers information on links between wildfire and fuel management impacts on JMS critical habitat characteristics, so they can make informed stewardship decisions regarding the endangered JWS.