1999/2000 . Proceedings of the Academy of Science l08/109 :105—12 1

AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILE S OF THE GRAND BASI N

Kenneth S . Mierzwa : TAMS Consultants, Suite 3200, 180 North Stetson, . 60601 US A

Spencer A . Cortwright : Department of Biology, Indiana University Northwest, Gary . Indiana 46408 US A

David A . Beamer : Department of Biology, Indiana University Northwest, Gary , Indiana 46408 US A

ABSTRACT . The Grand and its associated dune and swale areas of northwest Indian a is a globally unique ecosystem . However, it has been nearly obliterated by indus trial, commercial, an d residential development . Remnant natural areas, some protected, some not, harbor an incredibly divers e array of amphibians and reptiles . This area features species whose ranges converge from all four compas s directions, hence generating the impressive diversity . Clean up of the and improve - ment of riparian areas should help maintain this diversity . In addition, preservation of unprotected site s and well-planned habitat linkages will further enhance preservation of this diversity for generations t o come .

Keywords : ( ;rand Calumet River, Indiana, amphibians, reptiles, habitat quality, habitat protection, dun e and swal e

The ridge and swale area (Fig . I) surround- vices unique opportunities for preservatio n ing the Grand Calumet River is home to on e and restoration . of the more diverse assemblages of amphibi- In addition to the immediate riparian area . ans and reptiles in . Eac h the contiguous ridge and swale sites were in- time receded, a dune ridg e cluded in the study . Since amphibians and rep- formed trapping an elongate wetland behin d tiles are less mobile than many other verte- it . Well ove r 100 ridges originally existed i n brates and less likely to colonize remote or what is now Gary, East Chicago, and Ham- isolated habitats, existing centers of hiodiver- mond, Indiana . Here, as a result of recent geo- sity must be inventoried . and the data factore d logic and climatic events, species more typica l into management decisions . Information avail - of areas to the north, south, east, and wes t able from recent inventories and older muse - come together and occur in close proximity . um specimens and publications supplemente d Surprisingly, despite the long and intensive in- our own field experience in the area . Nomen- dustrial history of the region, several relative- clature follows Collins (1990), except the for ly pristine natural areas have survived alon g the more recent elevation of Rufo Pubeler-i to with most of their salamander, frog, turtle, liz- specific status (Sullivan et al . 1996) . ard, and snake species . The survival of these PRE-SETTLEMENT CONDITION S natural areas and their associated faunas pro - Origin of the herpetofaunal assem- blage .—Presumahly, amphibians and reptile s C~uirnrociclr ess : Department of Biology . Easter n entered what is now the Grand Calumet Rive r Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolin a area shortly after the end of the Wisconvina n 27858 USA. glaciation . Remains of the cold-tolerant tur -

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ties, (heft~drer serpentirza and Chrvscmys pie- ta, have been found in association with mas- todon hones in southeastern Michigan an d east-central Indiana (t-Tolman Andrew s 1994) at sites dated to 13,000—11,000 year s before present (ybp) . Other species that today have northern distributions also must hav e been present in the boreal forest that covered northwest Indiana at that time . However, th e present-day site of the Grand Calumet Rive r was still covered by the waters of post-glacia l Lake Chicago. Subsequent fluctuation of lak e levels (Chrzastowski Thompson 1992 ; Chrzastowski et af . 1991) and climate chang e (Ahearn Kapp 1984 ; Ebbers 1984) pro- foundly influenced the sequence and locatio n of later colonization events . The diverse herpetofauna includes northern elements (e .g. . the blue-spotted salamander, Aiubvstrnrta laterale, and Blandings turtle , Emsxdoidea blandingii) and eastern species (e .g ., the eastern newt, Notophthulmus viri- desceos, and the green frog, Rana cicrmitans) . Figure I . —A 1939 aerial photo a section of These species may have been present since the Grand Calumet River in west Gary and eas t Flammond (westernmost north-south road is Clin e not long after glacial retreat, and they persis t Avenue, the border between the two cities) . The today in moist woodland and wetland habitats . numerous rows of dune and swale are evident . LI .S . Species of western or southern origin an d 20 is the southernmost east-west roadway, and U .S. characteristic of warmer or drier condition s 12 angles from the southeast corner of the photo to (e .g. . Fowles toad, Hofo .fowleri, the six-lined the northwest corner. The Grand Calumet River racerunner, Cnemidophorns sezlinea/us, an d (dark curved line) snakes through the bottom third the western slender glass lizard, Ophisaoru s of the photo . Ivanhoe Nature Preserve is the second atle;uwlus) presumably entered the. Calume t and third "blocks" of swales northeast from th e intersection of Cline Avenue and U.S. 20 . The region during a hypsithermal interval (Smith "hooked" dune ridges to the north of the Gran d Minton 1957) about 6200 to 5050 yb p Calumet River mark successive mouths of the rive r (Ahearn Kapp 1984) . Today, these specie s as the mouth migrated eastward with the develop - inhabit xeric dunes or open grasslands . ment of each new ridge. Photo and descriptio n The parallel sand ridges north of the Gran d courtesy of Steve Brown, Indiana Geological Sur- Calumet River did not form until about 2500 — vey . 1000 ybp (Thompson 1992) . This landscape is very young, even for our recently glaciate d assemblage of amphibians and reptiles wa s region . Amphibian and reptile populations in- present at the time of settlement . habiting dune and swale habitat must hav e Sources of information .—Any reconstruc- colonized new wetlands and ridges as the y tion of the pre-settlement herpetofauna mus t formed . rely in part on somewhat later sources . The In the 1830s, the Grand Calumet River wa s first museum specimens form the area wer e a shallow, sluggish body of water bordered b y collected in 1902, but no records of amphib- emergent marshes . Nearby upland ridges were ians or reptiles in the Grand Calumet Rive r usually open sand savanna interspersed wit h area were published prior to Shelford (1913) , areas of dry-mesic to wet sand prairie . Adja- who listed species at a few localities west of cent swales also were diverse, with open wa- Gary . ter, marsh, and shrub swamp communities . Combining early published sources, speci- Because of the diversity of available habita t mens in area museum collections, and knowl- and the unusual history of the areas, a unique edge based on the best remaining natural areas

