Employing an external backpack radio transmitter to track post-breeding movements of spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum)

Signore, Elizabeth; Ressel, Stephen

From the abstract: "Yellow Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) display elusive behavior, spending most of the year out of sight and presumably in underground burrows except for a few weeks during the spring breeding season. Given their habits, it is difficult to study their behavior throughout the year unless previous measures are taken to follow their terrestrial. Previous studies have used passive pitfall traps to provide data on the general direction of travel from vernal pools, while other studies employed implantable radio transmitters, which require anesthesia and surgery. In this study, I sought to find an effective method of applying external transmitters that would 1) remain intact without abrading skin and 2) allow for unimpeded movement in the field. To these ends, I designed a harness that held Advanced Telemetry Supplies A1015 Series transmitters (0.55g). The Velcro® harness was tested to fit just posteriorly to a salamanders front legs with a transmitter attached dorsally. Five outfitted Spotted Salamanders were held overnight as well as in the field for 30 minutes minimum before release. Four of the five transmitters were tracked and retrieved over 11 days, with movements ranging from 86ft to 173ft. This method holds promise over previously used techniques for short term tracking of salamanders due to its non-invasive nature, quick application, and lightweight quality."