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Family Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders)

Nesting Ecology of the Western Slimy Salamander ( Plethodon albagula ) from an Abandoned Mine Shaft in Arkansas by Stan Trauth, Department of Biological Sciences Arkansas State University. Family Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders). Largest family of salamanders (27 genera and 240 species)

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Family Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders)

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  1. Nesting Ecology of the Western Slimy Salamander (Plethodon albagula) from an Abandoned Mine Shaft in Arkansas by Stan Trauth, Department of Biological Sciences Arkansas State University

  2. Family Plethodontidae(lungless salamanders) • Largest family of salamanders (27 genera and 240 species) • Most diversity in the Nearctic (25 genera),but most species are Neotropical (188 species) • Two subfamilies (Plethodontinae and Desmognathinae) and three tribes (Hemidactyliini, Plethodontini, and Bolitoglossini) • All plethodontids possess a nasolabial groove • The Plethodontini lack aquatic larvae • The genus Plethodon is strictly North American and is represented by at least 34 species Genus Pseudoeurycea showing nasolabial groove (from Biology of Amphibians, by W. Duellman and L. Trueb)

  3. Salamanders of the Genus Plethodon in Arkansas • Nine species of Plethodon • Seven species occur in the Ouachita Mountains • Of the seven, two (P. caddoensis and P.fourchensis) are endemic to Arkansas • Of the remaining five, three (P.albagula, P. kiamichi, and P. sequoyah) are in a sibling species complex Redback Salamander, P. serratus

  4. Caddo Mountain Salamander, Plethodon caddoensis

  5. Fourche Mountain Salamander, Plethodon fourchensis

  6. Rich Mountain Salamander, Plethodon ouachitae

  7. Western Slimy Salamander, Plethodon albagula

  8. Rich Mountain, Polk County, AR

  9. Distribution of Plethodon species in southwestern Arkansas

  10. David Saugey, USFS Research Biologist, at Spillway Mine

  11. Robyn Jordan, ASU Graduate Student

  12. Entrance to Spillway Mine

  13. Shaft extends horizontally 148.1 m

  14. Measuring microhabitat parameters and counting egg clutches

  15. Aggregate of nesting female Plethodon albagula

  16. Brooding Data in Plethodon Facts About What Is Known 1. Most data on brooding have been gleaned through behavioral studies in the red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus), a small eastern species. 2. The primary focus has been on brooding females that either laid and brooded eggs in the laboratory or were removed along with their egg clutches from natural nesting cavities and then were sequestered in the laboratory setting. 3. Many observations were recorded during experimental manipulation of brooding females, their egg clutches, and/or their nesting environments. 4. Brooding information on most large species of Plethodon is lacking primarily because naturally-occurring egg clutches are deposited in secluded microhabitats in areas inaccessible to researchers.

  17. Selected Critical Data Lacking On Plethodon Nesting Ecology 1. Nesting Phenology (timing of nesting events) --Based on seasonal sampling and necropsy of females 2. Nesting Frequency(reproductive cycling--annual, biennial nesting?) --Based on seasonal sampling and gonadal examination 3. Nest Site Selection (microhabitat requirements and utilization) --Unknown for nearly all large species of Plethodon 4. Nest Characteristics (nest quality and preparation) 5. Nest Site Fidelity (return to the same or different nesting sites) 6. General Brooding Behavior (territoriality, defense of nest site or egg clutch)

  18. Primary Objectives • 1. Document nesting sites of Plethodon albagula • in an abandoned mine shaft • 2. Observe and record nest site information without • disturbing females and/or their egg clutches • 3. Evaluate microhabitat utilization by nesting females • 4. Address data regarding brooding postures • and nest site fidelity • 5. Experimentally manipulate females and clutches to • determine if female choice occurs between nesting • site and egg clutches (indirect egg discrimination) • 6. Determine the short-term effects of prescribed • burning on the reproductive output in this species • (2004-2006)

  19. Brooding Postures of Plethodon albagula Six Common Postures A. Egg Clutch Encircled by Body (EEBD) B. Eggs Near or Touching Head and Snout (ETHD) C. Eggs Near or Touching Shoulder Region (ETSH) D. Eggs Near or Touching Body Trunk (ETTR) E. Eggs Near or Touching Pelvic Region (ETHP) F. Eggs Near, Touching, or Encircled by Tail (ETTL)

  20. *Preliminary Results • Brooding females yielded 101 postural observations during the three nesting seasons (1999 - 2001). • The most common brooding position was ETSH (34.6%, 35/101) of the time. • Six brooding females exhibited nest site fidelity during the 1999 and 2001 seasons. • Two brooding females were found at the same nesting sites during the 2000 and 2001 nesting seasons. • One female (R335) has returned to the same nesting site five years (1999-2003) in a row • *Trauth et al. (In press, Herpetological Natural History)

  21. Brooding Postures of an Individual Plethodon albagula Examined During the 2001 Nesting Season Nesting Site Examination Dates A. 14 September B. 28 September C. 26 October D. 30 November

  22. Nov. 3, 2000 Sept. 28, 2001 Nest Site Fidelity and Annual Reproduction (Female - L280.5)

  23. Nov. 3, 2000 Sept. 14, 2001 Nest Site Fidelity and Annual Reproduction (Female - R198)

  24. *Egg Discrimination • Brooding females (n = 13) were presented with their own egg clutches (displaced 50 cm left or right) and unfamiliar egg clutches at their original nest sites • Females were released at an equal distance from both egg clutches • After 24 hr, 9 females (69.2%) had returned to their own next sites and were brooding unfamiliar egg clutches. • These results suggest that brooding females exhibit indirect egg discrimination *Master’s Thesis – Robyn Jordan

  25. Sept. 2 L276 - 2001 Oct. 6 Nov. 3 Dec. 20

  26. Sept. 2 Oct. 6 L275 - 2001 Nov. 3 Dec. 20

  27. Dec. 30, 1999 Nov. 5, 1999 R335 Sept. 2, 2000 Sept. 14, 2001

  28. R335 Sept. 13, 2002 Oct. 11, 2002 August 22, 2003

  29. L325 1 2 3 4 Aggressive Behavior

  30. 5 Successful Defense of Egg Clutch

  31. Female (R12) laying eggs on 13 Sept. 2002

  32. Conclusions 1. Female Plethodon albagula exhibit at least six brooding postures; specific postures can be maintained for prolonged periods of time. 2. 6.31% of females exhibited nest site fidelity. 3. Oviposition during consecutive breeding seasons does occur, although most females exhibit the more typical biennial reproductive cycle. 4. Some type of egg discrimination exists.

  33. Acknowledgments Dept. of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University United States Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest And my graduate and undergraduate students

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