NIIERLWA ET Al . .—AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES 10 7

and examples of particular habitat types, a po- 'table I . Potential amphibian and reptile spe- tential total of 34 species of pre-settlemen t cies during presettlemcnt times in the Grand Calu - amphibians and reptiles has been compile d met River basin. All authors of species arc as i n (Table 1) . The sluggish open-water channel o f Minton (2001) . the Grand Calumet River must have been in- Fogs and toad s habited by a variety of fully aquatic species . Acris crepitan .s b/arulurrdi (Northern cricke t Snapping turtles (Che//ia s. serpent/nu) , frog) musk turtles (Stet—no/hems odorants), and Bair) cunt riconus (American toad ) painted turtles (Chrysenru .s pieta ntarginala ) Bafo fowlori (l owler's toad ) were certainly present in the lagoons by Mill- HYlct rersica/Or (Gray tree frog ) er, now in northeast Gary, in the early part o f lseudacris crucifer crucifer (Spring peeper ) thas century, because they are documented b y Pscutlacris trise rich triseriata (Western choru s nauseam specimens . Shelford (1913) reported frog) the three species listed ahove, as well as ma p Rana catesbeiana (Bullfrog ) turtles (Grapternys gcographica), in pond s Rana clamitans me/auotcr (Green frog ) Rana pipiens (Northern leopard frog ) north of the river at (Sites I I an d 12 in Fig . 2), and these species may have bee n Salamanders present in the channel as well . Mudpuppies Ambv .stoma /aterale (Blue-spotted salamander ) (Nerturus marulosus) still occur in Wolf Lake Ambsutomo 6grinum tigrinunt (Eastern tiger ,sal - (straddles the Indiana/Illinois state line i n amander) ,/ecturus macn/osus northwest Hammond) and in Lake Michigan ; (Mudpuppy ) NotophthaInus r~iridesccns they may have entered the river before sever e (Eastern red-spotted newt ) water degradation . Plethodon cinemas (Redback salamander ) Riparian wetlands probably provided for- aging areas for all of the above species, as Snakes well as, semi-aquatic species such as bullfrog s Co/abet- constrictor (Blue racer) (Rana (ates/1 iana), green frogs (Rana clarn- Tlaphe vulpina rulpina (Western fox snake ) Heierodoa platirhinos ittuts titelcrnola), Blanding's turtles (Gmvdoi- (Eastern hognose snake ) Lconpropeltis triattgu/um (Milk snake ) dect hlctdingii), and common water snake s Nerodia .sipcdon (Connnon water snake) (Ne rodict sipea/an) . Terrestrial species may Opheodrs-.5 Ycrrtalis (Smooth green snake ) have entered riparian areas on occasion, bu t Regina septenn uittata (Queen snake ) did not permanently reside there . Storer/a dekcnn rrrig/uonrnr (Midland brow n Swales adjacent to the river provided hah- snake) itat for a rich array of species . Salamanders Thamnop/n .s prom nus prariunts (Western ribbo n and frogs used these wetlands for breeding , snake) and several species of turtles and snakes prob- 7luunnophi5 rot/ix rat/i_x (Plains garter snake ) ably reached maximum abundance there . Thamnophls .sir a/is sit-to/is (IEaslern garte r snake) Shelford (1913) listed tiger salamanders (Am- bvs/ouut I . tigrirnrnt), red-spotted newts (No- 'Turtle s toph/halntus t~iridcsccns), northern leopar d Che/ydret serpentbta .serpentines (Commons snap - frogs (Rana pip/eras), snapping turtles (Che - ping turtle ) /v(1ra s . serpeulina), musk turtles (Sternoih- Clrssc~mv.5 pinta ma ginata (Midland pa nte d erats odorants), painted turtles (Cht .vsentv s turtle ) C/emmys. gutlata (Spotted turtle ) pieta marginata), map turtles (Graplernv s Emsydoic/ea blaw/ingii (Blanding's turtle ) geographies), and garter snakes (Thuntnophi s Gruptemvs geogrctphiru (Common map turtle ) s. sir/a//s) from swales near Clark Street (Site s Sternoiheru .s odorcuus (Common musk turtle) 1 I and 12 in Fig . 2) . Various terrestrial specie s occupied the intervening sand prairie and sa- I .i,'ard s Ctuintu/ophorns set/Meatus vanna. (Six-lined racerun- - ncr ) CURRENT STATU S Lumeces/asciauts (Five-lined skink ) Ophisaurus anenuauts atteuucrtus (Western slen - Grand Calumet River channel . Because der glass lizard) of severe water quality degradation, only a few tolerant reptiles presently inhabit the

