NE ARMI Projects
Vernal Pool Amphibians
Vernal
pools are ephemeral wetlands that provide essential habitat for many species
of amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. Because vernal pools lack fish,
a top-level predator of many aquatic habitats, amphibians such as wood frogs
and spotted salamanders preferentially breed in them. In some states such
as Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, vernal pools are starting to receive
attention and regulatory protection (Massachusetts Audubon Society 1991, Kenney
1995, Tappan 1997, Maine Audubon Society 1999, Burne 2001). In most states,
however, vernal pools lack protection, and therefore the amphibians relying
on these habitats may be susceptible to population declines. We are using
egg mass counts as an index of population sizes at vernal pools within National
Parks and National Wildlife Refuges in the Northeast. Our goals are to determine
the status and trends of wood frog and spotted salamander populations in the
Northeast with long-term monitoring and to assess species presence and population
sizes in relation to surrounding land use, road density or distance to nearest
road, proximity to or density of other potential breeding sites, water quality
variables, hydroperiod, and climatic conditions.
For a more detailed account of this survey method, please consult the Egg Mass Count Protocol [PDF]. Data sheets are included in the PDF document.
NOTE: To see the sheets in PDF form, you can install the free Adobe Acrobat© Reader on your computer. [ get the Adobe Acrobat© Reader Here ]
References
Burne, M. R. 2001. Massachusetts aerial photo survey of potential vernal pools. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Westborough, MA, USA.
Kenney, L.P. 1995. Wicked big puddles: A guide to the study and certification of vernal pools. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Maine Audubon Society. 1999. Maine citizen's guide to locating and documenting vernal pools, Falmouth, ME, USA.
Massachusetts Audubon Society. 1991. Certified: A citizen's step-by-step guide to protecting vernal pools. 4th edition, Lincoln, MA.
Tappan, A. 1997. Identification and documentation of vernal pools in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, Concord, NH, USA.
Stream Salamanders
Stream
salamanders are receiving more attention as potential ecological indicators
of small stream health. Small streams are becoming increasingly impacted by
stormwater runoff, development, and other land use changes in the Northeast.
Stream salamanders in the family Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders) are
fairly long-lived, exhibit relatively stable populations, have small home
ranges, and often replace fish as the top vertebrate predators in headwater
stream ecosystems (Southerland 1985, Petranka 1998, Ohio EPA 2001). Headwater
habitats are the small swales, seeps (where ground water oozes slowly to the
surface, usually forming a pool), creeks, and first- and second-order streams
that form the origins of larger rivers. In conjunction with National Parks
and National Wildlife Refuges in the Northeast US and state stream monitoring
programs (Maryland, West Virginia), we are using quadrat and transect survey
methods to count and estimate stream salamander populations. Our goals are
to determine the status and trends of stream salamanders in the Northeast
with long-term monitoring and to assess population sizes in relation to landscape,
habitat, and water quality variables.
For a more detailed account of this survey method, please consult the Stream Salamander Protocol [PDF]. Data sheets (packaged together) are also available in PDF form: Stream Salamander Habitat, Stream Salamander Transect, and Stream Salamander Quadrat.
NOTE: To see the sheets in PDF form, you can install the free Adobe Acrobat© Reader on your computer. [ get the Adobe Acrobat© Reader Here ]
References
Ohio EPA. 2001. Field evaluation manual for Ohio's primary headwater habitat streams. Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
Southerland, M.T. 1985. Organization in Desmognathine Salamander Communities: The Roles of Habitat and Biotic Interactions. Doctoral Dissertation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.