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You searched for: Journal name Journal of Herpetology Remove constraint Journal name: Journal of Herpetology Subject salamanders and newts Remove constraint Subject: salamanders and newts Text availability Citation in PubAg Remove constraint Text availability: Citation in PubAg
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1. Importance of Native Amphibians in the Diet and Distribution of the Aquatic Gartersnake (Thamnophis atratus) in the San Francisco Bay Area of California

Author:
Preston Daniel L.; Johnson Pieter T. J.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2012 v.46 no.2 pp. 221-227
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Anaxyrus; Lithobates catesbeianus; Pseudacris regilla; Rana; Thamnophis; diet; frogs; ponds; salamanders and newts; snakes; species diversity; stomach; surveys; toads; California
Abstract:
... We investigated the role of amphibian prey in the diet and distribution of the Aquatic Gartersnake (Thamnophis atratus) in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, USA. During surveys for amphibians and snakes at 185 ponds, we captured 139 T. atratus, of which 60 contained identifiable stomach contents. Native amphibians were found in 93% of the snakes containing food. Analysis of stomach content ...
DOI:
10.1670/10-065

2. New Salamanders of the Genus Oedipina (Caudata: Plethodontidae) from Guatemala

Author:
Brodie Edmund D.; Acevedo Manuel; Campbell Jonathan A.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2012 v.46 no.2 pp. 233-240
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodontidae; highlands; new species; salamanders and newts; teeth; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras
Abstract:
... New salamanders of the genus Oedipina are described from the xeric Motagua Valley in eastern Guatemala, the El Trifinio highlands near the Honduras/El Salvador borders, and the Pacific versant of south-central Guatemala. These new species have been previously associated with known species, but possess distinctive foot morphology, different numbers of teeth, and body morphology and inhabit distinct ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-106

3. Tail Length and Sexual Size Dimorphism (SSD) in Desmognathan Salamanders

Author:
Bakkegard Kristin A.; Rhea Rebecca A.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2012 v.46 no.3 pp. 304-311
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
body size; courtship; energy; females; life history; males; phylogeny; resource allocation; salamanders and newts; sexual dimorphism; tail
Abstract:
... Tails serve multiple functions in salamanders: energy storage, courtship, antipredator defense, and respiration. Differences in life history strategies between males and females may generate sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in tail length. However, the contribution of tail length to SSD is relatively unstudied. Because the basal member of the desmognathan salamander Phaeognathus hubrichti shows SSD in ...
DOI:
10.1670/10-307

4. Test of a Body Condition Index with Amphibians

Author:
MacCracken James G.; Stebbings Jennifer L.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2012 v.46 no.3 pp. 346-350
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Lithobates catesbeianus; body composition; body condition; digestive system; energy; juveniles; lipids; salamanders and newts; tadpoles; tissues; water content
Abstract:
... We conducted experimental feeding trials with larval and juvenile Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and Rough-skinned Newts (Taricha granulosa) to assess the accuracy of the scaled mass index (SMI). A control group was fed and a treatment group was starved within a randomized block design. After each of three trials, amphibian tissues were analyzed for lipid, protein, and water content. Mean pre ...
DOI:
10.1670/10-292

5. Uncovering Salamander Ecology: A Review of Coverboard Design

Author:
Hesed Kyle Miller
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2012 v.46 no.4 pp. 442-450
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
ecology; reptiles; salamanders and newts
Abstract:
... Coverboards have been used for decades in research on amphibians and reptiles, but their characteristics have varied widely. This diversity in design may both complicate comparisons among studies and preclude assessment of how coverboards could be deliberately tailored to specific study objectives. Although numerous studies have evaluated the effectiveness of various aspects of coverboards, a gene ...
DOI:
10.1670/10-220

