Salamander Chronicles

Salamander, Evolution, and Awesomeness

Archive for March, 2013

Spring Migration!

Posted by Vinny under Herpetology, Salamanders

While I am focusing on Plethodontid salamanders for my dissertation work, I still enjoy finding all amphibian species.  The spring breeding migration is one of the best times to see a large number of individuals as well as a diversity of species.  The spring migration occurs in early spring, normally early March when there is a hard rain and temperatures are around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.  Typically, one qualification for a strong migration is a week or so of warmer temperatures to help warm the ground.  If it is freezing cold for weeks on end and we suddenly get a nice warm rain chances are the migration will be smaller and many individuals will wait until later in the year.  In a good year, the majority of individuals will migrate all around the same time, in years with odd weather, this can be broken up over several smaller migrations.

 

This year a few friends and myself went out on Monday March 11th.  This was probably the best migration I have experienced in my 3 years in Athens, OH.  We found a bunch of different species, most of which were in high numbers.

 

The night started around 8 pm on route 356 just outside of Athens.  The first salamander we found was several Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), always a joy to find because they are rarely seen outside of the migration and they are quite beautiful.

 

A_maculatum_1

 

A_maculatum_2

As the night continued on we started finding several species of frogs including Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), Green Frog (Rana clamitans), Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica), and Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana).

 

P_crucifer_1 L_clamitans_1

 

 

L_sylvatica_2 L_sylvatica_1

L_catesbeiana_1

 

Aleesha_Frog_Kiss

 

Aleesha_Frog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also were treated to a somewhat unexpected surprise.  Marbled Salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) migrate in the fall, however sometimes a few will be out during the spring migration.  Lucky for us, we stumbled across one during our search.

 

 

A_opacum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also saw several Red-spotted Newts.  Unfortunately, we also saw dozens of road killed salamanders and the newts seemed to be the majority of the dead.

N_viridecens_1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Towards the end of our night out, around 9:30 pm, we started to see the real push to the ponds with large numbers of all species, including a flood of Jefferson’s Salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum).

A_jeffersonianum_1 A_jeffersonianum_2

 

 

A_jeff_A_mac_N_viriSalamanders_1

Salamanders_2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, it was a great night!  Tons of awesome amphibians.  It really made me extra excited for starting field work in April.  I plan on posting a trip itinerary soon in case anyone wants to meet up with me during my field work this spring and summer.  Until then, I hope you enjoyed the photos.