Distribution, occurrence and diversity of salamander species in

Distribution, occurrence and diversity
of salamander species in hemlock ravine habitats
on Geauga Park District Lands
Geauga Park District
Final Report • November, 2009
Geauga Park District
2009
Distribution, occurrence and diversity of salamander species
in hemlock ravine habitat on Geauga Park District lands
Jonathan White
Abstract
The focus of this study was to document evidence of the reproduction of
bioindicator species necessary to qualify the surveyed locations as Class II or
III Primary Headwater Habitat Streams (PHWH) as described by the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) below*.
Class III –PHWH Stream (cool water adapted native fauna)
• Perennial streams
• Coldwater conditions
• Ground water fed
• Contain species of animals that have adapted to year around presence of cool water, such as certain salamander or fish species and insect larvae such as mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies
• Demanding habitat requirements
• Salamander indicator species include:
Northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata)
Red salamander (Pseudotriton ruber)
Class II - PHWH Stream (warm water adapted native fauna)
• Perennial or intermittent streams
• Warm water conditions
• Contain species of animals that are adapted to the warm water
conditions found in these streams, such as certain amphibian or pioneering fish
species and insect larvae such as dragonflies and damselflies
• Salamander indicator species include:
Four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)
Mountain dusky salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)
Northern dusky salamander (Desmognathus f. fuscus)
Northern longtail salamander (Eurycea longicauda)
* Adapted from: Field Evaluation Manual for Ohio’s Primary Headwater Streams, Ohio
EPA, Division of Surface Water September 2002
FIELD SURVEYS:
Field surveys were conducted during the 2009 field season. Surveys were conducted by hand,
primarily in target streams and their immediate vicinity. Methodology consisted of documenting the
GPS coordinates of the streams covered, with intermediate coordinate logging to verify the exact
stretches of the stream that were surveyed. As individual salamanders or larvae were sighted and/or
captured, they were noted on field data sheets that correspond to a given stretch of habitat.
No trapping was performed in the surveys, all were performed manually; lifting logs, rocks and leaf
litter as required.
SPECIES INFORMATION AND MAP DESCRIPTION NOTES:
Documented species were hand identified, some were visual only (no photo voucher), and others were
photographed and later identified with the assistance of Dr. Timothy Matson, Curator of Vertebrate
Zoology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Maps were generated by downloading field data points into Google Earth® directly from a Garmin®
etrex Vista HGX® hand-held GPS unit. The coordinates on the data sheets are the start and end
points of the particular stream surveyed. Photographs are of actual specimens taken in the field at the
locations noted. Although the diversity of salamanders was not great, the presence of the Northern
two-lined and Mountain dusky salamander will qualify all of the streams surveyed as at least Class II,
and most as Class III.
The Leech property should be noted as having a high proportion of erythristic morph Eastern redbacked salamanders, Plethodon cinereus.
Also of note, at Big Creek, in the stream that flows from the pond near the Aspen Grove picnic
area north to Big Creek, are the sheer numbers of Mountain dusky salamanders, Desmognathus
ochrophaeus that were present. It was difficult to turn a rock without finding a Mountain dusky
underneath it.
Whitlam Woods was a prime area for the West Virginia White butterfly, Pieris virginiensis, a species
in decline throughout its range.
The West Woods, West
Date:03/07/09
Site Name: The West Woods (West)
Time:11.00 AM
Township: Russell
Weather: Temperature: 48°F. Last Rain: 12hrs.
✓ Sunny ❑ Pt. Cloudy ❑ Cloudy
Water Characteristics: Temperature: 47°F; pH: 5.5
Water Type: Stream, Complete Surface Flow Fish present? No
Location: 41°27'8.79"N 41°27'5.85"N
Species Observed:
Mountain Dusky
Northern Two-lined
81°18'20.02"W
81°18'15.72"W
Adult
x
x
Juvenile
Larvae
x
Voucher
Photo
x
x
Mayfly larvae, Ephemeroptera.
Northern two-lined salamander larvae, Eurycea bislineata.
Northern two-lined salamander larvae, Eurycea bislineata.
Northern two-lined salamander larvae, Eurycea bislineata.
The West Woods, East
Date:05/31/09
Site Name: The West Woods (East)
Time:11.30 AM
Township: Newbury/Russell
Weather: Temperature: 70°F. Last Rain: 24 hrs.
❑ Sunny ✓ Pt. Cloudy ❑ Cloudy
Water Characteristics: Temperature: 54°F; pH: 5.0
Water Type: Stream, Complete Surface Flow Fish present? No
Location: 41°27'37.16"N 81°17'41.99"W
41°27'38.74"N 81°17'47.72"W
Species Observed:
Mountain Dusky
Northern Two-lined
Eastern red-backed
Adult
x
x
x
Eastern red-backed salamander Plethodon cinereus.
Juvenile
Larvae
Voucher
x
Photo
x
x
Northern two-lined salamander Eurycea bislineata.
Mountain dusky salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Whitlam Woods
Date: 04/18/09
Site Name: Whitlam Woods Time: 10:30 AM
Township: Chardon
Weather: Temperature: 65°F. Last Rain: 48 hrs.
✓ Sunny ❑ Pt. Cloudy ❑ Cloudy
Water Characteristics: Temperature: 53°F; pH: 5.5
Water Type: Stream, Complete Surface Flow Fish present? No
Location: 41°37'55.40"N 81°11'22.89"W
41°38'5.16"N
Species Observed:
Adult
Mountain Dusky
x
Red-backed
x
Northern Two-lined
81°11'31.24"W
Juvenile
Larvae
x
Voucher
Photo
x
Northern two-lined salamander larvae, Eurycea bislineata.