6. A Study of the Sensitivity of Plethodon cinereus (Caudata: Plethodontidae) to Damage-Released Cues from Conspecifics

Author:
Sullivan Aaron M.; Jensen Gregory
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.4 pp. 585-589
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodon cinereus; predation; salamanders and newts; tail
Abstract:
... Some prey species vary the intensity of antipredator responses according to the perceived level of threat associated with different concentrations of chemical cues related to predation. Here, we examine whether Red-Backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) respond to different concentrations of damage-released cues from the tails of conspecifics in a threat-sensitive manner. We exposed salamanders e ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-291

7. Biomass and Habitat Partitioning of Desmognathus on Wet Rock Faces in the Southern Appalachian Mountains

Author:
Crawford John A.; Peterman William E.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.4 pp. 580-584
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodontidae; biomass; birds; ecosystems; habitat preferences; habitats; mammals; microclimate; population density; predation; predators; rocks; salamanders and newts; snakes; Appalachian region; Eastern United States
Abstract:
... The importance of plethodontid salamanders in forested ecosystems has been recognized for decades, and studies aimed at quantifying salamander biomass and determining habitat requirements have become more common. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the use and contribution of vertical structures (e.g., wet rock faces) to total salamander biomass within a forested ecosystem. The purpose of our ...
DOI:
10.1670/13-044

8. Critical Tail Autotomy for Reduction of Maximal Swimming Performance in a Plethodontid Salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus)

Author:
Marvin Glenn A.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.1 pp. 174-178
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodontidae; locomotion; predators; salamanders and newts; swimming; tail
Abstract:
... Although tail autotomy often has an immediate survival benefit, tail loss may subsequently hinder locomotion and the ability to escape from predators. Maximal locomotor performance can be reduced after tail autotomy in the plethodontid salamander Desmognathus quadramaculatus. The loss of a large proportion of the tail length (>60%) is costly for this semiaquatic species in terms of a reduction in ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-011R

9. Fish Influences on Amphibian Presence and Abundance in Prairie and Parkland Landscapes of Minnesota, USA

Author:
Herwig Brian R.; Schroeder Luke W.; Zimmer Kyle D.; Hanson Mark A.; Staples David F.; Wright Robert G.; Younk Jerry A.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.3 pp. 489-497
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
reproductive success; Lithobates sylvaticus; vegetation types; wetlands; tadpoles; lakes; salamanders and newts; landscapes; land use; models; piscivores; fish; land cover; fish communities; drainage; Ambystoma tigrinum; frogs; Minnesota
Abstract:
... Many amphibian populations are declining, and increased understanding of the drivers of amphibian presence and abundance will help in their conservation. In 2005 and 2006 we estimated relative abundance of larvae of two common amphibian taxa, Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) and ranid tadpoles (Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens and Wood Frog Lithobates sylvaticus), in 75 shallow lakes ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-283

10. Impact of Valley Fills on Streamside Salamanders in Southern West Virginia

Author:
Wood Petra Bohall; Williams Jennifer M.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.1 pp. 119-125
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
adults; adverse effects; autumn; ecological function; habitats; hydrochemistry; larvae; macroinvertebrates; mining; salamanders and newts; silt; streams; summer; water quality; West Virginia
Abstract:
... Valley fills associated with mountaintop-removal mining bury stream headwaters and affect water quality and ecological function of reaches below fills. We quantified relative abundance of streamside salamanders in southern West Virginia during 2002 in three streams below valley fills (VFS) and in three reference streams (RS). We surveyed 36 10- × 2-m stream transects, once in summer and fall, pair ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-187

11. Morphological Variation in the Cryptic Species Desmognathus quadramaculatus (Black-bellied Salamander) and Desmognathus folkertsi (Dwarf Black-bellied Salamander)

Author:
Camp Carlos D.; Seymour Zackary L.; Wooten Jessica A.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.3 pp. 471-479
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodontidae; genetic distance; morphometry; salamanders and newts; streams; sympatry
Abstract:
... Plethodontid salamanders in general and the genus Desmognathus in particular exhibit extreme morphological conservatism and rampant homoplasy so that cryptic lineages are common. In spite of this, multivariate morphometric analysis has proven a useful tool in detecting subtle morphological differences among cryptic forms. We used this technique to investigate subtle differences in morphology among ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-287

