Demographics of a Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma Annulatum) Breeding Migration

Briggler, Jeffrey T.; Johnson, James E.; Rambo, Dwayne D.

doi:10.1894/0038-4909(2004)049<0209:doarsa>2.0.co;2

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…In our study, females were larger and heavier than males, which concurs with populations of the ringed salamander from Arkansas (Spotila and Beumer, 1970;Briggler et al, 2004) and Missouri (Semlitsch et al, 2014). Such consensus confirms that sexual dimorphism in size characterizes A. annulatum over its distributional range.…”

supporting

confidence: 88%

“…We show that breeding migrations occur in the fall and reproductive individuals use a variety of ponds in this area. The reproductive phenology and behavior documented are similar to that reported for populations in Arkansas and Missouri, where breeding migrations occur between August and November and males usually arrive earlier to the ponds (Spotila and Beumer, 1970;Briggler et al, 2004;Hocking et al, 2008;Semlitch et al, 2014). In addition, we identified other similarities with populations of the species previously studied.…”

supporting

confidence: 73%

“…Sex ratios in the Oklahoma breeding populations were mostly male biased as reported by Semlitch et al (2014) for reproductive populations of ringed salamanders in Missouri, but different from variable sex ratios in a population from Arkansas reported by Briggler et al (2004). The sex ratio heavily biased toward males in two of our ponds may be related to the fact that females remained in the water bodies for only a limited time during the breeding season after ovipositing, but it can be reflecting lower annual survival for females, as reported for other Ambystomids (Gamble et al, 2009; De Lisle and Grayson, 2011).…”

supporting

confidence: 48%

“…However, ringed salamanders typically breed at cold temperatures for a few days in the fall, and breeding migrations are stimulated by heavy rains. Adults are found above ground in mass breeding aggregations in ephemeral and permanent upland, montane ponds only during these times and conditions (Trapp, 1956; Spotila and Beumer, 1970; Brussock and Brown, 1982; Briggler et al, 2004). Because adult ringed salamanders are burrowers, and spend most of the year underground in retreats and tunnels (Dowling, 1956; Spotila and Beumer, 1970), the breeding season is the period of the year in which populations can be studied.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Explosive Fall Breeding of the Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma Annulatum) in the Ozark Plateau of Oklahoma, Usa

Carlson

Cabrera-Guzmán

Fox

2023

The Southwestern Naturalist

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The ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) is endemic to the Ouachita Mountains and Ozark Plateau of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma in the United States. There are various records and studies on the habits and ecology of this species in Arkansas and Missouri, but not in Oklahoma. Consequently, this charismatic amphibian species cannot be properly listed or managed for conservation purposes in the state. In this work we present the first documentation of explosive fall breeding aggregations of the ringed salamander in Oklahoma. We conducted fieldwork and found active breeding individuals in 14 ponds from three localities at the Ozark Plateau in the northeastern corner of the state. We used drift fencing with pitfall and funnel traps and performed visual encounter surveys during 6 weeks in the fall to obtain data from adult individuals, to observe their behavior, and to document presence of eggs and larvae in these ponds. We found 694 adult salamanders plus egg masses and larval individuals during the breeding season in 2018. The three localities studied had male-biased reproductive populations, females were significantly larger and heavier than males, there was no sexual size dimorphism in tail length, and behavior and natural history were consistent with that previously reported for the species. Our results show that ringed salamanders reproduce in a variety of temporary and permanent ponds in northeastern Oklahoma and exhibit similar habits and natural history as other populations in the Ozark Plateau region.

