Download or read book Distribution and Habitat of the Threatened Cheat Mountain Salamander Plethodon Nettingi at Multiple Spatial Scales in West Virginia Forests written by Lester O. Dillard and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book NiSource Gas Transmission and Storage Inc Multi species Habitat Conservation Plan Application for Incidental Take Permit written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 1406 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Cheat Mountain Salamander Plethodon Nettingi Recovery Plan written by Thomas K. Pauley and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Conservation Genetics of the Threatened Cheat Mountain Salamander Plethodon Nettingi written by Lauren Rowan and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Monongahela National Forest N F Allegheny Wood Products Easement written by and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Revisiting the Ecological Status of the Cheat Mountain Salamander Plethodon Nettingi After 32 Years written by Whitney A. Kroschel and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Use of Emergent Rocks as Refugia for the Cheat Mountain Salamander P l e t h o d o n N e t t i n g i Green written by Beth Anne Pauley and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book A New Salamander Plethodon Nettingi from West Virginia written by N. Bayard Green and published by . This book was released on 1938 with total page 5 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Historical and Ecological Biogeography of the Eastern Red Backed Salamander Plethodon Cinereus written by Brian P. Waldron and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Patterns in the distributions of species result from numerous ecological and evolutionary processes, including competitive interactions, evolved physiological tolerances, and the historical environmental fluctuations that have caused ranges to shift, expand, or contract over long time periods. For some groups of species, these processes have resulted in an elaborate diversification of traits. For other groups, however, such as woodland salamanders (genus Plethodon), closely related species may be phenotypically similar or even identical. It is less clear what drives the formation of such species, whether and how they maintain their identities and interact after initial divergence, and how such similar species might have evolved ecologically in subtle ways to differentially utilize the landscape. The Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is a small, fully terrestrial woodland salamander notable for its wide distribution and high phylogeographic diversity in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Most of its current distribution, however, was covered by ice sheets at the end of the Pleistocene, suggesting recent and rapid post-glacial expansion. It is not yet clear how P. cinereus colonized these landscapes, and what ecological characteristics made P. cinereus so successful in its range expansion compared to other species. Some studies comparing narrowly-distributed montane Plethodon to their lowland counterparts have suggested a combination of physiological specialization and competitive superiority of montane species relative to generalist lowland species such as P. cinereus, but it is unknown if this asymmetry applies to sets of lowland species outside of montane systems. In this dissertation, I explore the biogeography of woodland salamanders, with special attention to P. cinereus, at ecological and evolutionary time scales to uncover the processes that shape genetic diversity and species distributions. Chapters 1 and 2 concern the historical biogeography and evolution of P. cinereus, while Chapters 3 and 4 compare the habitat use of P. cinereus to two of its more broadly distributed relatives, the Northern Ravine Salamander (P. electromorphus) and the Southern Ravine Salamander (P. richmondi), to test if they have diverged ecologically, including multiple ecological scales. In Chapter 1, I used next-generation DNA sequencing to explore the phylogeographic structure and demographic history of P. cinereus, using the species as a model for the formation of incipient lineages of Plethodon. I identified several groups that diverged within the Pleistocene, yet I also found numerous and sometimes extensive regions of admixture between groups, suggesting a model of range fragmentation and fusion during incipient species formation. In Chapter 2, I focus on the most recent post-glacial expansion of P. cinereus, using DNA sequencing from range-wide samples to uncover the origins and routes of colonization. Results generally supported a southeastern coastal origin that expanded northward, westward into the Great Lakes region, and then a novel colonization route southward back into unglaciated areas. In Chapter 3, I used ecological niche modeling to test if niche differentiation between P. cinereus, P. electromorphus, and P. richmondi explains their broad distributional patterns. All species had estimated niches that were more different than expected by chance, and historical habitat suitability has fluctuated dramatically in the Holocene epoch, although I did not find strong evidence that climatic or topographic variables differentiated occurrences of P. cinereus and P. electromorphus within their overlapping distribution. Finally, in Chapter 4, I explore microhabitat differentiation between P. cinereus and P. electromorphus where they occur and interact at fine spatial scales. Plethodon cinereus greatly outnumbered P. electromorphus, and P. electromorphus used cooler, wetter microhabitats that were also occupied by P. cinereus, with no evidence for a negative correlation in their occupancies or abundances. Taken together, my work suggests that current distributions, including patterns within and between species, are shaped by historical range expansion and contractions, as well as subtle differences in habitat use at multiple spatial scales.