12. Multiscale Factors Influencing Distribution of the Eastern Hellbender Salamander (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in the Northern Segment of Its Range

Author:
Quinn Samuel A.; Gibbs James P.; Hall Myrna H.; Petokas Peter J.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.1 pp. 78-84
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis; environmental factors; forests; gravel; habitat conservation; habitats; models; salamanders and newts; sand; streams; surveys; watersheds; New York; Pennsylvania
Abstract:
... Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) populations are experiencing drastic declines range-wide. Effective conservation strategies require understanding the environmental factors underlying population occurrence within the stream networks that Eastern Hellbenders inhabit. We contrasted habitat elements between historically occupied and apparently unoccupied sites throughou ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-127

13. Oviposition Site Selection by Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) in an Isolated Wetland

Author:
Kern Madeleine M.; Nassar Adriana A.; Guzy Jacquelyn C.; Dorcas Michael E.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.3 pp. 445-449
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Ambystoma; conservation areas; egg masses; eggs; hydrology; microhabitats; minnows; oviposition sites; predators; regression analysis; salamanders and newts; surveys; temperature; traps; vegetation; vegetation structure; wetlands; North Carolina
Abstract:
... Oviposition site selection is an important aspect of reproduction for species such as amphibians that breed in dynamic environments. We examined predictors of oviposition site selection of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) at Cowan's Ford Wildlife Refuge in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. We conducted egg mass surveys and checked 40 minnow traps for potential predators every 2 days alo ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-179

14. Population Size and Age Structure of Metamorphic and Pedomorphic Forms of Ommatotriton ophryticus (Berthold, 1846) in the Northwestern Black Sea Region of Turkey

Author:
Başkale Eyup; Yildirim Elif; Çevik I. Ethem; Kaya Uğur
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.2 pp. 270-276
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
adults; age structure; allometry; body size; confidence interval; longevity; males; models; population dynamics; population size; reproduction; salamanders and newts; survival rate; Black Sea; Turkey (country)
Abstract:
... Amphibians are in decline in many parts of the world. Understanding the population dynamics of amphibian species is an important prerequisite for developing effective conservation strategies. We used capture–mark–recapture and skeletochronological techniques to investigate population size, body size, and age structure of metamorphic and pedomorphic forms of Ommatotriton ophryticus between 2006 and ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-116

15. Realistic Fasting Does Not Affect Stable Isotope Levels of a Metabolically Efficient Salamander

Author:
Milanovich Joseph R.; Maerz John C.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.4 pp. 544-548
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodon cinereus; animal ecology; animal tissues; body condition; carbon; fasting; field experimentation; invertebrates; lipids; liver; nitrogen; salamanders and newts; stable isotopes; tail
Abstract:
... Stable isotopes are commonly used to examine various aspects of animal ecology. The use of stable isotopes generally proceeds under the implicit assumption that resource use is the only factor driving variation in stable isotope levels; however, a wealth of studies demonstrate that a range of common ecological factors can affect the behavior of stable isotopes in animal tissues and potentially con ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-223

16. Reproductive Biology of the Del Norte Salamander (Plethodon elongatus)

Author:
Wheeler Clara A.; Welsh Hartwell H.; Ollivier Lisa M.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.1 pp. 131-137
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodon; autumn; conifers; courtship; eggs; gravid females; hardwood forests; males; reproduction; salamanders and newts; spermatozoa; spring; summer; winter; California; Oregon
Abstract:
... We examined seasonal reproductive patterns of the Del Norte Salamander, Plethodon elongatus, in mixed conifer and hardwood forests of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon. Seasonal size differences in reproductive structures suggested that maximum spermatogenic activity occurred during the late summer, with spermatozoa transfer to the vasa deferentia occurring in the fall through spring ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-141

17. Seasonal Variation in Corticosterone in Free-Living and Captive Eastern Red-spotted Newts Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens

Author:
Berner Nancy J.; Heil Leslie A.; Romero L. Michael
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.3 pp. 466-470
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Notophthalmus viridescens; blood; breeding; breeding season; captive animals; corticosterone; salamanders and newts; seasonal variation; stress response
Abstract:
... Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA, or HPI —interrenal in amphibians) function and the typical stress response system can be altered in many ways. Glucocorticoids (GC) are modulated seasonally in a variety of vertebrate taxa, and long-term captivity also modifies the HPA/I axis. Our experiment investigated the functioning of the HPI axis in free-living and long-term captive Eastern Red-spotted Ne ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-069

18. Sensory Mediation of Foraging Behavior in the Western Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia nettingi)

Author:
Martin Bradley T.; Goodding Daniel D.; Ford Neil B.; Placyk John S.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.1 pp. 75-77
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
ecology; eyes; foraging; natural history; salamanders and newts; t-test
Abstract:
... The Western Lesser Siren, Siren intermedia nettingi, is a fully aquatic, paedomorphic salamander. The foraging ecology of S. i. nettingi is poorly understood in part because of its nocturnal, benthic nature. We examined sensory mediation of S. i. nettingi foraging behavior focusing on how chemical and visual stimuli may be used to find prey. Specifically, sirens were observed in a test chamber tha ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-209

19. Sexual Dimorphism in Head Shape, Relative Head Width, and Body Size of Eurycea aquatica and Eurycea cirrigera

Author:
Alcorn Michael A.; Deitloff Jennifer; Graham Sean P.; Timpe Elizabeth K.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.2 pp. 321-327
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodontidae; body size; females; habitat preferences; head; males; salamanders and newts; sexual dimorphism; sexual selection
Abstract:
... We examined variation in body size, head width, and head shape between males and females of two ecologically distinct species of plethodontid salamanders, Eurycea aquatica (Brownback Salamander) and Eurycea cirrigera (Southern Two-lined Salamander). Female-biased sexual dimorphism in body size occurred in E. cirrigera but not in E. aquatica. Male-biased sexual dimorphism in relative head width occ ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-317

20. Species-Specific Effects of Acidity on Pond Occupancy in Ambystoma Salamanders

Author:
Fairman Christy M.; Bailey Larissa L.; Chambers Randolph M.; Russell Timothy M.; Funk W. Chris
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.2 pp. 346-353
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Ambystoma; acidification; acidity; conservation areas; habitats; highlands; hydrochemistry; larvae; models; pH; ponds; probability; salamanders and newts; trees; vegetation types; Virginia
Abstract:
... We used an occupancy modeling framework to test the relative importance of upland habitat composition (proportion of different types of vegetation and development) and pond characteristics (water chemistry and vegetation) in determining the occurrence of two species of pond-breeding salamanders, the Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) and Mabee's Salamander (Ambystoma mabeei), in an urban nature ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-019

21. Survival Estimates for Adult Eastern Hellbenders and Their Utility for Conservation

Author:
Olson Zachary H.; Burgmeier Nicholas G.; Zollner Patrick A.; Williams Rod N.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2013 v.47 no.1 pp. 71-74
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis; adults; models; radio telemetry; salamanders and newts; survival rate; Eastern United States; Indiana
Abstract:
... The Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) is a large, completely aquatic salamander native to the eastern United States. Hellbender populations have experienced numerical declines and range contractions over a large geographic area, but few demographic data are available to allow biologists to diagnose specific causes of the declines. We estimated survival of Hellbenders ...
DOI:
10.1670/11-236

22. A New Species of Black Bolitoglossa (Caudata: Plethodontidae) from Guatemala

Author:
Vásquez-Almazán Carlos R.; Rovito Sean M.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2014 v.48 no.4 pp. 518-524
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodontidae; color; new species; phylogeny; salamanders and newts; species diversity; teeth; Guatemala
Abstract:
... We describe a new species of large black Bolitoglossa from the Sierra de las Minas and adjacent regions of Guatemala based on both morphological and molecular data. The new species, specimens of which were formerly assigned to Bolitoglossa meliana (Melanistic Salamander), is distinguished by its dark coloration, numerous teeth, and large size. We present molecular data to support the distinctivene ...
DOI:
10.1670/13-170