Northern two-lined salamander larvae, Eurycea bislineata.
Northern two-lined salamander, Eurycea bislineata.
Water Penny beetle, Coleoptera psephenidae.
Whitlam Woods, continued
Northern two-lined salamander, Eurycea bislineata.
West Virginia White butterfly, Pieris virginiensis
Dragonfly nymph, Darner or Clubtail Sp. Odonata.
Northern two-lined salamander larvae, Eurycea bislineata.
Stonefly larvae, Plecoptera.
Crane fly larvae, Tipulidae.
Date: 05/02/09
Site Name: Whitlam Woods Time: 9:30 AM
Township: Chardon
Weather: Temperature: 47°F. Last Rain: 12 hrs.
❑ Sunny ✓ Pt. Cloudy ❑ Cloudy
Water Characteristics: Temperature: 53°F; pH: 5.5
Soil Characteristics: Saturated, Moist
Water Type: Stream, Complete Surface Flow Fish present? No
Location: 41°38'03.60"N 81°11'18.20"W
41°38'17.2"N
Species Observed:
Adult
Mountain Dusky
x
Red-backed
x
Northern Two-lined
81°11'31.50"W
Juvenile
Larvae
x
Voucher
Photo
x
x
x
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Mountain dusky salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Northern two-lined salamander, Eurycea bislineata, top;
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus,
bottom.
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Whitlam Woods, continued
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Northern two-lined salamander, Eurycea bislineata.
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Big Creek
Date: 05/30/09
Site Name: Big Creek Time: 3:30 PM
Township: Chardon
Weather: Temperature: 70°F. Last Rain: 18 hrs.
❑ Sunny ✓ Pt. Cloudy ❑ Cloudy
Water Characteristics: Temperature: 58°F; pH: 6.0
Soil Characteristics: Moist
Water Type: Stream, Spring Seep Fish present? No
Location: 41°37'26.50"N 81°12'25.30"W
41°37'22.1"N
Species Observed:
Mountain Dusky
Northern Two-lined
Red-backed
Adult
x
x
x
81°12'20.60"W
Juvenile
Larvae
x
Voucher
Photo
x
x
Northern two-lined salamander, Eurycea bislineata.
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Northern two-lined salamander, Eurycea bislineata.
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Big Creek, continued
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Gravid female, with partial albinism.
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Gravid female, with partial albinism.
Date: 06/20/09
Site Name: Big Creek Time: 1:30 PM
Township: Chardon
Weather: Temperature: 73°F. Last Rain: 24 hrs.
✓ Sunny ❑ Pt. Cloudy ❑ Cloudy
Water Characteristics: Temperature: 65°F; pH: unk
Soil Characteristics: Moist
Water Type: Stream, Complete surface flow. Fish present? No
Location: 41°37'14.13"N 81°12'23.18"W
41°37'8.00"N
Species Observed:
Mountain Dusky
Northern Two-lined
Red-backed
Adult
x
x
x
81°12'12.44"W
Juvenile
Larvae
x
Voucher
Photo
x
x
x
Big Creek, continued
Eastern red-backed salamander Plethodon cinereus
Mountain dusky salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus
Mountain dusky salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus
Northern two-lined salamander Eurycea bislineata
The Rookery
Date: 05/17/09
Site Name: The Rookery Time: 3:30 PM
Township: Munson
Weather: Temperature: 62°F. Last Rain: 10 hrs.
❑ Sunny ✓ Pt. Cloudy ❑ Cloudy
Water Characteristics: Temperature: 48°F; pH: 5.0
Soil Characteristics: Moist
Water Type: Stream, complete surface flow; Spring Seep Fish present? No
Location: 41°29'58.29"N 81°16'48.05"W
41°29'54.35"N 81°17'6.69"W
Species Observed:
Mountain Dusky
Northern Two-lined
Red-backed
Adult
x
x
x
Juvenile
Larvae
x
Voucher
Photo
x
x
Northern two-lined salamander larvae, Eurycea bislineata.
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Eastern red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus.
Northern longtail salamander, Eurycea longicauda.
The Rookery, continued
Northern two-lined salamander larvae, Eurycea bislineata.
Eastern red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus,
erythristic morph.
Eastern red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus,
erythristic morph.
Eastern red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus.
Mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus.
Eastern red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus,
erythristic morph.
A note about the The Rookery.
The Rookery and adjoining Leech tract have been the subject of prior studies* that have revealed
an uncommon diversity of salamander species on these properties, and the following photographic
vouchers are presented here to compile a comprehensive set of species data that pertains to this area in
this document. These images are presented only as a matter of convenience, and are historical records,
and were not part of this study.
* White, J. F., and Semroc, J. M., 2007, Preferred Habitats of Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
Populations on Geauga Park District Lands
The Rookery, historical salamander records.
Marbled Salamander larvae, Ambystoma opacum
Marbled Salamander larvae, Ambystoma opacum
Eastern Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens.
Marbled Salamander larvae, Ambystoma opacum
The Rookery, continued
Northern Red Salamander larvae, Pseudotriton ruber ruber.
Northern Red Salamander, Pseudotriton ruber ruber.
Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum.
Four-toed Salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum
Four-toed Salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum
Northern Slimy Salamander, Plethodon glutinosus
glutinosus.