Contact zone interactions between woodland salamander species of the Plethodon glutinosus and Plethodon jordani complexes in the southern Appalachian Mountains
Highton R. 2015. Contact zone interactions between woodland salamander species of the Plethodon glutinosus and Plethodon jordani complexes in the southern Appalachian Mountains
PI conducted a series of studies of the systematics of salamanders of the genus Plethodon. PI split the zig-zag salamander into three species, with the southern species--P. ventralis--named from a type specimen collected in the 1960s (from the park?). The PI examined the hybrid zone between P. jordani and P. metcalfi in the Hyatt Ridge region and found that gene flow extends farther beyond the contact zone than is expressed by cheek coloration (see study GRSM-00290). Studies were also made of hybridization between P. jordani complex and P. glutenosus complex. PI found very little or no hybridization between P. teyahalee and P. jordani in much of the western and central parts of the park.PI expressed concern over declines in salamander abundance in some locations since the 1960s and 70s, especially the P. glutenosus complex (slimy salamanders).
- Type
- Generic Dataset
- Authors
- Highton, Richard
- Date of Issue
- 2015
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, plethodon glutinosus, plethodon jordani, SER, Southeast Region, StudyID:GRSM-00104, woodland salamander
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Terrestrial Invertebrates