Stream salamanders as indicators of stream quality in Maryland, USA

Southerland, Mark T.; Jung, Robin E.; Baxter, David; Chellman, Isaac C.; Mercurio, G.; Vølstad, Jon Helge

doi:10.1163/1570754041231596

Cited by 34 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…With respect to other ongoing threats, especially habitat destruction and emerging pathogens, climate change is likely a lesser threat for amphibians over the short-term; however, it represents one of the greatest threats for persistence of vulnerable amphibian populations over the long-term [13]. Salamanders, in particular, possess a variety of adaptations (e.g., cutaneous respiration, low vagility) that make them sensitive to environmental modifications, such as stream alteration and urbanization [14,15], forest management [16,17], and emerging pathogens [18,19]. These same characteristics and sensitivities also make forest salamanders useful biological indicators [20] of global climate change effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicted Changes in Climatic Niche and Climate Refugia of Conservation Priority Salamander Species in the Northeastern United States

Sutton

Barrett

Moody

et al. 2014

Forests

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Global climate change represents one of the most extensive and pervasive threats to wildlife populations. Amphibians, specifically salamanders, are particularly susceptible to the effects of changing climates due to their restrictive physiological requirements and low vagility; however, little is known about which landscapes and species are vulnerable to climate change. Our study objectives included, (1) evaluating species-specific predictions (based on 2050 climate projections) and vulnerabilities to climate OPEN ACCESSForests 2015, 6 2 change and (2) using collective species responses to identify areas of climate refugia for conservation priority salamanders in the northeastern United States. All evaluated salamander species were projected to lose a portion of their climatic niche. Averaged projected losses ranged from 3%-100% for individual species, with the Cow Knob Salamander (Plethodon punctatus), Cheat Mountain Salamander (Plethodon nettingi), Shenandoah Mountain Salamander (Plethodon virginia), Mabee's Salamander (Ambystoma mabeei), and Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) predicted to lose at least 97% of their landscape-scale climatic niche. The Western Allegheny Plateau was predicted to lose the greatest salamander climate refugia richness (i.e., number of species with a climatically-suitable niche in a landscape patch), whereas the Central Appalachians provided refugia for the greatest number of species during current and projected climate scenarios. Our results can be used to identify species and landscapes that are likely to be further affected by climate change and potentially resilient habitats that will provide consistent climatic conditions in the face of environmental change.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicted Changes in Climatic Niche and Climate Refugia of Conservation Priority Salamander Species in the Northeastern United States

Sutton

Barrett

Moody

et al. 2014

Forests

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“…Long-lived stream salamander species are a keystone faunal group, can reach high densities in undisturbed areas, and their life history traits make them sensitive to both stream and upland watershed alterations (Welsh and Ollivier, 1998;Welsh and Droege, 2001;Southerland et al, 2004). In headwater streams, apart from fish, salamanders are the most abundant vertebrate predators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of microhabitat and large-scale land use on stream salamander occupancy in the coalfields of Central Appalachia

Sweeten¹,

Ford²

2016

J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.

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Large-scale coal mining practices, particularly surface coal extraction and associated valley fills as well as residential wastewater discharge, are of ecological concern for aquatic systems in central Appalachia. Identifying and quantifying alterations to ecosystems along a gradient of spatial scales is a necessary first-step to aid in mitigation of negative consequences to aquatic biota. In central Appalachian headwater streams, apart from fish, salamanders are the most abundant vertebrate predator that provide a significant intermediate trophic role linking aquatic and terrestrial food webs. Stream salamander species are considered to be sensitive to aquatic stressors and environmental alterations, as past research has shown linkages among microhabitat parameters, large-scale land use such as urbanization and logging, and salamander abundances. However, there is little information examining these relationships between environmental conditions and salamander occupancy in the coalfields of central Appalachia. In the summer of 2013, 70 sites (sampled two to three times each) in the southwest Virginia coalfields were visited to collect salamanders and quantify stream and riparian microhabitat parameters. Using an information-theoretic framework, effects of microhabitat and largescale land use on stream salamander occupancy were compared. The findings indicate that Desmognathus spp. occupancy rates are more correlated to microhabitat parameters such as canopy cover than to large-scale land uses. However, Eurycea spp. occupancy rates had a strong association with large-scale land uses, particularly recent mining and forest cover within the watershed. These findings suggest that protection of riparian habitats is an important consideration for maintaining aquatic systems in central Appalachia. If this is not possible, restoration riparian areas should follow guidelines using quick-growing tree species that are native to Appalachian riparian areas. These types of trees would rapidly establish a canopy cover, stabilize the soil, and impede invasive plant species which would, in turn, provide high-quality refuges for stream salamanders.

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“…In addition, salamanders can be used as cost-effective indicator species by providing readily quantifiable metrics of ecosystem health, function, and integrity in forest environments [33,36,37]. Due to their highly permeable skin and dependency on multiple habitat types throughout their life cycles, salamanders are physiologically linked to microclimatic and environmental processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They can also be used as indicators to monitor stream health and water quality. For instance, due to the life history, physiology, abundance, ubiquity, and responses of stream salamanders to multiple stressors, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has concluded that they are good indicators of environmental health and created a stream salamander index of biotic integrity [37]. Similarly, native stream salamander densities were used as indicators of stream ecosystem stress in California [38], larval salamanders can be used as indicators of hydrologic permanence in forested headwater streams [39], and an index of biotic integrity for macroinvertebrates and salamanders was used to assess aquatic communities in primary headwater habitat streams in Ohio [40].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors Influencing Salamanders in Riparian Forests: A Review

Clipp

Anderson

2014

Forests

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Salamanders and riparian forests are intimately interconnected. Salamanders are integral to ecosystem functions, contributing to vertebrate biomass and complex food webs in riparian forests. In turn, these forests are critical ecosystems that perform many environmental services, facilitate high biodiversity and species richness, and provide habitat to salamander populations. Due to the global decline of amphibians, it is important to understand, as thoroughly and holistically as possible, the roles of environmental parameters and the impact of human activities on salamander abundance and diversity in riparian forests. To determine the population responses of salamanders to a variety of environmental factors and anthropogenic activities, we conducted a review of published literature that compared salamander abundance and diversity, and then summarized and synthesized the data into general patterns. We identify stream quality, leaf litter and woody debris, riparian buffer width, and soil characteristics as major environmental factors influencing salamander populations in riparian forests, describe and explain salamander responses to those factors, and discuss the effects of anthropogenic activities such as timber harvest, prescribed fires, urbanization, road construction, and habitat fragmentation. This review can assist land and natural resource managers in anticipating the consequences of human activities and preparing strategic conservation plans. OPEN ACCESSForests 2014, 5 2680

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Stream salamanders as indicators of stream quality in Maryland, USA

Cited by 34 publications

References 0 publications

Predicted Changes in Climatic Niche and Climate Refugia of Conservation Priority Salamander Species in the Northeastern United States

Predicted Changes in Climatic Niche and Climate Refugia of Conservation Priority Salamander Species in the Northeastern United States

Effects of microhabitat and large-scale land use on stream salamander occupancy in the coalfields of Central Appalachia

Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors Influencing Salamanders in Riparian Forests: A Review

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