[vernalpool] Re: rain before, not during: Big Night uncertainty

Here's my stab at it...

As I may have mentioned around this time last year, I find it difficult to believe that wind alone has much of an effect on salamander and other amphibian movement. In my experience, animals will be on the move even during a gale as long as there is a steady rain (or downpour). These guys are low to the ground and typically in the forest where they are not very exposed to wind. However, if you take the rain away, then amphibians seem less likely to move, especially if they need to cross an open area (e.g., Bryan's golf course).

Wind may have a direct effect on movement behavior in open areas where, even low to the ground, critters would be exposed to the drying effect of wind in the absence of rain. In forested habitats, though, the cessation of movement may be more a response to a drop in humidity than to the wind itself. If it is windy following a rain event, there is usually a drop in humidity associated with it (during spring in New England, at least). However, if there is not wind following a rain event, then humidity levels may sometimes remain suitable for amphibian movement, which explains why some movements still occur after the rain has ended. Hence, wind seems to become relevant only when the rain stops, but may just be a correlate of humidity.

I do wonder, however, if wind may impact an animal's ability to orient . . .

Jake

--- In vernalpool@yahoogroups.com, Bryan Windmiller <bwindmiller@...> wrote:
>
> I've actually seen spotted and blue-spotted salamanders at the Concord
> Country Club stop advancing towards their vernal pool breeding sites when
> the rain stopped and the wind began to blow and then turn around and head
> back into the woods.
>
> Bryan
>
> On Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 11:39 AM, matt burne <mattburne@...> wrote:
>
> > I've certainly experienced wind having an effect, but I totally agree with
> > Bryan's more nuanced explanation that as time marches on, those conditions
> > which can put the brakes on earlier start to be less of a concern for the
> > animals.
> >
> > I also agree that the big night myth is just that. I put a lot of energy
> > and anxiety into getting people out for a spectacular event, when I know
> > that it's maybe a 1 in 10 year thing to get a big hit (after supper and
> > before bed time, naturally). Of course, the people that you have to drag
> > out are usually a little less hard-core, may be less understanding of the
> > nuances of the phenomenon, and not interested in a phone call at 2am to get
> > boots and rain gear.
> >
> > Matt
> >
> > On Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 10:36 AM, niccat6 <ncataldo@...> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > > I've always been somewhat surprised by how the cessation of rain
> > > > (particularly early in the season) stops the action in its tracks.
> > > >
> > > > Matt
> > >
> > > In my experience, wind has the same stop-everything effect, no matter how
> > > good the other conditions and timing are. Would you agree, Matt, Bryan?
> > >
> > > N. Cataldo
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
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> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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