Download or read book Behavioral Ecology of the Eastern Red backed Salamander written by Robert G. Jaeger and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2016-08-04 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The small, terrestrial eastern red-backed salamander is abundant on many forest floors of northeastern North America. Dr. Robert Jaeger and many of his graduate students spent over 50 years studying this species in New York and Virginia, using ecological techniques in forests and behavioral experiments in laboratory chambers in an attempt to understand how this species interacts with other species in the forest and the components of its intra- and intersexual social behaviors. The competitive and social behaviors of this species are unusually complex for an amphibian. This species is highly aggressive towards other similar-size species where they cohabit in forests, often leading to very little geographic overlap between the species. The authors examine the fascinating behavioral traits of this species including social monogamy, mutual mate guarding, sexual coercion, inter-species communication, and conflict resolution.
Download or read book Assessing the Relative Influence of Abiotic and Biotic Impacts to Range Limits in Two Terrestrial Salamander Species Plethodon Glutinosus and Plethodon Mississippi written by Heather Renee Cunningham and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: My research investigated the impact of abiotic factors and species interactions on the geographic distribution of two terrestrial salamander species, Plethodon glutinosus(Northern Slimy Salamander) and P. mississippi (Mississippi Slimy Salamander) at different spatial scales. I addressed the influence of ecological factors such as climate and topography on the relative strength of competitive interactions at broad and local scales. Often these factors are studied as independent determinants of species range limits; therefore, my research was designed to address how interactions between different ecological factors affected populations across geographic space. The novelty of my research was the methodological approach used. To my knowledge, this is the first use of ecological niche modeling in conjunction with fine scaled studies of competitive interactions to empirically test the influence of ecological factors on the relative strength of competitive interactions. At broad spatial scales the cost of competitive interactions for P. glutinosus and P. mississippiwas found to increase at the range margin relative to the interior of the range. However, along the range margin, the influence of climate and species interactions did not vary in a predictable manner. It is likely that interactions between microclimatic conditions, habitat structure, and land cover are stronger constraints on species interactions at the range margin than broad scale climate patterns. Subtle alterations in aggressive behavior, due to the introduction of a non-native congener, had little impact in local scale distribution. This is likely due to habitat structure and local abiotic conditions at the site of introduction. Overall the distributions of P. glutinosus and P. mississippi are shaped by multiple interactions between abiotic and biotic factors that differ in their relative strength at different spatial scales across geographic space. My work demonstrates the importance of considering interactions among various ecological causes of range limits and the spatial scale of investigation.
Download or read book Conservation Assessment of the Sacramento Mountain Salamander written by Cynthia A. Ramotnik and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This document synthesizes existing information on the Sacramento Mountain salamander, a terrestrial amphibian endemic to three mountain ranges in southern New Mexico. The salamander is found in mixed-conifer forests primarily on USDA Forest Service lands, within and under decayed logs, and beneath rocks and litter. Because the salamander depends on a moist microhabitat, it is vulnerable to actions that directly or indirectly reduce the amount of moisture available to it. This assessment will assist land managers in making informed evaluatinos regarding consequences of management decisions and guide them toward a coordinated approach in the context of ecosystem management.
Download or read book Spatial Variation in the Abundance Demography and Physiology of the Montane Endemic Salamander Plethodon Shermani and the Consequences of Climate Change written by Meaghan R. Gade and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As climate change marches on, it is imperative to understand how species respond via distribution, abundance, physiology, and behavior to their environment present-day in order to inform possible responses in the future. Populations of species exist across heterogeneous environments that may differentially influence particular responses. The scale at which these responses are assessed must be considered because patterns can emerge at a local scale that may not be detectable at broader scales. Yet, only assessing local-scale patterns and responses neglects the broader landscape patterns that ultimately shape fine-scales. Montane biodiversity experience extreme abiotic variation over small spatial scales. To increase our understanding of how these gradients influence wildlife across scales, my research examines the patterns of distribution, abundance, demographic life-history traits, behavior, and physiology in the red-legged salamander, Plethodon shermani, across multiple abiotic gradients in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The primary objectives of my research are to (1) understand the effects of spatial patterns on ecological responses of P. shermani and (2) use that knowledge to predict how responses will change in the future. Terrestrial Plethodon salamanders lack lungs and depend on cool and moist microhabitat to facilitate gas exchange across their skin surface. As such, salamanders are restricted to specific habitats. We know that salamander abundance increases with elevation due to the cool and moist regional climate at high elevations. However, my research investigates the role of both elevation and stream distance gradients as broad and fine-scale abiotic gradients, respectively, that salamanders may be responding. Although low elevations are regionally warm and dry, microhabitats near streams are buffered and tend to be cooler and wetter. I found that salamander distribution and abundance track these landscape patterns such that at low elevations, animals are distributed in their highest abundance near stream sides but become less dependent on stream-side habitat at high elevations due to the regionally cool and moist habitat. Salamander life history also varies across these gradients; survival decreases with elevation but reproductive rates and growth increase with elevation. Both survival and reproduction decrease with stream distance at low elevations, but growth and movement increase with stream distance. I also found that a metric for stress, dermal Corticosterone, (dCORT) was lowest in animals at low elevations and stream distance had no effect. Salamander dCORT additively increased in response to experimental conditions reflective of future climate change. I also found that the surface activity probability of salamanders will likely increase in the future in response to rising temperatures. Using a highly integrative approach, my research collectively shows that salamanders have multi-faceted responses to spatial variation of landscapes and will be impacted by future climate change.