1 08 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

MIERZWA ET AL .--AMPI!1131ANS AND REPTILES 10 9

channel of the Grand Calumet River. Snap- savanna with interspersed marsh and pon d ping turtles and painted turtles have been re - communities in swales . The area to the nort h ported from the eastern reaches of the river is a diverse dune complex in immediate prox- (Sobiech et al . 1994), and the authors oh - imity to Lake Michigan and includes unusua l served both species at several locations fro m communities such as pannes (Wilhelm 1990) . the Hammond Sanitary District (Site 3 in Fig . The Miller area is located in a transition fro m 2) to Steel Corporation (Site 1 4 the more mesic, sheltered areas (which be - in Fig . 2). Both species are relatively toleran t come increasingly more common) to the east . of poor water quality . At present, no amphib- and the more open and increasingly prairi e ians are permanent residents of the open chan- and savanna dominated sites to the west . nel, although individual animals may enter th e Specimens of amphibians and reptiles col- area from time. to time . lected from the Miller area are available fro m Riparian areas .—Recent searches of ripar- as early as 1902 . Several prominent scientists , ian marshes have not revealed any amphibian s including Carl Hubbs, Karl P. Schnndt, an d or reptiles . Monospecific stands of commo n Walter Stille, visited the area during the firs t reed (Phragnrites australis), which now dom- half of the 20 1 century . However, locality data inates many, if not most, wetlands in the Cal- for these early specimens are usually vagu e umet region (Choi 2002, this volume), ma y and many of them may have been collecte d not provide useful habitat for most species . outside of the current boundaries of the Na- Areas densely dominated by cattails (Tvph a tional Lakeshore . More recent data (Table 2) , lcrti%olia), which also are very common, pro - gathered in the mid-1980s, is available fro m vide marginally better habitat structure . Here , Resetar (1988) and Werth (1990) . The stud y however, poor water quality and dense layer s site (Site 15 in Fig . 2) of Werth (1990) was of cattail thatch are the limiting factors pre - located a little more than I km south of th e venting amphibian and reptile colonization . Lagoons, but the site included habitat repre- Some common species, such as garter snakes , sentative of the general area. may enter the riparian wetlands on occasion . Resetar (1988) listed 18 species of amphib- Stands of young floodplain forest, charac- ians and reptiles occurring within Mille r terized by pioneer species such as cottonwoo d Woods (area around Site 15 in Fig . 2) at the and usually by a dense understory, are presen t time of his study . One of these, howlers toad , at several locations along the river margin . is characteristic of the pannes and blowout s These habitats are largely impenetrable . I f north of the Grand Calumet Lagoons, thoug h wetlands isolated from the river exist in th e the other 17 species arc more general in oc- cottonwood thickets, they could be used b y currence . All 18 species could occur in th e some common amphibian species for breed- immediate proximity of the lagoons . Only tw o ing, but the sites are probably too heavil y other sections of the National Lakeshore, th e overgrown and shaded for most reptiles . Cowles Bog Unit and the Eastern Unit (bot h well east of the Grand Calumet River), sup - ADJACENT SITES port greater herpetofaunal species richnes s While the Grand Calumet River and bor- (Resetar 1988) . dering riparian wetlands support a depauper- Additional species have been reported his- ate herpetofauna, several natural areas nea r torically from (Site 15 in Fig . the river are noted for their species richness . 2) and surrounding areas (now largely con- Some parcels of lesser quality also suppor t verted to industrial, commercial, and residen- amphibians or reptiles tolerant of habitat mod- tial development), but are not documente d ification . These sites are described below o n from Miller Woods within Indiana Dunes Na- a reach-by-reach basis from east to west . tional Lakeshore (Aryls crepitans blanchardi , Grand Calumet (Lagoons reach . The la - (Wither constrictor, Elaphe P . rrdpiva, En - goons at the easternmost end of the Gran d nieces fasriatus, Nerodia .sipedon, /-Iihodon Calumet River (site 16 in Fig . 2) are partiall y ciner-cus, Rana pipiens, and Tharrrnophis r. ra- bordered on the north and south by Mille r dix) . In Miller Woods, these species may be Woods, which is part of Indiana Dunes Na- present but as yet undocumented, locally ex- tional Lakeshore . Areas immediately south o f tirpated, or still present in habitat remnant s the lagoons consist largely of dry-mesic sand outside of Miller Woods per ,se . Act-is crepi-

