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33-687: Dardanelles Cone is a mountain peak in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness on the Stanislaus National Forest . It lies near Sonora Pass in the Sierra Nevada of California . It is between State Route 4 and State Route 108 . The Dardanelles Cone consists of volcanic material dating back millions of years. It stands out in contrast to the forested and more recently arrived granite landscape around it. This Alpine County, California -related article

66-484: A bold sun yellow to a lighter pale yellow; larger ones may can hints of orange on their hind legs. The throats of it range from white to yellow. Along with its variable coloration, the frog also has a dorsal pattern with dark spots in different shapes and sizes. Its species name muscosa is from the Latin meaning "mossy" or "full of moss ", inspired by its coloration. It may have light orange or yellow thighs. When handled,

99-636: A coalition partner and is raising two groups of wild collected tadpoles from two localities in the San Gabriel Mountains where they are released when ready. In 2015, the Oakland Zoo began a rehabilitation project of the frog in order to fuel efforts to save the species. Every year, a group of tadpoles are taken from native lakes throughout California and brought to the zoo. There, the tadpoles are grown to juvenile frogs, while also undergoing an inoculation process to render them immune to

132-572: A common species, Rana muscosa was absent from much of its native range by the 1970s. Over the course of the last hundred years, 90% of its populations have been eliminated. The frog was known from 166 locations in the Southern California mountains, and as of 2007, only seven or eight remained. The 2009 discovery of R. muscosa at two locations in the San Bernardino National Forest was newsworthy. The frog

165-599: A federally endangered species since 2014. The mountains separating the headwaters of the South Fork and Middle Fork of the Kings River mark the boundary between the ranges of the two species. Rana muscosa is 4 to 8.9 centimetres (1.6 to 3.5 in) long. Females tend to be larger than males. Its color and patterning are variable. It is yellowish, brownish, or olive with black and brown markings. The underside of its hind legs can be different hues of yellow, from

198-411: A juvenile when it survives one winter. It becomes ready to reproduce after 2 years of the juvenile stage. It is found that the growth and development rate is slower at higher elevations. The frog lacks a vocal sac . Its call is raspy, rising at the end. During the day, it calls underwater. The frogs tend to be less active during the winters and more active during the mating season. For years when there

231-617: A permanent water habitat for at least two years while they develop. This is because tadpoles can die from a lack of moisture, especially dry summers. The frog has been noted at elevations of between about 1,214 and 7,546 feet (370 and 2,300 m) in Southern California. These habitats are primarily found in north of California in Sierra Nevada and south of California in the Transverse ranges. The frog emerges from its wintering site soon after snowmelt. Its breeding season begins once

264-492: A problem due to an insatiable appetite for backpackers' food. The forest cover consists of lodgepole pine , Jeffrey pine , aspen, Sierra juniper and curl-leaf mountain mahogany . The Carson–Iceberg Wilderness supports a native population of the only Paiute cutthroat trout in existence in the drainages of Silver King Creek, a tributary of the East Fork Carson River. They were listed as endangered under

297-455: A tadpole can be identified by changes in the pigmentation of these parts. Adults have keratin-rich skin and suffer worse infections. In studies, healthy adult frogs exposed to infected frogs for at least two weeks developed the disease. Transmission takes longer in tadpoles, generally over seven weeks. Frogs may be predisposed to infection if their immune systems are weakened by other factors, such as pesticide. Studies indicate that R. muscosa

330-409: A tadpole for 3 to 4 years before undergoing metamorphosis . However, this rate heavily varies depending on the temperature and elevation of the area. There are two classes of tadpoles: first year tadpoles and second year tadpoles. Metamorphosis tends to happen the second summer of tadpole life. They are called metamorphs when this transition from tadpole to young frog is occurring. They are then called

363-665: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Located in the wilderness are the headwaters of the Carson River draining the east side of the crest, as well as the North and Middle Forks of the Stanislaus River on the west slopes. The name Carson–Iceberg comes from two prominent geographical features: the Carson River (named for noted scout and explorer Kit Carson ) and

