Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site Amphibian and Reptile Inventory: March-September 2001

Cook, Robert; Brotherton, David; Behler, John

Under a National Park Service/Wildlife Conservation Society Cooperative Agreement, the amphibians and reptiles of Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site (SAGA) in Cornish, Sullivan County, New Hampshire were inventoried from April through September 2001. Six standard methods were employed: anuran calling surveys, egg mass counts, time-constrained search, coverboards, turtle trap surveys, and minnow trap surveys. In addition, animals encountered outside of standardized surveys (temporally or spatially), including observations of rare species by SAGA staff, were recorded as incidental encounters.In the course of this survey, we recorded 15 species, all previously recorded at SAGA. In addition, park staff observed eastern milk snake, previously recorded at SAGA, and the northern ringneck snake, a species previously undocumented at the park but probably historically present. Thus, 17 of 19 (89%) species known or likely to have historically occurred at SAGA were recently recorded. Of the 17 species documented in this study, there were seven anurans, five salamanders, two turtles, and three snakes. Based on numbers of adults and number of occupied sites recorded, the most “abundant” and “widespread” species in each taxonomic group were northern spring peeper (anuran), red-spotted newt (salamander), painted turtle (turtle), and common garter snake (snake). No “listed” species were found. Because of its northern location, the herpetofauna of SAGA is dominated by amphibians both in terms of species richness (71% of all species) and abundance (99% of all individuals recorded). However, records from the 1930’s indicate that reptiles, particularly snakes, were more prevalent in Sullivan County, where SAGA occurs, and suggest that snakes in this region may have since declined. Of the 19 amphibian and reptile species known or likely to have historically occurred at SAGA, 16 appear stable in their population trends. Three other species, the Jefferson salamander complex, wood turtle, and eastern milk snake, are known to be or may be declining in the region, but both historic and current data are too limited to determine trends.Each survey method was useful for sampling different habitats and species, but may have provided a biased sample. Multiple methods were used to compensate for possible sampling bias, but we could not estimate the bias of any individual method or the extent to which multiple methods balanced the bias. Thus, although total numbers of adults recorded are used as an index of abundance for each species, it is an uncalibrated index and its relationship to actual abundance is unknown. Pond time-constrained search (TCS) recorded the most species (10), whereas eight species were recorded with stream TCS, seven during woodland TCS, six with anuran calling surveys and minnow trap surveys, four as incidental encounters, three with turtle trap surveys, two each with egg-mass counts and field TCS, and one species with coverboards. Twelve species were documented in wetland habitats, 11 in uplands, and eight in streams.Stressors associated with amphibian and reptile declines are present at SAGA, but they appear to be low intensity and are not known to be causing negative impacts. However, the park should promote protection of the adjoining landscape and watershed. Future monitoring at SAGA should consider anuran calling surveys, stream salamander surveys, egg mass counts, and trapping pond turtles. Further inventory is needed to better determine the presence/absence/status of several other species and the need for or utility of monitoring them.

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site Amphibian and Reptile Inventory: March-September 2001

Collections