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Terrestrial Salamander Monitoring Project Rationale for Fieldwork • amphibians are powerful indicators of environmental health • studies suggest that amphibians are declining world-wide Target Species • red-back salamanders • lead-back salamanders Incidental Species • spotted salamanders • blue-spotted salamanders • marbled salamanders • wood frogs • garter snakes Redback Leadback (redback pictured for comparison) Spotted Salamander Marbled Salamander Blue Spotted Salamander Red Spotted Newt Wood Frog Garter Snake terrestrial salamanders – general characteristics • terrestrial salamanders (red-back and lead-back) have completely done away with their aquatic larval stage • terrestrial salamander biomass may exceed biomass of all other vertebrate groups in temperate forests terrestrial salamanders – specific characteristics • extremely efficient at converting food to biomass • longevity of 20 years • low biotic potential, intense protection of young … reproductive strategy? • no lungs – respire through skin, must avoid dessication • cold-blooded • territorial and aggressive populations are impacted by … • • • • • logging development and filling of wetlands insect defoliation soil disruption climate change Are populations in decline? • terrestrial salamanders are critical to forest biodiversity • given their longevity and relatively low biotic potential, changes in population may indicate significant environmental changes underway Fieldwork Protocol • site selection • target species • artificial cover objects (ACO’s) • transects other variables that may affect population counts • time of year • time of day • weather conditions - temperature - cloud cover - recent precipitation - relative humidity how to handle salamanders • avoid over-handling, the “baggie technique” • detached tails • body length • tail length