23. Amphibian Conservation in Britain: A 40-Year History

Author:
Beebee Trevor J. C.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2014 v.48 no.1 pp. 2-12
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
ultraviolet radiation; funding; salamanders and newts; acid deposition; Epidalea calamita; pesticides; surveys; urban population; habitats; climate change; frogs; Bufo bufo; inbreeding; indigenous species; Rana temporaria; intensive farming; Pelophylax; mortality; toads; United Kingdom
Abstract:
... Agricultural intensification, starting during the Second World War, precipitated declines in all seven native species of amphibians in Britain. Problems in the United Kingdom (U.K.) therefore predated recognition of global amphibian declines and were due to relatively simple causes, notably habitat modification and destruction. Pesticides, acid rain, ultraviolet radiation, climate change, and dise ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-263

24. Decline of the Cheat Mountain Salamander over a 32-Year Period and the Potential Influence of Competition from a Sympatric Species

Author:
Kroschel Whitney A.; Sutton William B.; McClure Christopher J. W.; Pauley Thomas K.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2014 v.48 no.3 pp. 415-422
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodon cinereus; environmental impact; habitat destruction; habitats; models; probability; salamanders and newts; surveys; sympatry; threatened species; weather; Appalachian region; West Virginia
Abstract:
... We evaluated trends in occupancy of the Cheat Mountain Salamander (Plethodon nettingi) over a 32-yr period and examined the potential influence of competition by sympatric salamander species on these changes. We conducted surveys at 36 locations along four transects on an elevational gradient in the Appalachian Mountains geographic province of West Virginia, USA. We used occupancy modeling to exam ...
DOI:
10.1670/13-002

25. Discovery of a New, Disjunct Population of a Narrowly Distributed Salamander (Taricha rivularis) in California Presents Conservation Challenges

Author:
Reilly Sean B.; Portik Daniel M.; Koo Michelle S.; Wake David B.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2014 v.48 no.3 pp. 371-379
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
habitat destruction; haplotypes; salamanders and newts; mitochondrial DNA; phylogeny; streams; watersheds; cytochrome b; population growth; demography; genetic variation; exons; California
Abstract:
... A newly discovered population of Red-bellied Newts (Taricha rivularis) in the Stevens Creek watershed in Santa Clara County, California, represents a significant southerly range extension of this species, by approximately 130 km from the nearest records in Sonoma County, California. To investigate the origin of this population we sequenced two mitochondrial genes (ND1, cytochrome b) and one nuclea ...
DOI:
10.1670/13-066

26. Evidence of Ranavirus Infections among Sympatric Larval Amphibians and Box Turtles

Author:
Currylow Andrea F.; Johnson April J.; Williams Rod N.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2014 v.48 no.1 pp. 117-121
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Ambystoma; Anura; Ranavirus; Terrapene carolina; cross contamination; disease reservoirs; herpetofauna; larvae; pathogens; risk; salamanders and newts; turtles; viruses; Indiana
Abstract:
... Ranaviruses are emerging as serious pathogens across ectothermic taxa, recently causing mass die-offs including entire chelonian populations. Amphibians may serve as reservoirs for chelonian infections. To assess this idea and determine whether chelonians in the Midwest are infected with (or at risk for) ranavirus infections, we tested for presence of ranavirus infections among sympatric larval am ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-235

27. Mapping Genotype Distributions in the Unisexual Ambystoma Complex

Author:
Charney Noah D.; Ireland Andrea T.; Bettencourt Brian R.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2014 v.48 no.2 pp. 210-219
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Ambystoma; genome; genotype; geographical distribution; hosts; hybrids; microsatellite repeats; mitochondria; natural selection; salamanders and newts; Massachusetts
Abstract:
... Mapping species' distributions is a primary challenge when managing cryptic lineages of conservation concern. In the case of unisexual Ambystoma salamanders, mapping geographic distribution of genotypes can also help us understand the evolutionary dynamics of one of the most intriguing vertebrate reproductive systems. We combined a mitochondrial sequencing technique with existing nuclear microsate ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-212

