Migration to the Breeding Pond by the Spotted Salamander

Copeia ◽  
1951 ◽  
Vol 1951 (1) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Finneran

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 596-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan V Regosin ◽  
Bryan S Windmiller ◽  
J Michael Reed

Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) distributions were studied within eighteen 272-m2 field enclosures in upland deciduous forest adjacent to two breeding ponds. The enclosures were subsequently used in experiments involving (i) removal of small-mammal burrows to determine if burrow abundance influenced salamander density and (ii) manipulation of salamander densities to determine if increased density was associated with decreased growth, fecundity, or probability of re-emerging to breed. Mean density of salamanders wintering in enclosures <65 m from the breeding ponds was 1.0/100 m2 (SD = 1.1/100 m2, n = 17, range = 0–4.0/100 m2). Density declined as distance to the nearest breeding pond increased, and the sex ratio was skewed sharply toward males (8:1) wintering close (<65 m) to the pond but not farther from the pond (1:1). Males residing within the enclosures weighed more than males wintering farther from the breeding ponds. Migrating salamanders were over 3 times more likely to leave burrow-removal plots than control plots prior to the summer inactive period. Salamanders housed at high density (15/enclosure) were less likely to re-emerge to breed than were salamanders housed at low density (5/enclosure), but we observed no effects on growth or fecundity. Results suggest that conspecific distribution and burrow availability might affect the density of spotted salamanders within terrestrial habitats.



1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
DALE R. CALDER ◽  
LESTER D. STEPHENS

Samuel Fessenden Clarke was the leading specialist on hydroids (phylum Cnidaria) in North America over the last quarter of the nineteenth century. During that period he published taxonomic papers on hydroids from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the continent, from the Gulf of Mexico, and from the eastern Pacific off Central and South America. He also authored a section on hydrozoan biology for “The Riverside Natural History” series. Most of his papers on hydroids were published while he was in his twenties. Clarke described as new 61 nominal species, three nominal genera, and one nominal family, as well as two “varieties” of hydroids. A list of these, and their current taxonomic status, appears in the present work. Clarke consistently provided sound descriptions and locality data for all supposed new species, and drew accurate illustrations of most of them. His research on Hydrozoa, beyond alphataxonomy, was directed towards faunal distributions and the use of hydroid assemblages as biogeographic indicators. In addition to investigations on hydroids, Clarke carried out research on the developmental biology of amphibians and reptiles. His doctoral dissertation at Johns Hopkins University was based on the embryology of the “Spotted Salamander” (=Yellow-spotted Salamander), and he published a major paper on the habits and embryology of the American Alligator. Most of Clarke's career was devoted to academic duties at Williams College, Massachusetts, where he was recognized as a dedicated and inspiring teacher. He served the American Society of Naturalists in various capacities, including a term as its president, was an influential trustee of the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, and promoted the study of science in American schools.



Author(s):  
Wen Yuan Chen ◽  
Rong Hung Sun ◽  
Yuan Shan Chen


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Andrews ◽  
Erin Talmage


Author(s):  
Charles Peterson ◽  
Stephen Spear

Due to the current trend of amphibian declines (Wake 1998, Alford and Richards 1999, Semlitsch 2000), the monitoring and study of amphibian populations has become increasingly necessary. To properly do such studies, we must consider several issues. Some of these include the detectability of the species at a site, current status of the population, and the spatial scale for sampling of a population. Determining the detectability of a species is important to consider because some amphibian species may have different difficulties of detection. Therefore, if a species is difficult to observe, it may occupy a greater number of sites than a survey indicates (MacKenzie et al. 2002). The appropriate spatial scale is also important for monitoring studies. For example, in a pond breeding amphibian, do one or two breeding ponds with the appropriate terrestrial habitat constitute the correct sampling area for a population, or does a population utilize multiple ponds within a larger terrestrial area? If the sampling scale is not appropriate, then any conclusions made may be inaccurate (Wiens 1989). In addition, understanding the terrestrial habitat use of pond breeding amphibians is important for both monitoring and conservation reasons. Many pond-breeding amphibians use the ponds for breeding and then utilize terrestrial zones around the pond for the rest of the year. The total area that is encompassed by these terrestrial zones is known as the terrestrial "buffer zone" or core habitat area for that population (Semlitsch 1998). To identify these core habitat areas, we must know not only the distance that the amphibians physically move from the breeding pond, but also the type of habitat that they will use. For example, short, steep slopes or rivers can serve as a barrier to amphibian movement (Laan and Verboom 1990, Storfer 1999), even if they are within the movement range of a population. Understanding individual movement may also give insights into the spatial population structure of the species. If we can identify the average distance of movement, we can then extrapolate if a breeding pond is likely to have an isolated subpopulation based on its distance from other ponds.







Herpetologica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca N. Homan ◽  
Meredith A. Holgerson ◽  
Lindsay M. Biga


1992 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben M. Stout III ◽  
Kathy K. Stout ◽  
Craig W. Stihler


Ecology ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 1549-1555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Douglas Woodward


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