[vernalpool] Re: surrounding habitat

Michelle,

The study that Jim referenced is one of a handful that has attempted to answer this question. In the eastern U.S., and among various Ambystomatid salamander species, studies have suggested that most (e.g., 95%) resident individuals inhabit upland forest within maximum distances of 157-370 m (515-1,214 ft) from the vernal pool. However, it is important to note that most (if not all) of those studies were limited by technology and other factors in ways that likely biased their results toward shorter distances.

With that said, a number of site-specific variables could influence how far from a vernal pool most salamanders reside. In fact, one study by Christin McDonough and Peter Paton (published 2007 in the Journal of Wildlife Management) seems to suggest a possibility that spotted salamanders reside closer to pools located in areas of intact forest, but may disperse further from pools in areas of fragmented forest. That type of phenomenon would be quite pertinent to the two study pools you described!

On average, you can probably assume most Ambystomatid salamanders will reside within 800-1,000 ft of their breeding pool. I think wood frogs are a bit trickier, as they can really get around and may stray relatively far from their breeding sites during the non-breeding season. I would also suspect that they show less site-fidelity than salamanders, due to their greater dispersal ability, which could make them more difficult to study.

Jake Kubel
NHESP
Westborough, MA

--- In vernalpool@yahoogroups.com, "Jim D'Angelo" <dangelo.jim@...> wrote:
>
> This study indicates that salamander life zone would be about 175m for
> 95% of the population,
> http://www.vtecostudies.org/PDF/Research%20Notes%20No%203%20-%20Salamanders.pdf
>
> I believe for wood frogs it is a bit larger but have not come across
> any large sample size surveys for wood frog.
>
> I would be interested in knowing what answers you do get from others
> on the list that are more knowledgeable on the subject.
>
> Jim D'Angelo
> Sterling Nature Center
> Sterling, NY
>
>
> On 10/6/11, Littleton, Michelle <littletm@...> wrote:
> > On average, does anybody know how far away from the vernal pool the
> > majority of adult salamanders and wood frogs might live?
> >
> > I am a teacher at Carver Middle High School where we have two vernal
> > pools. One is bordered mostly by woods and one is bordered by some
> > trees, but mostly athletic fields and a parking lot. I am hoping to have
> > my classes map the surrounding habitat of each pool. I was thinking
> > about having them do several transects from the various sides of each
> > pool, but am wondering how long the transects should be. Any thoughts?
> >
> > Then of course in the spring we will do a comparative biological
> > analysis of species breeding in the pools.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Michelle
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
>