28. Postbreeding Habitat Use of the Rare, Pure-Diploid Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)

Author:
Ryan Kevin J.; Calhoun Aram J. K.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2014 v.48 no.4 pp. 556-566
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
trees; summer; forests; correlation; habitat preferences; vernal pools; grasses; salamanders and newts; relative humidity; Acer rubrum; transponders; Ambystoma; highlands; telemetry; swamps; slash; meadows; plant litter; breeding; surveys; spring; stand basal area; habitats; North America
Abstract:
... The pure-diploid Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale) is among the rarest amphibians in northeastern North America, and data on its ecology are sparse. We assessed the movement ecology and terrestrial habitat use of A. laterale using radio- and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag- telemetry. We radio-tracked 22 A. laterale for a median of 54 days (range 6–126 days) in the spring and s ...
DOI:
10.1670/13-204

29. Seasonal Migration by Red-Backed Salamanders, Plethodon cinereus

Author:
Woolbright Lawrence L.; Martin Christopher P.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2014 v.48 no.4 pp. 546-551
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodon cinereus; adults; age structure; autumn; body size; eggs; hatching; hills; migratory behavior; pH; salamanders and newts; seasonal variation; soil temperature; soil water; spatial variation; spring; winter
Abstract:
... We report direct observation of seasonal movements of adult Plethodon cinereus uphill to a rocky hilltop in the fall and downhill into a wet area in the spring. Counts from arrays of cover boards in both areas showed occupancy patterns that were consistent with seasonal changes in spatial distribution. Soil moisture was markedly higher and pH was slightly lower in the downhill area. Soil temperatu ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-074

30. Seasonal and Annual Survival of the Salamander Salamandra salamandra salamandra

Author:
Schmidt Benedikt R.; Itin Elsbeth; Schaub Michael
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2014 v.48 no.1 pp. 20-23
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Salamandra salamandra; adults; mark-recapture studies; population growth; probability; salamanders and newts; summer; winter
Abstract:
... Survival is an important component of population growth rate. We use data from a 9-yr mark-recapture study to estimate annual and monthly survival probabilities of adult salamanders (Salamandra salamandra). Monthly survival probability was 0.98–0.99 and did not differ between summer and winter. Annual survival probability was 0.86. These estimates are similar to estimates for other salamander spec ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-056

31. Stream-Water Temperature Limits Occupancy of Salamanders in Mid-Atlantic Protected Areas

Author:
Grant Evan H. Campbell; Wiewel Amber N. M.; Rice Karen C.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2014 v.48 no.1 pp. 45-50
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
chemical composition; climate; conservation areas; ecosystems; landscapes; models; national parks; pH; salamanders and newts; stream flow; streams; temperature; uncertainty; urbanization; water quality; District of Columbia
Abstract:
... Stream ecosystems are particularly sensitive to urbanization, and tolerance of water-quality parameters is likely important to population persistence of stream salamanders. Forecasted climate and landscape changes may lead to significant changes in stream flow, chemical composition, and temperatures in coming decades. Protected areas where landscape alterations are minimized will therefore become ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-138

32. A Re-Evaluation of the Pleistocene Hellbender, Cryptobranchus guildayi

Author:
Bredehoeft Keila E.; Schubert Blaine W.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2015 v.49 no.1 pp. 157-160
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis; extinct species; fossils; mammals; salamanders and newts; Potomac River
Abstract:
... Cryptobranchus guildayi has been described as an extinct species of large salamander that is related closely to the modern Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis. The validity of this extinct taxon has been questioned; thus, an expanded osteological sample of modern Hellbenders was compared to the C. guildayi fossil material. Based on our analysis of the fossil material, all morphological charac ...
DOI:
10.1670/12-222