1 1 0 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENC E

Table 2 . -Species of amphibians and reptile s wood . A botanical survey would help deter- from Miller Woods (Site 15) recorded by Reseta r mine the extent of potential reptile habitat . I f (1988) and Werth (1990) . this site is used to bury contaminated sedi- ments or materials, more research, includin g flogs and toad s flora and fauna, would be useful . An effort t o fluid fuss leri (Fowlers toad ) h i/a icrsicolor (Gray tree toad ) relocate animals prior to construction could he Psew/aeri.s r . crnci/er (Spring peeper) considered . Psecr(lucri.s t. triscriata (Western chorus frog) Gary Sanitary District reach . The Clar k Rorno ccne .sbciuncr (Bullfrog) and Pine complex (Sites 10—12 in Fig . 2) o f Rana cicmriluns nuilcuurtn (Green frog ) seven sites is located north of the Grand Cal- umet River at the eastern end of the Gary San- Salamanders and newt s itary District reach and extends slightly int Anrbs stome /atercrle (Blue-spotted salamander ) o the adjacent USX reach Ambe.stonia tigrinnm 7igriraranz (Eastern tiger sal - . The seven natural ar- amander ) eas may include perhaps the highest concen- Notophlhu/rnu .s b/ scens (Eastern red-spotted tration of rare and endangered plant and ani- newt ) mal species remaining in Indiana (Bowle s 1989) . Although only Clark and Pine East di- Snake s rectly borders the Grand Calumet River, sev- the rodon plotirhinos (Eastern hognose snake) Storcrio dekcni wrightorurn (Midland brow n eral of the areas are divided from each othe r snake ) only by railroad tracks or roads, and to som e 7hnrnnophis pro_rimirs pro_xirnus (Western ribbo n extent, they probably still function as a unit . snake ) Several of the ponds studied by Shelfor d Inoinnophis sirtcrlis .sirlu/is (Eastern garter (1913) were within or near the Clark and Pin e snake ) complex . Other collectors, such as I-Tubbs an d "hurtles Meeks, also collected in the general area; and flu /s ro .s . .serpentino (Common snapping tur- specimens are available from as early as 1902 . tle ) Clark and Pine East (site 12 in Fig . 2 —area C/7rs si nu s pinta marginoto (Midland painted east of Clark Street), sometimes referred to a s turtle ) the Bongi site, borders the Grand Calumet Grnrloidea b/caulingii (Blandings turtle) River just east of the U .S . Route 12 bridg e 51<111otheru .s odornttrs (Common musk turtle ) and extends to the north . The approximatel y Ii/aid s 102 ha site was acquired by the Division o f Cnemic/opboru .s .sex/meatus (Six-lined raeerun - Nature Preserves, Indiana Department of Nat- ner) ural Resources, in 1993 . The area was origi- nally a classic example of ridge and swal e habitat . At various times in the past, severa l of the ridges were mined for sand . The re- tans blunchardi and Rana pipiens have dis- sulting low, wet, flat areas subsequently re - appeared from many historical localities i n vegetated mostly with native species, includ- northwestern Indiana . Wilhelm (1990) note d ing an unusual panne-like assemblage . that many of the locales in the general Mille r Relatively undisturbed-but-overgrown san d area that were visited by early botanists have savanna alternates with swales in the east-cen- been destroyed . The existence of Plethodo n tral part of the site . Management of Clark an d cinereus labeled "Miller" in a museum col- Pine East continues and consists largely o f lection implies that (as Wilhelm (1990) sug- brush clearing and controlled burning . Am- gests) mesic forest pockets once existed nea r phibians and reptiles were inventoried durin g Miller Woods . This species is still commo n 1990 and 1991 by Mierzwa et al . (1991) as near Dune Acres (IS km east of Miller part of the Illinois-Indiana Regional Airpor t Woods) where the required habitat is present. Study . The most intensive inventory effort, in- USX reach . The USX (United States cluding quantitative drift fence sampling usin g Steel Corporation) reach (Site 14 in Fig . 2) o f pitfall and funnel traps (see I-Ieyer et al . 199 4 the Grand Calumet River corridor includes for a detailed discussion of drift fence tech- some remnant ridge areas with a s niques), was focused within a complex of dry- well as successional species such as cotton - mesic sand savanna, mesic to wet sand prairie . MIERZWA ET AL . AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILE S