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396-602: Is heavy snow at high elevations, they may only be active for 90 days in the summer. Hibernation tends to happen underwater or in the crevices of stream banks. This occurs during the cold months of winter. Hibernation ends in the spring to start the breeding season. This species feeds on aquatic insects and benthic invertebrates. Their diet varies depending on the habitat type. When living in streams, it tends to eat terrestrial insects such as beetles, ants, bees, wasps, flies, and dragonflies. They are also known to eat larvae of other frogs and toads, as well as commit cannibalism. Once

429-549: Is naturally more susceptible to the chytrid fungus than many other frogs. The frog is an endangered species under the US Endangered Species Act . It is separated into two distinct population segments (DPS): a northern DPS, listed endangered since 2014, and a southern DPS that was listed endangered in 2002. The two DPS are separated by the Tehachapi Mountains , and occupy unique habitats:

462-400: Is represented in the Sierra Nevada by three or four populations. Its decline is attributed to many factors, including introduced species of fish such as trout, livestock grazing, chytrid fungus, and probably pesticides, drought, and ultraviolet radiation. Recreational activities in streams have also had an impact. Trout were introduced to lakes and streams throughout the Sierra Nevada in

495-665: The Aquarium of the Pacific partnered with government organizations like the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to create a facility for taking care of mountain yellow-legged frogs. This was in response to recent wildfires which harmed their habitats. Following the wildfires, wildlife agencies found and moved these frogs into places like the facility established by the Aquarium of the Pacific. These efforts help

528-578: The chytridiomycosis fungus disease. Once ready, the now chytrid immune juvenile frogs are released back into the lakes they were found. In 2016, the Oakland Zoo released 53 specimens into various lakes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks . The program is set to release 130 inoculated individuals into lakes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Inyo National Forest in 2017. In 2021,

561-755: The Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 and upgraded to threatened status in 1973 with the passage of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) which allowed regulated fishing of the Paiute. Historically, the US Fish and Wildlife Service believe the Paiute trout only occupied the Silver King Creek and its tributaries below the barrier of LLewellyn Falls, and around 1912 were introduced to other streams where

594-523: The Paiute hybridized with the Lahonton and rainbow trout species. The "revised recovery plan" by the US Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to remove nonnative fish from the environment, protect habitat for the current populations of Paiute trout, both within the historical range of the Silver King Creek watershed and the other streams in the region, such as North Fork Cottonwood Creek, and lastly, to study

627-511: The Paiute trout to better understand the population trends. The main distinguishing characteristic is the lack of spots on the body. The closely related Lahontan cutthroat trout has between 50 and 100 spots whereas the Paiute may have up to nine, but rarely more than five. The Paiute trout require a habitat of clean, well-oxygenated, moving water with gravel bottoms and quiet pools near riparian zones. They reach maturity in 2 years, spawn during June and July with eggs hatching in 6–8 weeks and

660-558: The Southern Sierra Nevada . It is a federally listed endangered species , separated into two distinct population segments (DPS): a northern DPS, listed endangered in 2014, and a southern DPS that was listed endangered in 2002. Populations formerly classified as Rana muscosa in the northern Sierra Nevada have since been redescribed as a new species: Rana sierrae , the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog. The Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog has also been classified as

693-744: The US Forest Service. Here is an example of climate trends that can be seen in the wilderness at about 7800 feet. Mountain yellow-legged frog The mountain yellow-legged frog ( Rana muscosa ), also known as the southern mountain yellow-legged frog , is a species of true frog endemic to California in the United States. It occurs in the San Jacinto Mountains , San Bernardino Mountains , and San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California and

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726-495: The distinctive granite formation called "The Iceberg" on the southern boundary near Clark Fork Road. Historical highlights: Jedediah Smith crossed the Sierra Nevada Range near Ebbetts Pass sometime in 1827, and the first immigrant party of Bartleson–Bidwell crossed over in 1841 near Sonora Pass. The wilderness supports large herds of mule deer and there is also good habitat for black bear , which have become