33. Advancing Terrestrial Salamander Population Ecology: The Central Role of Imperfect Detection

Author:
O'Donnell Katherine M.; Semlitsch Raymond D.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2015 v.49 no.4 pp. 533-540
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodontidae; analytical methods; environmental health; forest ecosystems; habitats; models; monitoring; population ecology; probability; salamanders and newts; species diversity; surveys; terminology
Abstract:
... Terrestrial salamanders (Plethodontidae) are increasingly cited as important surrogates for monitoring forest ecosystem health and biodiversity. To accurately assess the ecological role of salamanders, total abundance is more relevant than the population subset available for sampling. Therefore, estimating detectability is important for generating unbiased population metrics, as abundance estimate ...
DOI:
10.1670/14-100

34. Egg Hypoxia Decreases Posthatching Survival and Delays Metamorphosis in Ambystoma maculatum (Spotted Salamander)

Author:
Mills Nathan E.; Ward Zachary A.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2015 v.49 no.4 pp. 616-620
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Ambystoma; eggs; embryogenesis; environmental factors; hatching; hypoxia; larvae; life history; metamorphosis; oxygen; rearing; salamanders and newts
Abstract:
... Environmental conditions to which amphibians are exposed can influence embryonic development and physiology and thus alter later life-history traits. We exposed Ambystoma maculatum eggs to oxygen partial pressures (PO₂) of 1.6, 3.5, 7.9, 12.4, and 18.1 kPa. No eggs survived in the 1.6-kPa treatment, but 94% of the eggs incubated at greater PO₂s survived to hatching. We reared the resulting larvae ...
DOI:
10.1670/14-043R1

35. Importance of Riparian Forest Buffers in Conservation of Stream Biodiversity: Responses to Land Uses by Stream-Associated Salamanders across Two Southeastern Temperate Ecoregions

Author:
Surasinghe Thilina D.; Baldwin Robert F.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2015 v.49 no.1 pp. 83-94
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
anthropogenic activities; biodiversity; canopy; ecoregions; fauna; land use; microhabitats; piedmont; plant litter; riparian areas; riparian buffers; riparian forests; salamanders and newts; soil conservation; stream channels; urbanization; Southeastern United States
Abstract:
... Stream microhabitats are strongly influenced by adjacent terrestrial land use and other anthropogenic disturbances. Therefore, sensitive stream fauna can be highly imperiled. We investigated relative susceptibility of stream-associated salamanders to riparian land use by studying species-specific responses that influence community assembly. The Piedmont and Blue Ridge ecoregions of the southeaster ...
DOI:
10.1670/14-003

36. Niche Partitioning at Local and Regional Scale in the North African Salamandridae

Author:
Escoriza Daniel; Hassine Jihène Ben
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2015 v.49 no.2 pp. 276-283
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Salamandra; aquatic habitat; breeding sites; dry environmental conditions; microclimate; niches; ponds; salamanders and newts; semiarid zones; streams; vegetation cover; water temperature
Abstract:
... The composition of Urodela assemblages is regulated by macro- and microclimatic conditions and by the interactions established between ecologically analogous species. Species of the North African Urodela are distributed unevenly; some species have large ranges whereas others occur in fragmented populations or in restricted ranges. We examined the niches occupied by these species to determine the f ...
DOI:
10.1670/13-151

37. Agonistic Behavior and Resource Defense among Sympatric Juvenile Pond-Breeding Salamanders

Author:
Nussbaum Sarah E.; Ousterhout Brittany H.; Semlitsch Raymond D.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2016 v.50 no.3 pp. 388-393
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Ambystoma; adults; aggression; breeding; habitats; juveniles; salamanders and newts; sexual maturity; sympatry
Abstract:
... Interference competition is frequently observed in sexually mature adults as they defend breeding territories. However, it remains unclear in many taxa whether juveniles respond aggressively to other juveniles or if they defend resources. To test whether postmetamorphic juveniles of a pond-breeding amphibian were aggressive towards other juveniles or were defending resources, we staged terrestrial ...
DOI:
10.1670/15-160