marsh, and shrub swamp in the least disturbe d fable 3 .--The amphibians and reptiles oh - portion of the site . During each visit to the served by Mierzwa et al . (1991) and Resetar site, visual sweep searches were also carrie d (1998) within the Clark and Pine complex (Site s out in other parts of the site . 10-12) . The 17 ha Clark and Pine Nature Preserv e (Site 11 in Fig . 2) is located just northwest o f Frogs and toad s Acris crcpitan .s blartcharc/, Clark and Pine East . The two sites are sepa- (Northern riekc t frog) rated by Clark Street . The Nature Preserve ha s 13ufo crrner'icarurs (American toad ) been under state ownership for some time an d Pscudcacr'is t. triscriata (Western chorus log ) has been intensively managed . The nature pre - Rana catesheiaoa (Bullfrog) serve is generally wetter and more open tha n Rana (landfalls melanota (Green froC ) Clark and Pine East with extensive areas o f Salamanders and newt pond, marsh, sand prairie, and open sand sa- s Ambvstoma I . tigrinum (Eastern tige r salaman- vanna . The sand savanna includes both blac k der) oak (Quercus ve/utirta) and jack pine (Pintt s Notnphthcdrnrr .s viridescens (Eastern red-spotted bcotksiarta) ; the plant communities were de- newt ) scribed in detail by Bowles (1989) . Clark an d Pine Nature Preserve was sampled for am- Snakes Lcunpropeltis tricrngulum (Milk snake ) phibians and reptiles by Resetar (1988), usin g Nerodia .sipedon. (Common water snake) a combination of drift fence and visual swee p Storeria dekavi wr'ightorum (Midland brow n searches . snake ) Other sites within the complex are privatel y Thanmophis p . proximu.s (Western ribbon snake ) owned . Lakeshore Railroad Prairie, a smal l Thanmophi.s .s. sirtcrli.s (Eastern garter snake ) site located just to the north of Clark and Pin e Turtle s East, has pond, marsh, panne, sand prairie , Che/ydra S rpenlina (Common snapping tur- and sand savanna communities, the latte r de ) dominated by jack pine . Clarke Junction Eas t Chrvsemys pieta margi n a (Midland painted and Clarke Junction West (Site 10 in Fig . 2) turtle ) are located northwest of Clark and Pine Na- Clemmys grruata (Spotted turtle) ture Preserve . These sites also include pond, Ernvdoidea blandirrgii (Blandings turtle) marsh, panne, and sand prairie communitie s Lizard s but suffer from shrub encroachment . Limite d Cnemidophorus se.r/ineatu.s (Six-lined racerun - information on the herpetofauna of these sites , ner ) based on only a few visits, is included i n Ophisaurus a . attenuates (Western slender glas s Mierzwa et al . (1991) . Morgan Burlin g lizard) (1979) visited several Clark and Pine comple x sites and reported the presence of some am- phibians and reptiles, but their lists include a t least one apparent misidentification and wil l reports without specimen documentation . not be included here . The list of amphibian s These species are : Ambystoma /aterale and reptiles observed by Mierzwa et al . (1978), Bufo few/eh (1917), Heterodon pla- (1991) and Resetar (1988) within the Clar k tirhinos (1902), Hyla ver'sicolor- (1904), an d and Pine complex is presented in Table 3 . Regina septemvittata (1990) . If any of these Eighteen species occur within the complex a t species are documented, that would only en- present, an unusually high number for a rel- hance the notable diversity of the site. atively small site . Unusual species include Ac'- Little is known of the herpetofauna alon g /15 crepilans Nam :hard/ (a once common spe- other portions of the Gary Sanitary Distric t cies that has nearly disappeared from northern reach . Some degraded habitat is present on th e Indiana) and the state-endangered Clemnv s Gary Airport property (Site 9 in Fig . 2), an d guttcrta. the authors have collected Thamnophiv .s. sir- A few additional species have been report- tails and Ophisaurus a . atlenuatu.s' there . ed from the general vicinity of Clark and Pine , Mierzwa et al . (1991) reported on the herpe- but their presence is based either on old mu- tofauna of Ivanhoe Dune and Swale (Site 8 i n seum specimens or on more recent anecdotal Fig . 2), a site owned by The Nature Conser-

