Training

See also: California Tiger Salamander, Habitat Restoration

On June 21-23, 2010, Pete Trenham, Ph.D. presents a workshop in northern Monterey County on the biology and conservation of the California tiger salamander (CTS). Dr. Trenham has published a variety of papers on the ecology and life history of the California tiger salamander and has most successfully taught similar, popular workshops several times.  This workshop differs from other, previously offered workshops in that this one focuses on the upland habitat of this threatened salamander, and especially the methods for sampling/surveying upland habitats.

Workshop venue is Hastings Natural History Reservation, approximately 1 hour east of Monterey.  For accommodation information and more on the venue, see the end of this message. Hastings is a good site as there is a known breeding pond immediately adjacent to the property, thus providing participants with a probability of capturing metamorphosing juveniles as they emerge from the pond.

The workshop consists of both classroom and field sessions. 

Day 1:  June 21, 1:00 – 6:30 p.m.  Classroom lectures and field sessions

Classroom session:  introduction to basic CTS biology, especially focusing on upland habitat use, ecology, and sampling.  Field session:  Introduction to field materials and tools. Drift fence and pitfall trap construction.

Day 2:  June 22, 6:30 a.m. – 11:00 pm Classroom lectures and field sessions

6:30 – 8:30, Morning field session, checking traps, weigh, measure, photograph animals and release.

8:30 – 10:00, Morning break.

10:00 – 3:00, Classroom lecture and group exercises (including lunch break)

3:00 – 6:00 pm, Aquatic sampling.

9:30 – 11:00 pm **Conditions dependent** night time fluorescent powder tracking of metamorph CTS.

Day 3 (optional):  6:30 – 11:00 Field Session

Checking traps, weigh, measure, photograph animals and release.  Disassembling traps and correctly site restoration.

Workshop Objectives: This is a great opportunity to gain an understanding of the biology of California tiger salamanders.  By completing this workshop, we hope you will also better understand how this information can be applied to habitat management for this species. The information conveyed will be useful in large-scale and local conservation planning efforts. Topics discussed will include: the geographic distribution of California tiger salamanders and hybrid populations, upland and aquatic habitats and their management, individual organism movement patterns, population and community ecology, survey methods, and methods for assessing potential project impacts and approaches for avoidance and minimization.

During a field training sessions, participants will also receive training in species identification, sampling techniques, and habitat requirements of the California tiger salamander.  Workshop moderator Grey Hayes will use the field setting to assist participants in analysis of the impacts of a fictitious development proposal so that they will better be able to analyze impacts and design avoidance/mitigation in the real world.

Important Registration Details: Please note, you can pre-register using this website, but we must receive your payment no later than 5 p.m. May 31^st for us to reserve a spot for you at the workshop. Your registration will not be completed without payment by this date. Send a check for $285 made out to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, sent to Grey Hayes, c/o ESF, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville, CA 95076. We will email you after we have received your payment. We cannot refund any of your registration fee(s) if you cancel after 5 p.m. May 31^st. Cancellation before this date results in our refunding all but a $50 processing fee. Registration is non-transferable; we do not allow people to 'trade' their registration, even with people in the same organization. We reserve the right to cancel the workshop by 5 p.m. June 7, in which case a full refund of fees would be remitted.

Accommodations:  The workshop is being held at the Hastings Natural History Reservation, approximately 1 hour east of Monterey.  For driving instructions and a map, see:

http://www.hastingsreserve.org/Contacts/DrivingInstructions.html

Camping is available at the venue.  Showers and cooking facilities are available for campers.  Otherwise, look for lodging via your usual tools in the area.  Let us know if you need more help.