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supporting

confidence: 88%

supporting

confidence: 73%

supporting

confidence: 48%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Explosive Fall Breeding of the Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma Annulatum) in the Ozark Plateau of Oklahoma, Usa

Carlson

Cabrera-Guzmán

Fox

2023

The Southwestern Naturalist

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“…As all species used in our study are dependent on ponds for breeding and the ponds act as stepping stones for dispersal, the fact that A. annulatum show lower resistance to movement on ridge tops could be an artifact of the pond configuration on our landscape. Additionally, A. annulatum have been observed moving through old field and pasture habitats toward breeding ponds (Briggler, Johnson, & Rambo, 2004) despite this habitat type leading to decreased survival in many species of Ambystoma likely due to increased desiccation risk and predator abundance (Rittenhouse & Semlitsch, 2006;Rothermel, 2004;Rothermel & Semlitsch, 2002) and higher resistance for gene flow than forested habitats (Crawford, Peterman, Kuhns, & Eggert, 2016;Greenwald et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of breeding phenology on the genetic structure of four pond‐breeding salamanders

Burkhart

Peterman

Brocato

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Understanding metapopulation dynamics requires knowledge about local population dynamics and movement in both space and time. Most genetic metapopulation studies use one or two study species across the same landscape to infer population dynamics; however, using multiple co‐occurring species allows for testing of hypotheses related to different life history strategies. We used genetic data to study dispersal, as measured by gene flow, in three ambystomatid salamanders (Ambystoma annulatum, A. maculatum, and A. opacum) and the Central Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis) on the same landscape in Missouri, USA. While all four salamander species are forest dependent organisms that require fishless ponds to reproduce, they differ in breeding phenology and spatial distribution on the landscape. We use these differences in life history and distribution to address the following questions: (1) Are there species‐level differences in the observed patterns of genetic diversity and genetic structure? and (2) Is dispersal influenced by landscape resistance? We detected two genetic clusters in A. annulatum and A. opacum on our landscape; both species breed in the fall and larvae overwinter in ponds. In contrast, no structure was evident in A. maculatum and N. v. louisianensis, species that breed during the spring. Tests for isolation by distance were significant for the three ambystomatids but not for N. v. louisianensis. Landscape resistance also contributed to genetic differentiation for all four species. Our results suggest species‐level differences in dispersal ability and breeding phenology are driving observed patterns of genetic differentiation. From an evolutionary standpoint, the observed differences in dispersal distances and genetic structure between fall breeding and spring breeding species may be a result of the trade‐off between larval period length and size at metamorphosis which in turn may influence the long‐term viability of the metapopulation. Thus, it is important to consider life history differences among closely related and ecologically similar species when making management decisions.

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A comprehensive review of the effects of roads on salamanders

Ochs,

Swihart,

Saunders

2024

Landsc Ecol

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Context Road expansion has raised concerns regarding road effects on wildlife and ecosystems within the landscape. Salamanders, critical ecosystem components and bioindicators, are vulnerable to road impacts due to habitat loss, migrations, and reliance on stream health. Systemic reviews considering the effects of different road types on salamanders are lacking. Objectives We summarize 155 studies of road effects on salamanders, including paved, unpaved, and logging roads, hiking trails, railroads, and powerlines. We examine trends in road type, study area, and impacts on salamanders; summarize current knowledge; and identify knowledge gaps. Methods We used Web of Science for literature searches, completed in January 2023. We reviewed and summarized papers and used Chi-squared tests to explore patterns in research efforts, research gaps, and impacts on salamanders. Review Roads had negative effects on salamanders through direct mortality, damaging habitat, and fragmenting populations. Traffic and wetland proximity increased negative impacts in some studies; abandoned logging roads showed negative effects. Positive effects were limited to habitat creation along roads. Habitat creation and under-road tunnels with drift fencing were effective mitigation strategies. Non-passenger vehicle roads were critically understudied, as were mitigation strategies such as bucket brigades and habitat creation along roads. Conclusions With road networks expanding and salamander populations declining, managers must account for road effects at landscape scales. The effects of non-paved roads on salamanders are poorly understood but critically important as such roads are frequently located in natural areas. Managers should incorporate mitigation strategies and work to reduce road impacts on vulnerable wildlife.

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Demographics of a Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma Annulatum) Breeding Migration

Cited by 9 publications

References 25 publications

Explosive Fall Breeding of the Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma Annulatum) in the Ozark Plateau of Oklahoma, Usa

Explosive Fall Breeding of the Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma Annulatum) in the Ozark Plateau of Oklahoma, Usa

The influence of breeding phenology on the genetic structure of four pond‐breeding salamanders

A comprehensive review of the effects of roads on salamanders

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