1 1 2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENC E

Table 4 .---Species reported (Mierzwa et al . acterized as a partially open marsh habitat lo- 1991) for the DuPont site (Site 7 in Figure 2) . cated in a river bend . The area is inhabited b y Chelydra .si serpentina and Chrvsemys pinta Frogs and toad s rnarginata, which benefit from the intersper- Buie cu77erienniis (American toad ) sion of open water and emergent marsh . Pseudcuv-is triscriahr triscri(Ncr (Western choru s frog) Two high-quality natural areas, Gibso n Rurrn e/ninitans melcauota (Green fro;_ ) Woods Nature Preserve (Site 6 in Fig . 2) and Toleston Ridges Nature Preserve (just north o f Salamanders and newt s Site 6 in Fig . 2) (also known as the Shell Oi l /lmbsy.s/anxr I . Iigriman (Eastern tiger salaman- Tract) are located south of this reach . Bacon e der) (1979) included a list of amphibians and rep - Snake s tiles for "loleston Ridges . However, these site s Sterlriu de/ran rrrightorutn (Midland brow n are effectively isolated by the Indiana Tol l snake ) Road, so they are not presented here . Thnninophi .c a sirttills (Eastern garter snake ) East Chicago Sanitary Diistrict reach . Turtle s An area of upland meadow (Site 5 in Fig . 2 ) Che/ydra .s . .serpentina (Cornnnon snapping tur- is located south of the river between the con- tle) fluence of the Indiana Harbor and a Chrescmss pieta nrarginata (Midland painted substation just southeast of the East Chicag o turtle ) Sanitary District Plant . The meadow is dom- Erndoidea bkuulingii (B landings turtle ) inated by a variety of herbaceous plant spe- Lizards : cies, but is susceptible to overgrowth b y non e woody species . No amphibians or reptile s were noted during a site visit, but suitabl e habitat is present for several upland species . Roxanna Marsh reach .--Little informa- vancy . Since this site is south of the Indian a tion is available on amphibian and reptile pop- Poll Road and effectively isolated from th e ulations for Roxanna Marsh (Site 4 in Fig . 2). Grand Calumet River, the Ivanhoe Dune an d The northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens, was Swale is not addressed here . reported at the site in 1984 (Indiana Depart- DuPont reach .--The privately owne d ment of Natural Resources 1992) . This report DuPont site (Site 7 in Fig . 2) extends alon g represents the most recent record of the spe- the northern bank of the Grand Calumet River cies from the Indiana portion of the Gran d between Cline and Kennedy Avenues . In ad- Calumet River watershed . The same survey dition to marsh and Iloodp1ain forest along th e recorded Chelydra s . serpeztina and Chrvse- river, the site includes extensive areas of dry- mys pinta marginate as common in open wa- mesic to wet sand prairie, dry-mesic sand sa- ter areas . The marsh habitat is of relativel y vanna, and swales with sedge meadow an d low quality and probably supports few species marsh . No historical information is availabl e of amphibians and reptiles . on the herpetofauna . The site was sampled i n Hammond Sanitary District reach . 1990 and 1991 for amphibians and reptiles b y Land south of the treatment plant (Site 3 i n Mierzwa et al . (1991) using a drift fence an d Fig . 2) is separated from the river by a dike . occasional visual sweep searches . Althoug h Much of the area is overgrown with herba- the DuPont site is not as species rich as th e ceous vegetation . Water is ponded in some ar- preserves described above, a minimum of nin e eas and supports a breeding population o f species lives there (Table 4) . Since not all hab- toads . The site has been severely altered, bu t itat types were intensively sampled, additiona l it could support additional species and migh t species may be present at the site . benefit from restoration or management. An area of open marsh is located south o f Culverts reach . This segment (area west the Grand Calumet River, between the DuPon t of Site 3 in Fig . 2) has very little remainin g site and the with the Indiana Har- natural area. No information is available fo r bor Canal . The marsh is directly across th e this segment of the Grand Calumet River an d river from a .1-shaped channel . River water it is unlikely that any significant diversity o f swirls through this site, which can be char- species remains there .

MIERZWA FT AL .-AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES 1 1 3

Burnham Prairie reach . Burnham Prai - mander) . This species inhabits wooded com- rie (Site I in Fig . 2) is located along the Gran d munities including relatively open savanna , Calumet River approximately 2 .0 km to th e woodland, mesic forest, and swamp forest. west of the Illinois-Indiana state line . Al- Breeding likely takes place in the swales . though outside of the primary study areas , Blue-spotted salamanders are uncommon i n Burnham Prairie is discussed here as an ex - the study area . Werth (1990) found one spec- ample of the very different Chicago lake plai n imen at Miller Woods (Site 15 in Fig . 2). ecosystem . While the Indiana sites discusse d Mierzwa et al . (1991) collected two in th e above are on beach or near-shore sand depos- western part of Ivanhoe Dune and Swale (Sit e its, Burnham Prairie is on silt-loam soils de- 8 in Fig . 2) . Morgan Burling (1979) re- posited in somewhat deeper water. This prairi e ported one from the Clark and Pine areas (Site. is one of the last remaining examples of th e 10 in Fig. 2) . The blue-spotted salamander i s black soil prairies once widespread in th e a northern species, which is near the souther n region and discussed at lengt h limit of its range in northwest Indiana . by Cowles (1901) . The site includes marsh , Ambystoma t. tigrinum.--(Tiger salaman- wet, wet-mesic, and dry-mesic prairie, and a der) . Although seldom seen because of bur- small dry-mesic savanna grove with bur oak , rowing habits, the tiger salamander is not un- (uercus macrocarpa . Two species that are common in the vicinity of the Grand Calumet common on the black soil site, Rana pipiens River. The species breeds in marsh or shru b and Thamnophis r. radix, are rare a few ki- swamp within swales and resides for the re- lometers east in northwest Indiana . Specie s mainder of the year in dry-mesic sand savann a richness is relatively low, possibly because th e on the dune ridges . Individual salamanders are site is small ; however, all six species found a t often found in surprisingly open locations . Burnham Prairie are relatively abundant there One Illinois population of tiger salamanders (Mierzwa et al . 1991) : Rufo americanus , increased dramatically as savannas wer e Pseudacris t. triseriata, Rana pipiens, Storer- opened up with brush clearing and prescribe d ia dekavi wrightorurn, Thamnophls r . radix, burns (Mierzwa pers . ohs .) . Adult tiger sala- and Thamnopltis s . sirtalis . manders usually do not travel far from breed- ing sites : recent studies in areas of sandy soi l EXTANT SPECIE S in New York have indicated that up to 80 % A total of 33 species of amphibians an d of the population remains wilthin 100 m of th e reptiles has been recorded within the water- breeding wetland with only a few individual s shed of the Grand Calumet River. Seven o f moving as far as 300 m . It is not known i f these were recorded historically but have no t these dispersal distances are to be expected i n been reported recently . At least 26 species arc the midwestern U .S. Tiger salamanders that still present . The habitat, distribution, and sta- spend most of their time in burrows create d tus of each species are briefly summarized be- by shrews or othe r other small mammals low . (Madison 1993) with limited surface activit y Acris crepitans blanchardi . (Norther n on rainy nights . cricket frog) . Cricket frogs are associated wit h Bufo americanus . (American toad) . the margins of permanent ponds and streams , American toads are common in the western and they must have been common at one tim e part of the study area ; and they occur at Clark along the banks of the Grand Calumet River. and Pine, DuPont, Ivanhoe Dune and Swale , Sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s , near the Hammond Sanitary District treatmen t this once abundant frog disappeared fro m plant, and at Burnham Prairie (Mierzwa et al . most locales in the northern part of its range. 1991) . They have not been reported at Miller A population at the Clark and Pine comple x Woods . Elsewhere in northwest Indiana, pop- (Mierzwa et al . 1991) is the only known t o ulations frequently are found in river flood - persist in Lake County . Cricket frogs are quite plains . Water quality may constrain the toads common at both Clark and Pine Nature Pre - use of Grand Calumet riparian areas, but som e serve and Clark and Pine East, and they ar e have been observed in swales adjacent to th e frequently seen along swale edges during the river at DuPont (Site 7 in Fig . 2). summer months . Bufo fowleri. (Fowlers toad) . This spe- Ambystoma laterale. (Blue-spotted sala - cies, more characteristic of areas well to th e

