PARENT SESSION
Oral Session 14: Reptiles and Amphibians I: Salamanders and Newts.
Presiding: K McCoy
Monday, August 2, 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM, Meeting Room D 136.
Dispersal and colonization through open fields by a terrestrial woodland salamander.
MARSH, DAVID*,1, THAKUR, KANISHKA1, BULKA, KIM1, CLARKE, LADONNA1, 1 Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, USA
ABSTRACT- The ability of animal species to disperse through matrix habitats is likely to have important implications for species responses to habitat fragmentation. Within fragmented forests, open fields are among the most common matrix habitats. However, few empirical studies have measured the effects of open habitats on dispersal success of forest-dwelling species. We used two experiments to determine the effects of open habitats and distance on dispersal and colonization by red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus. In the first experiment, salamanders were displaced from habitats edges two distances both into an open field and further into the forest. Return rates from salamanders crossing the field vs. the forest were then used to determine the barrier effects of open habitats. Although return rate declined with distance, salamanders returned successfully through open habitat as often as they returned successfully through forest. In the second experiment, we constructed islands of forest-like habitat within an open field. As in the previous experiment, colonization declined with distance. However, salamanders did eventually colonize most of these field plots. Initial colonists tended to be in the size range of young adults, suggesting that there may be a distinct dispersal phase for terrestrial salamanders. Collectively, these results suggest that even relatively sedentary species may able to move through matrix habitats that are otherwise little-used. Given that red-backed salamanders appear to be relatively abundant in fragmented forests, we suggest that movement through open habitats could help to offset some of the negative effects of habitat fragmentation.
Key words: salamander, amphibian, fragmentation, dispersal