Amphibians


Species Totals
Introduction
In our region, amphibians are represented by two groups - anurans (frogs and toads) and salamanders.  Both groups of amphibians are declining globally, so their populations should be carefully monitored. 

Salamanders are especially diverse in our region.  In fact, the southern Appalachians are home to the world's largest diversity of salamander species (with a possible exception found in the mountains of China.)  Many of these salamander species are endemic, meaning that they live only in a small area.  Due to this endemism, a decline in Appalachian salamander populations could drive many species to extinction. 

I spent several days of this inventory turning over rocks and logs in the woods and in creeks in search of salamanders.  Most of my frog-monitoring, in contrast, took place when I went out on rainy spring evenings listening for their calls.  I have listed the species found at Wortroot during this study in the following sections. 


Species List

Frogs and Toads
Toad (Bufo sp.)
Toads range across wooded and open areas, coming to water only to breed.  I sighted a toad only once, and it was probably an American Toad (Bufo americanus) but may have been a Fowler's Toad (Bufo fowleri.)  No breeding activity was noted. 

Northern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer crucifer)
Spring Peepers live in marshy ground and in ponds, but go into the woods to hibernate.  A medium-sized population of spring peepers bred in the lower pond during this study.  A few were also heard calling in the new site pond as well as across the property line in the pasture along the southeastern end of Raccoon Branch.  In the lower pond, they could be heard calling through November in the fall and started up again at the beginning of March. 

Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata feriarum)
Chorus frogs live in marshy ground and in ponds.  This species was found breeding at the lower pond in the spring of 2002 but was not seen this year. 

Gray Treefrog (Hyla sp.)
Gray Treefrogs spend most of the year high in trees, coming down only to breed in temporary puddles or in ponds.  There are two species of Gray Treefrogs, Hyla versicolor and Hyla chrysoscelis, which are nearly impossible to tell apart in the field.  No breeding activity was noted on the property and there was only one sighting of the species. 

Green Frog (Rana clamitans melanota)
Green Frogs are found in or near creeks or ponds.  They have a healthy population in the creeks on the property.  Tadpoles which were either Green Frog or Bullfrog were found in the new site pond, suggesting breeding activity last year, but only a small amount of breeding activity was noted for this year in the lower pond. 

Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris)
A few Pickerel Frogs were seen in the creeks of the property.  On small individual, recently transformed from a tadpole, was found in the garden in Wortroot Cove in September 2003, suggesting that there was breeding activity that year though none was noted during the study year. 

Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)
Wood Frogs range throughout woodlands and come to ponds and temporary puddles to breed.  A medium-sized population bred in the lower pond in early March.  I found egg masses which successfully hatched into tadpoles. 


Salamanders
Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus fuscus)
Northern Dusky Salamanders live in and near creeks.  Several Northern Dusky Salamanders were found in and near Grave Creek and Wortroot Creek as well as in Solomon Cove.  Many were small individuals and some could have been another Desmognathus species.  Larvae in creeks suggest that the species breeds on the property.

Southern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera)
Southern Two-lined Salamanders live in creeks.  A few Southern Two-lined Salamanders were found in and near the creek in Wortroot Cove.  One was guarding eggs, showing definite breeding activity. 

Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
Northern Slimy Salamanders are terrestrial and do not require water to breed.  However, like other woodland salamanders, they require relatively deep, moist soil to keep their skin wet enough to breathe through.  One Northern Slimy Salamander was found in Wortroot Cove.  This is often one of the most common woodland salamanders in our region and I would have expected to find more individuals as well as other species of woodland salamanders. 

Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens)
Newts spend half of their life on land and half in ponds.  One Red-spotted Newt was found in the lower pond.  In previous years, this species has had a healthy population and has bred there. 


Further Study
Both anurans and salamanders on the property bear further monitoring.  Populations of each are below what would be expected for the area.  In particular, fewer species of salamanders than would be expected were found during the study. 

Since my studies of the frogs and toads on the property were carried out on their breeding grounds, I was surprised to see relatively few species breeding.  The dry weather in early spring resulted in low or empty ponds and puddles during breeding season, which may have suppressed breeding activity, but I was also absent during the breeding period of some later breeders.  A survey of frogs and toads during a more normal spring is called for. 

Low salamander populations may also have been an artifact of the sampling technique.  I did not search for salamanders during the most appropriate time, in late spring when the temperatures were high enough for salamanders to be active but when the ground was not dry enough for them to seek shelter.  Study during this season may show a greater number of species than I have reported.  However, alternative explanations exist - the forest may not have matured far enough and developed a deep enough layer of soil to allow salamanders to thrive here. 




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Last updated 9/04.