1 1 4 PROCEF,DINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY Oh SCIENC E

south, is restricted to sandy soil in northwes t Indiana are widely disjunct from the mai n Indiana . In the dunes area, the toad typicall y body of the range, located well to the south , breeds in blowout ponds and pannes in the and presumably represent a relict populatio n immediate vicinity of Lake Michigan (Brede n from a time of warmer or drier climate . Al - 1988) . A population at Miller Woods (Site 1 5 though the racerunner is strictly an uplan d in Fig . 2), north of the Grand Calumet La - species, this lizard is found in close proximit y goons, may he the westernmost extant in the to the river at several locations where san d dunes area . Historically, the species occurre d prairie or open sand savanna communitie s at Clark and Pine (Site 11 in Fig . 2), wher e persist . Recent records are available fro m in 1917 a specimen was collected at the pon d Clark and Pine (Site I I), Cente r closest to Lake Michigan . Savanna ("Brunswick Park" south of Site 1 2 Chelydra serpentina (Snapping turtle) . in Fig . 2) (Mierzwa et al . 1991 ; Resetar 1988) , Snapping turtles are tolerant of pollution, an d and Miller Woods (Site 15) (Werth 1990) . they are still present in the Grand Calume t E;anydoidea blandingii . (Blandings tur- River, in riparian marshes, and in most of th e tle) . This is a federal "species at risk" (for- nearby wetlands . Because this species is full y merly "Category 2"), and Blandings turtle i s aquatic and seldom basks m the sun, the snap - included on special conce rn or watch lists in ping tu rtle is usually more common than th e most states in which it is found . Recent atten- available records indicate . This species ha s tion has focused on the long life span (>6 0 been reported from the Grand Calumet la - years) and late age of maturity (14—20 years ) goons (Site 16 in Fig . 2), Miller- Woods (Sit e of this species (Congdon et al . 1993) . Becaus e 12), DuPont (Site 7), and the Clark and Pin e of these life-history characteristics, loss of re- complex (Sites 10—12) . The snapping turtle i s productive females via highway mortality , a habitat generalist that can be found in mos t over-collecting, or other causes may have sig- permanent water bodies . nificant long-terra effects on population via- Chryseinis pieta rnarginata .—(Painted tur- bility . Blandings turtles live at point s tle) . Numerous records of this species exist fo r throughout the study area ; recent reports ar e the study area from as early as 1909 to a s available from Miller Woods (Site 15), Clar k recently as 1996 . The painted turtle is, one o f and Pine East (Site 12), Clark and Pine Nature the few species still found in the main chan- Preserve (Site 1 I ), Lakeshore Railroad Prairi e nel . At times, permanent swales close to th e (just to the north of Site 12), Ivanhoe Dun e river support dense populations, especially a t and Swale (Site 8), and DuPont (Site 7). Pop- Miller Woods (Site 15 in Fig . 2), DuPont (Site ulations appear to he at low density at mos t 7), and the Clark and Pine complex (Siites 10 — sites . Blandings turtles are most common i n 12) . Painted turtles inhabit both ponds and riv- swales that include pond and marsh commu- ers, and they are easily observed because o f nities and particularly those with considerabl e their proclivity to bask on logs or other float- submerged vegetation . Individuals are occa- ing objects . sionally encountered on land . Short-ter m Clenfnys galtala . (Spotted turtle) . Thi s movements in excess of 800 m have been oh - small, attractive tu rtle is endangered in Indi- served (Mierzwa unpubl . drata), suggesting ana and in Illinois . The spotted turtle is char- that relatively large sites may be needed t o acteristic of shallow, sedge-dominated wet - support a viable population in the long-terra . lands and adjacent marsh borders . The Clark Blandings turtles have been observed in slug- and Pine complex (Sites 10—12 in Fig . 2) sup - gish, well-vegetated such as Dead Rive r ports one of the largest spotted turtle popula- at Illinois Beach State Park and may hav e tions in northwest Indiana, but the species i s once inhabited the Grand Calumet River ; suffering from illegal collecting . Suitable hab- however, early observers apparently over - itat is present in swales very close to th e looked this species . The range of the Blan- Grand Calumet River at Clark and Pine Eas t dings turtle is mostly to the north of th e (Site 12) . This locale is nearly at the wester n Grand Calumet River area . distributional limit of the species . Heterodon platirhinos .(Eastern hognos e Cnernidophorus sexlineatus .(Six-lined snake) . The only recent report of hognos e racerunner) . This lizard inhabits xeric, sparse- snakes has been from Miller Woods (Site 15 ) ly vegetated dunes . Populations in northwest (Werth 1990). This species historically was

