Headwater Salamanders

Photo by Cuyahoga Falls High School, Ohio

In the headwaters of watersheds, aquatic to semi-aquatic salamander species replace fish as the primary vertebrate predator functional group.

Ohio’s Amphibians web resource click hereOhio Salamander Atlas, Ralph A. Pfingsten and Timothy O.

Matson 2003, Ohio Biological Survey click here

Salamanders in PHWH Streams

PHWH Class I Salamander Group

Adapted for life in terrestrial1 forest habitat No aquatic larvae stage of development May collect food in dry channelsPlethodon species

Good bio-indicators of various stages of forest succession Common in beech-maple associations that once were

dominant throughout Ohio. Live in burrows and under decaying logs and leaf litter in

forested areas throughout the state

Photo: Redback Salamander http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/amphibians/lungless/tabid/11697/Default.aspx#redbacksalamander. Accessed 26 Aug 2008

PHWH Class II Salamander Group

Intermittent to constant warm water flow adapted

Larvae present in the stream seasonally, less than 12 month larval period

Photo: Northern Two Lined Salamander http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/amphibians/lungless/tabid/11697/Default.aspx#northerntwolinedsalamander. Accessed 26 August 2008

PHWH Class III Salamander Group

Perennial cool water flow adapted Larvae present in stream on annual basis,

with greater than 12 month larval periodRepresented by obligate aquatic species

Photo: Red Salamander

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/amphibians/lungless/tabid/11697/Default.aspx#redsalamander. Accessed 26 August 2008

Most active during the nightafter sunset

Found during the daylight hours hiding under different types cover including rocks, logs, leaves, moss, bark, burrows

Any attempt to collect salamanders along a stream corridor must include an effort to sample all the different types of microhabitat cover available in the stream reach under investigation

Salamanders in PHWH Streams

Searching for salamanders under rocks Photo by Tria Charnas

Sampling of Salamanders in PHWH Streams

Begin the salamander Visual Encounter Survey (VES) by selecting TWO 30 ft sections of stream within the 200 ft stream reach under investigation.

Choose each sample zone where an optimal number and size of cobble type microhabitat substrate is present (64 to 128 mm length)

Photo by Jeremy Miller

Sampling

Tools Ordinary metal strainer A fine mesh aquatic invertebrate net Small aquaria nets Flat edged insect nets

Techniques Start downstream, move upstream Lift then replace cover objects Dig through gravel substrate

Placement Plastic container or zip lock bag White plastic sorting tray

Goal Document presence-absence Emphasis on salamander larvae

Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamader, Desmognathus Ochrophaeus a class II PHWH indicator. Note eye line extending down from eye. Photo: Cuyahoga Falls High School ISLS 2007

Voucher Specimens

Collect voucher specimens and transport live to the laboratory for proper preservation.

Place captured salamanders into double plastic bags (or plastic containers with air holes) with some moist leaf litter or moss. Place in a cooler with block ice for transport to the lab

Salamanders are killed by drowning in a weak ETOH (15%-20%) solution insuring that they are in a relaxed and not curled position.

Specimens should then be transferred to a jar of 10% formalin for shipment or short term storage.

Place a field tag in/on the jar which includes date, collector name, county, township, and stream identification as listed on the field evaluation form.

Ethical Considerations

At the lab, salamanders should be killed as quickly and humanely as possible in a way that leaves them in a relaxed position.