The role of micro-habitat in shaping the evolutionary ecology of Plethodontid salamanders of the eastern United States
Farallo V. 2016. The role of micro-habitat in shaping the evolutionary ecology of Plethodontid salamanders of the eastern United States. National Park Service
The PI hopes to ground truth and fine-tune models of micro-habitat needs for lungless salamanders (Plethodontidae) throughout the eastern US to facilitate studies of the impacts of climate change and other anthropogenic stressors. He will be working throughout the eastern US (Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee), with 4-8 sites within the park (Cosby, Balsam Mtn Road, Purchase Knob, Clingmans Dome, Elkmont, and Kephart Prong). Since 2012, he has sampled 113 plots (516 plots total across the whole study including areas outside the park), measuring 90 salamanders and observing at additoinal 303 individuals. Tail tips were collected from 13 individuals for genetic analysis. He installed four long term data logger stations (starting July 17th 2012) off Gabes Mountain Trail, Palmer Creek Trail, Road Prong Trail, and Balsam Mountain Trail. All data logger stations experienced damage from wildlife, especially on the 10cm above ground sensor and the Road Prong Trail array went totally missing in October 2012. PI also used models made out of agar gel and animals temporarily held and lightly stressed to determine water loss rates and energetic responses. Preliminary results suggest that salamanders are actively seeking out cool and wet microhabitat indicating that they are capable of behavioral modification to find the most suitable available habitat.
- Type
- Generic Dataset
- Authors
- Farallo, Vincent
- Date of Issue
- 2016-10-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM Permitted Study ID: GRSM-01098, SER, Southeast Region
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Amphibians and Reptiles