Download or read book Identifying the Spatial Distribution of Three Plethodontid Salamanders in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Using Two Habitat Modeling Methods written by Matthew Stephen Kookogey and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The main objective was to create habitat models of three plethodontid salamander species (Desmognathus conanti, D. ocoee, and Plethodon jordani) in GSMNP. To investigate the relationships between salamanders and their habitats, I used three models--logistic regression with use-availability sampling, logistic regression with case-control sampling, and Mahalanobis distance (D2)--for each species to gain a robust view of the relationships. The secondary objective was to compare the different modeling methods within and across the three species. Elevation was the dominant variable for all three species. D2 for D. conanti predicted low elevations, close proximity to streams, metasandstones, and previously disturbed areas. The use-availability model indicated habitat in low elevation, settled areas, pine understory, and flood overstory. The case control model for included only elevation and undisturbed areas. Case-control and D2 predicted presences>90% correctly but absences
Download or read book Individual Population and Landscape scale Effects of Timber Harvest on the Red legged Salamander Plethodon Shermani written by Grant McClintock Connette and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Habitat loss and alteration are widely recognized as major threats to global biodiversity and the vulnerability of animal species to these disturbance processes can depend on the behavioral responses of individuals to modified landscapes. In response to a changing environment, individuals may either attempt to adapt to changing conditions or disperse to new habitat. At the local scale, the emigration of individuals or changes in activity patterns could lead to reduced counts of animals in ecological studies. At broader spatial scales, organismal movement may enable population rescue or reestablishment after disturbance and maintain demographic connectivity among populations. These complex mechanisms underlying the perceived abundance and distribution of species often requires a careful deconstructing of demographic trends and sampling variation in ecological data. Lungless salamanders (Family Plethodontidae) are extremely abundant in many forest and headwater stream ecosystems of eastern North America. These salamanders breathe across their moist skin surface, making them sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and moisture conditions. Thus, changes in habitat characteristics are known to have a considerable effect on populations of these salamanders. However, studies identifying the behavioral or demographic causes of declines as well as patterns of long-term recovery are critically needed. My dissertation research combined behavioral, population and landscape-scale studies to identify the effects of timber harvest on a lungless woodland salamander (Plethodon shermani). The primary objectives of my research were to 1) to describe the short-and long-term effects of timber harvest on salamander abundance and 2) to determine the behavioral or demographic processes dictating the abundance and distribution of salamanders at both local and landscape scales. To characterize baseline population dynamics of the salamander, P. shermani, I conducted a 5-year capture-mark-recapture study which revealed substantial annual variation in survival, recruitment, and population size under natural conditions. Initial results suggest that differences in recruitment and over-winter survival might be responsible for the lower abundances of terrestrial salamanders in logged areas at the end of this study. In an experimental translocation of salamanders into a timber cut and nearby forest habitat, I found that salamanders respond to differences in habitat quality by altering their movement behavior. This type of behavioral shift might help mitigate the risk of sustaining activity in recently logged forest. In an additional study, I tracked salamanders using a PIT-tag telemetry system in order to identify mortality, rather than emigration or reduced activity, as the likely cause for perceived declines in salamanders immediately following timber harvest. Finally, in a series of landscape-scale surveys, I found that salamander abundance was positively correlated with forest age (i.e., years since harvest), that full population recovery can require greater than 100 years, and that populations of species with greater movement ability may recover faster due to immigration of individuals from surrounding forest. Collectively, these studies identify key behavioral and demographic processes responsible for observed changes in salamander populations and suggest specific strategies for conservation and management.
Download or read book Status of the Larch Mountain Salamander Plethodon Larselli in Washington written by Washington (State). Department of Wildlife and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Habitat Preferences of the Junaluska Salamander Eurycea Juanluska Over Two Spatial Scales written by Elizabeth Chattin and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