38. Differences in Larval Allometry among Three Ambystomatid Salamanders

Author:
Anderson Thomas L.; Ousterhout Brittany H.; Drake Dana L.; Burkhart Jacob J.; Rowland Freya E.; Peterman William E.; Semlitsch Raymond D.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2016 v.50 no.3 pp. 464-470
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Ambystoma; allometry; biotic factors; environmental factors; head; larvae; ontogeny; ponds; predation; risk; salamanders and newts; sympatry; Missouri
Abstract:
... Ecological and evolutionary processes commonly result in morphological variation among larval amphibians. Variation in head shape plays a critical role in both food capture and predation risk in gape-limited salamanders, yet in situ studies of head shape variability are rare outside of cannibal morph assessments. We examined allometry differences in larval head width (HW) and snout–vent length (SV ...
DOI:
10.1670/15-178

39. Relationship between Behavioral Thermoregulation and Physiological Function in Larval Stream Salamanders

Author:
Strickland Justin C.; Pinheiro Ana P.; Cecala Kristen K.; Dorcas Michael E.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2016 v.50 no.2 pp. 239-244
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
ambient temperature; issues and policy; land cover; larvae; life history; metabolism; oxygen consumption; riparian forests; salamanders and newts; streams; thermoregulation; Eastern United States
Abstract:
... Relationships between behavioral regulation, environmental temperatures, and physiological tolerance are critical to conservation policy; however, these relationships may not be consistent among sister taxa. A species geographic range is influenced by various factors including physiological tolerance to temperature change. In this study, we investigated the effects of temperature variation on ther ...
DOI:
10.1670/15-028

40. Seasonal Patterns of Intraguild Predation and Size Variation among Larval Salamanders in Ephemeral Ponds

Author:
Mott Cy L.; Sparling Donald W.
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2016 v.50 no.3 pp. 416-422
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Ambystomatidae; digestive system; early development; monitoring; ontogeny; ponds; predation; predators; prediction; risk; salamanders and newts; seasonal variation; tadpoles
Abstract:
... Predation among potential competitors, or intraguild predation (IGP), is dependent on size disparities between competing predators and prey and strongly influences the ecology of larval amphibians in ephemeral ponds. Although intraguild prey are hypothesized to exhibit faster growth rates than intraguild predators and, therefore, outgrow predation risk through time, intraguild predation also is as ...
DOI:
10.1670/15-029

41. The Role of Prey in Microgeographic Variation in Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) Head Width

Author:
Carlson Bradley E.; Langkilde Tracy
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2016 v.50 no.3 pp. 442-448
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Lithobates sylvaticus; phenotypic plasticity; tadpoles; salamanders and newts; Notophthalmus viridescens; ponds; males; predators; head; sexual selection; eggs; females; adults
Abstract:
... For gape-limited predators, investment in larger heads should occur when larger prey items are more profitable or are the only prey option available. This may result in evolutionary or within-lifetime (plastic) increases in gape size in animals exposed to larger prey. This phenomenon has been well documented in larval but not adult caudates (salamanders and newts). We report here evidence of great ...
DOI:
10.1670/15-025

42. Using Spatial Capture–Recapture to Elucidate Population Processes and Space-Use in Herpetological Studies

Author:
Muñoz David J.; Miller David A. W.; Sutherland Chris; Grant Evan H. Campbell
Source:
Journal of Herpetology 2016 v.50 no.4 pp. 570-581
ISSN:
0022-1511
Subject:
Plethodon cinereus; adults; computer software; demography; experimental design; females; herpetofauna; males; models; monitoring; population density; population dynamics; salamanders and newts; surveys
Abstract:
... The cryptic behavior and ecology of herpetofauna make estimating the impacts of environmental change on demography difficult; yet, the ability to measure demographic relationships is essential for elucidating mechanisms leading to the population declines reported for herpetofauna worldwide. Recently developed spatial capture–recapture (SCR) methods are well suited to standard herpetofauna monitori ...
DOI:
10.1670/15-166