Evaluating Habitat Suitability at Apricot Lane Farms for the Proposed Reintroduction of the California Red-Legged Frog (Rana draytonii)

Amphibians serve as critical indicators of ecosystem health, and their global decline often signals broader environmental degradation. The California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) exemplifies this crisis, having disappeared from an estimated 57% of its historic range to habitat loss, fungal disease, and invasive predators. Almost 75% of the species’ remaining range occurs on private property, meaning future recovery efforts must increasingly rely on public-private partnerships. While working agricultural landscapes are recognized as potential sites for native species conservation, few studies have evaluated their suitability for reintroducing endangered amphibians. Our project addresses this gap by investigating the feasibility of reintroducing the California red-legged frog into an agricultural landscape in Ventura County. The research site, Apricot Lane Farms, is a diverse, organic regenerative farm in Moorpark, California. We focus on a newly restored pond on the property to conduct a comprehensive habitat suitability assessment and determine if the site could serve as suitable aquatic breeding habitat. Establishing a viable population of the California red-legged frog within its historical habitat range could create a new, genetically diverse source population. This initiative could act as a demographic safeguard against stochastic events while facilitating future ecological research and educational opportunities. By evaluating biophysical habitat conditions and developing a Conservation Benefit Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this project provides a framework for reintroduction. Collectively, this work demonstrates how strategic species recovery may successfully coexist with agricultural production in a climate-adaptive future.

Acknowledgements

UC Santa Barbara Bren School: Joan Dudney, Assistant Professor; Ashley Larsen, Associate Professor; Andy MacDonald, Assistant Professor; Arturo Keller, Distinguished Professor; Trace Martin, PhD Student; Kinsey Matthews, PhD Student; Becca Reynolds, PhD Student

Apricot Lane Farms: Shawn Greenbaum; Alaina Perun; Lucas Carlow; Gabriela De La Roca; Alex Janusz; Shawna Snow; Kristen Nordstrom

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Jeff Phillips; Chris Dellith; Eric Morrissette; Rachel Henry

UC Santa Barbara Marine Science Institute & Bren School: Chris Jerde, Associate Researcher & Lecturer

UC Santa Barbara Earth Research Institute: Andrea Adams, Ecologist

UC Santa Barbara Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology: Ken Gilliland, PhD Student

UC Santa Barbara Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration: Chris Evelyn, Vertebrate Curatorial Manager & Assistant Researcher