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Headwater Salamanders

Headwater Salamanders. Photo by Cuyahoga Falls High School, Ohio. Salamanders in PHWH Streams. 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 here

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Headwater Salamanders

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  1. Headwater Salamanders Photo by Cuyahoga Falls High School, Ohio

  2. Salamanders • in PHWH Streams 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 here Ohio Salamander Atlas, Ralph A. Pfingsten and Timothy O. Matson 2003, Ohio Biological Survey click here

  3. PHWH Class I Salamander Group • Adapted for life in terrestrial1forest habitat • No aquatic larvae stage of development • May collect food in dry channels • Plethodon 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

  4. 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

  5. PHWH Class III Salamander Group • Perennial cool water flow adapted • Larvae present in stream on annual basis, with greater than 12 month larval period • Represented by obligate aquatic species Photo: Red Salamander http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/amphibians/lungless/tabid/11697/Default.aspx#redsalamander. Accessed 26 August 2008

  6. Most active during the nightafter sunsetFound during the daylight hours hiding under different types cover including rocks, logs, leaves, moss, bark, burrowsAny 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

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