759-479: The frog emits a defensive odor reminiscent of garlic. The frog occurs in mountain creeks, lakes and lakeshores, streams, and pools, preferring sunny areas. It rarely strays far from water, and can remain underwater for a very long time, likely through cutaneous gas exchange . As such, adults can be found on rocks around shorelines. Close proximity to water is important because eggs are either laid underwater attached to rocks or in shallow waters. The tadpoles require

792-444: The frog from its historic range has been associated with pesticide drift from agricultural areas. Frogs that have been reintroduced to water bodies cleared of fish have failed to survive, and analysis has isolated pesticides in their tissues. Pesticides are considered by some authorities to be a greater threat to the frog than the trout. The relative roles that pesticides and introduced fish play in frog declines are still debated, and

825-582: The fry emerging from the gravel in 2–3 weeks. The rate of growth depends on water temperature and food access, with the Silver King Creek Paiute having been measured at 13.5 inches. Predators include the water shrew and the dipper, a bird that can go underwater to feed. Humans impact the Paiute trout as the fish show a lack of wariness to anglers, possibly because of the high elevation environment and lack of predators. Serious population declines have occurred from moderate to light fishing of

858-458: The highest meltwater flow is over, around March through May in the southern part of its range, and up to July in higher mountains to the north. Fertilization is external, and the egg cluster is secured to vegetation in a current, or in still waters sometimes left floating free. How long it takes for breeding onset varies from 1–4 years depending on the levels of snow and temperature. Very cold temperatures may cause death of larvae. The juvenile may be

891-435: The late 1800s to increase recreational fishing in the area. 90% of these Sierra Nevada lakes and streams did not previously have fish in them, although the trout were regionally present. The fish feed on tadpoles, a main prey item. Some of the fish types that prey on tadpoles include the brown, golden, and rainbow trout, as well as the brook char. The introduced trout have changed the distribution of several native species in

924-425: The local ecosystems. Most of the mountain yellow-legged frog populations did not evolve to adapt to the trout. The trout caused populations to isolate, restricted the amount of available habitats, and increased the chances of extinction. After the removal of fish from several lakes, the frog reappeared and its populations increased. These frogs then began to disperse to other suitable habitats nearby. The decline of

957-466: The loss of R. muscosa in its former range has probably been influenced by multiple factors. This species is one of many amphibians affected by the fungal disease chytridiomycosis . Ample research has explored the biology of the fungus and how to prevent related amphibian declines. The fungus attacks keratinized areas of a frog's body. Tadpoles are not severely affected because only their jaw sheaths and tooth rows are heavily keratinized. Infection in

990-482: The mountain yellow-legged frog as endangered. Its NatureServe conservation status is "critically imperiled". The first successful captive breeding of the frog occurred in 2009 when three tadpoles were reared at the San Diego Zoo . Conservation workers at the zoo plan to release any more surviving captive-bred frogs in the San Jacinto Mountains , part of their native range. In 2015 frogs and tadpoles of

1023-563: The northern DPS lives in lakes or slow-moving water bodies at alpine and subalpine elevations in the Sierra Nevada, while the southern DPS lives in faster flowing and warmer waters of the chaparral , although it may also occur at higher elevations in the Transverse Range . In addition, the DPS show genetic divergence, likely reflecting ancient reproductive isolation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has also listed

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1056-665: The species were reintroduced to Fuller Mill Creek in the San Bernardino Mountains and San Bernardino National Forest . They were bred and raised the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research in Escondido , one of the organizations that have partnered with the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research (ICR) to save the species from extinction. The Los Angeles Zoo is also

1089-500: The trout. Also in the Silver King Creek watershed are the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog , mountain yellow-legged frog and the Yosemite toad . A permit is required from May to October for overnight visits into the wilderness but can be used to visit more than one wilderness area in a single trip. There is a limit of 15 people and 25 stock in the wilderness. Leave No Trace methods of wilderness travel are highly encouraged by

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