As others have noted, the spotted salamander egg mass count seems to be low this year. I noticed this in two vernal pools I monitor in Northampton. The weather was not optimum for migration. On the night of 4/4 there was heavy fog after a day of rain. The next day i noticed plenty of spermatophores in one vernal pool. Perhaps the male spotted salamanders migrated the previous evening, along the wet ground in the damp fog. Eight days later on the night of 4/12 there was a light warm rain all night. I noticed the first few egg masses on 4/14. Is it possible that the males migrated on 4/4, but the females didn't arrive until 4/12? Does anyone know how long the spermatophores remain viable? Maybe it was too late when the females finally arrived? As of today I counted 9 egg mass, which is less than a third compared to last year. However, it is comforting to know that nature accommodates to most weather conditions.
The wood frogs seemed to do just fine this year, with record numbers of egg masses in another vernal pool nearby (about 175!).
Keith H Davis
Northampton, MA
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.