Inventory of Amphibians and Reptiles of Colonial National Historical Park

Mitchell, Joseph

An inventory was conducted at Colonial National Historical Park (COLO) from 2001 to 2003, to 1) document 90% of the amphibians (frogs, salamanders) and reptiles (turtles, lizards, snakes) of COLO, James City, York, and Surry counties, 2) describe their associated habitats, and 3) provide park staff with conservation and management recommendations. Survey methods included visual encounter surveys, audio surveys, and road surveys; dipnets, minnow traps, and turtle traps were also used. Sixteen species of frogs, 14 salamander species, 10 turtle species, seven lizard species, and 19 snake species were expected to occur at COLO based on known distribution patterns in published literature. The proportion of species documented during this inventory, based on the expected species list, was 88% for frogs, 79% for salamanders, 100% for turtles, 86% for lizards, and 58% for snakes. Total success for amphibians was 83% of expected species, and 72% for reptiles. These success levels are reasonable based on similar inventories conducted elsewhere in Virginia, and sampling limitations caused by the drought conditions that prevailed during the first two years of the study. Nine habitat types used by amphibians and reptiles at COLO were described from the field notes obtained during this inventory, and include beach, grassland, marsh, mixed hardwoods and pine, mixed hardwoods, mixed pine, impoundments, swamp, and stream. All habitats surveyed support multiple species, and most species use both aquatic and terrestrial habitat types. Habitats that support relatively unique assemblages include hardwood forests (e.g., on Jamestown Island near the entrance gate to the loop road), tidal marshes, seasonal ponds, springs and seepages, and freshwater sources on Jamestown Island. Only two species are habitat-specific, the Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means) found in ponds, and the Diamond-backed Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) in estuarine marshes. Streamside salamanders (Desmognathus, Eurycea spp.) constitute another relatively unique assemblage that inhabit springs and associated wet areas. One state-threatened species, Mabee's Salamander (Ambystoma mabeei), was encountered during this survey.

Inventory of Amphibians and Reptiles of Colonial National Historical Park

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