Age and Growth of Hellbenders in the Niangua River, Missouri

Taber, Charles A.; Wilkinson, Robert F.; Topping, Milton S.

doi:10.2307/1443315

Cited by 60 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Pigmentation is lighter laterally and absent ventrally. Larvae develop rapidly during the first few weeks after hatching (Bishop 1941, Taber et al 1975. At one month external gills have become reduced and short hind limbs with three toes are now present (Pfingsten and Downs 1989).…”

Section: Physical Description and Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Irregular, dark spots are scattered on the brownish dorsal and lateral surfaces and inconspicuous yellow markings may be present (Bishop 1941). Juveniles undergo incomplete metamorphosis at around 18 months (Taber et al 1975). Two-year-old specimens collected by Bishop (1941) averaged 11.5 cm in length with a maximum of 13.7 cm.…”

Section: Physical Description and Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Extrapolations from growth rate data suggest that some very large individuals may live as long as 30 years in nature (Taber et al 1975, Petranka 1998). …”

Section: Physical Description and Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taber et al (1975) and Peterson et al (1988) reported that signs of sexual maturity were most common in individuals from 30 to 40 cm in length, with males maturing at a smaller size and younger age than females. Males of reproductive status can be identified during the breeding season by a swelling of a ridge of tissue, forming a ring around the cloaca.…”

Section: Biology and Natural Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using the Eastern Hellbender Salamander in a High School Genetics & Ecological Conservation Activity

Chudyk

McMillan

Lange

2014

The American Biology Teacher

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This article contains an original 5E lesson plan developed from conservation genetics research on the giant North American hellbender salamander, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis. The lesson plan provides background information on the hellbender, reviews basic genetics, and exposes students to the scientific process that is used during PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and the analysis of microsatellites in order to calculate allele and genotype frequencies for understanding genetic variability. Once completing the lesson, students should make the connection between molecular research and conservation of a rare, cryptic, and interesting species.

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Section: Physical Description and Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Physical Description and Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Extrapolations from growth rate data suggest that some very large individuals may live as long as 30 years in nature (Taber et al 1975, Petranka 1998). …”

Section: Physical Description and Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Biology and Natural Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using the Eastern Hellbender Salamander in a High School Genetics & Ecological Conservation Activity

Chudyk

McMillan

Lange

2014

The American Biology Teacher

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“…Hellbenders Cryptobranchus alleganiensis are large (up to 74 cm), fully aquatic, long-lived (25+ yr) salamanders that inhabit cool, highly oxygenated streams in portions of eastern and central North America (Smith 1907, Nickerson & Mays 1973, Taber et al 1975. Currently, 2 subspecies of hellbender have been described.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historic occurrence of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis populations from Missouri

Bodinof¹,

Briggler²,

Duncan³

et al. 2011

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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The pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) was recently detected in Missouri hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis populations that have declined precipitously for unclear reasons. The objective of this study was to determine whether Bd occurred historically in Missouri hellbender populations or is a relatively novel occurrence. Epidermal tissue was removed from 216 archived hellbenders collected from 7 Missouri streams between 1896 and 1994. Histological techniques and an immunoperoxidase stain were used to confirm historic occurrence of Bd infection in hellbenders from the North Fork of the White (1969, 1973, 1975), Meramec (1975Meramec ( , 1986, Big Piney (1986), and Current rivers (1988). Bd was not detected in hellbenders from the Niangua, Gasconade or Eleven Point rivers. The study detected no evidence for endemism of Bd in Missouri hellbender populations prior to 1969, despite the fact that nearly one third of the hellbenders sampled were collected earlier. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that Bd is a non-endemic pathogen in North America that was introduced in the second half of the twentieth century.

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Restoring eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) populations through translocation of headstarted individuals

Kaunert,

Brown,

Spear

et al. 2023

Population Ecology

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Freshwater biodiversity is declining at a fast pace despite significant efforts directed toward the management and conservation of aquatic systems. Eastern hellbenders are one of North America's most iconic stream amphibian species, a sentinel of stream health, and are experiencing rapid population declines throughout most of their range. Common conservation strategies include headstarting; however, the success of this strategy for rebuilding hellbender populations and the most optimal release scenarios have largely been unassessed. We use a cohort of 205 animals released in several Ohio watersheds to evaluate the success of headstarting and reintroduction efforts over 3 years. Using PIT‐tag surveys over 25 occasions between July 2018 and November 2021 and capture–recapture models, we found that 3‐year apparent survival post‐release was 0.162 ± 0.061, with lower survival in year 1 (0.383 ± 0.058) and greater in years 2 (0.696 ± 0.086) and 3 (0.609 ± 0.154). Using demographic simulations, we found that releasing cohorts of N = 100 individuals at fewer suitable sites several times (e.g., 3 releases, 2 or 3 years apart) would be a better strategy compared to single release events across multiple sites. Additional simulations showed that eastern hellbender headstarting programs using wild eggs can be highly beneficial in producing more animals reaching adulthood (up to 7 times, if survival in captivity is assumed to be 100%) compared to development in the wild. This study emphasizes the need to monitor the success of reintroduction programs and provides evidence that headstarting can be a viable strategy for rebuilding eastern hellbender populations.

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Age and Growth of Hellbenders in the Niangua River, Missouri

Cited by 60 publications

References 9 publications

Using the Eastern Hellbender Salamander in a High School Genetics & Ecological Conservation Activity

Using the Eastern Hellbender Salamander in a High School Genetics & Ecological Conservation Activity

Historic occurrence of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis populations from Missouri

Restoring eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) populations through translocation of headstarted individuals

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Age and Growth of Hellbenders in the Niangua River, Missouri

Cited by 60 publications

References 9 publications

Using the Eastern Hellbender Salamander in a High School Genetics & Ecological Conservation Activity

Using the Eastern Hellbender Salamander in a High School Genetics & Ecological Conservation Activity

Historic occurrence of the amphibian chytrid ­fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in ­hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis ­populations from Missouri

Restoring eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) populations through translocation of headstarted individuals

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Historic occurrence of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis populations from Missouri