Climate Change Effects on Elevational Distributions of Salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Crawford J. 2016. Climate Change Effects on Elevational Distributions of Salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. National Park Service
The PIs hope to establish a robust monitoring protocol for monitoring salamander populations along an elevational gradient, using US 441 as the transect. They hope that their protocol and data will allow them to detect any changes in elevational range for different park species as local climate changes. Red-cheeked salamander (P. jordani) was found at elevations as low as 678 m, a record low in the park, but their peak abundance occurs at 1474 m. Abundance also decreased with increasing slope, and increased with increasing percent vegetated ground cover and leaf litter depth. Plethodon jordani detection probability was highest (31%) at intermediate temperatures around 21oC. Detection also increased with relative humidity and decreased with percent vegetated ground cover. Their models did a poor job of predicting pygmy salamander (D. wrighti) abundance and detection. We found general patterns of increasing abundance at higher elevations but they appear patchily distributed. The variable and generally low detection is likely due to their small size and high risk of desiccation and predation. They did find individuals as low as 671 m, another record low for the park. Despite being considered a widespread species across a large elevational range, we found that the Blue Ridge two-lined salamander (E. wilderae) abundance follows a distribution with a peak at 1379 m. They observed individuals at elevations from 447 to 2020 m. Analysis of genetic diversity across the range of these species continues. Was unable to repeat data collection in 2013.
- Type
- Generic Dataset
- Authors
- Crawford, John
- 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-01094, SER, Southeast Region
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Amphibians and Reptiles