MIER/WA ET AI —AMPtHIBIANS AND REPTILES 11 5

found at Clark and Pine (Site 11) . This uplan d mon in the more open western part of th e species is found in sand prairie and sand sa- study area . Recent observations have bee n vanna ; it may occasionally forage for toad s mostly in xeric to dry-mcsic sand prairi e near wetland margins . openings on ridges, but one specimen attempt- Hyla versicolor complex .—Gray treefrogs ed to escape by swimming along the margi n are common at Miller Woods (Site 15), bu t of a Swale (Mierzwa unpubl . data) . Extan t the only record of their presence elsewhere in populations are known from the Clark an d the study area is based on a 1904 specimen . Pine complex (Sites 10–12), Ivanhoe Dun e A variety of semi-permanent wetlands is used and Swale (Site 8), and frorn disturbed area s for breeding ; the adults spend the rest of th e at the Gary Airport (Site 9) (Mierzwa et al . year in nearby trees and shrubs . Population s 1991) . Additional populations arc probabl y in northwest Indiana are thought to he Nola present. Populations in the study area are dis- cersicolor, and the nearest report of the cryp- junct and near the northern limit of the spe- tic sibling species, I-Rio chrv .soscelis, was i n cies distribution ; they may represent rem- Berrien County . Michigan (Bogart Jaslo w nants from warmer or drier times . 1979) . Pseudacris c. crucifer .—(Spring peeper). Lainpropeltis triangulurn . (Milk snake) . Spring peepers are common at Miller Wood s Milk snakes are uncommon in the study area . (Site 15) and in the eastern part of the dune s Resetar (1988) reported the species from region where woodland and forest are wide- Clark and Pine Nature Preserve (Site 1 I), an d spread . In the western part of our study areas , Mierzwa et al . (1991) collected two specimen s spring peepers have been reported only fro m at Clark and Pine East (Site 12) over two fiel d Ridges Nature Preserve (just nort h seasons . One of these was caught in a drift of Site 6) . They breed in shrub swamps , fence in dry-mesic sand savanna and the othe r marshes, and vernal ponds ; and adults summer was found under roadside debris along Clar k in shrubs and trees . Street. Elsewhere in the region, milk snake s Pseudacris t. triseriata .--(Western chorus are characteristic of upland savannas ; but the y frog) . This species is characteristic of grass - are occasionally collected in sedge meadow s land and savanna areas . The western choru s (Mierzwa 1993) . frog is abundant in the western part of th e Nerodia sipedan .—(Northern water snake) . study area, but is less common and more spo- This semi-aquatic snake may have once in- radically distributed in the eastern part. The y habited the margins of the Grand Calumet breed in marshes : and during the summer River, but recent observations have been lim- months, adults forage in herbaceous vegeta- ited to swales in the Clark and Pine comple x tion . (Sites 10–12) (Resetar 1988 ; Mierzwa et al . Rana catesbeiana. (Bullfrog) . Bullfrogs 1991) . Historically, the species was found i n are semiaquatic, and they are usually observed the Miller area, where two specimens were at the margins of permanent ponds or rivers . collected in 1902 . Northern water snakes are Recent records are available from Miller thought to be relatively uncommon in th e woods (Site 15) and Clark and Pine East (Sit e study area today . 12) ; bullfrogs are probably widespread in th e iVotophthalsnus viridescens . (Easter n area but relatively uncommon . newt). Newts are aquatic as adults, but the y Rana claznitans rnelanota . (Green frog) . are capable of terrest rial movements if pond s Green frogs have been observed at all Gran d dry . The adult phase may be preceded by a Calumet sites sampled in recent years . and terrestrial eft stage lasting .up to several years . they are relatively common at the larger nat- Newts are common at Miller Woods (Site 15 ) ural areas . They are semiaquatic, inhabitin g (Werth 1990) and uncommon but present i n permanent marshes, ponds, and streams . the Clark and Pine area (Sites 10–12), wher e Rana pipiens . (Northern leopard frog) . they were reported by Shelford (1913) an d This species is usually associated with her- Mierzwa et at . (1991) . In both areas, newts baceous vegetation, including sedge meadow , inhabit pond and marsh communities in per- wet prairie, wet savanna, and marsh . Leopard manent and semipermanent swales . frogs were recorded in Miller Woods (Site 15 ) Ophisaurus a . attenuatus . (Western slen - in 1922 and 1935 . and from Hessville in 1923 der glass lizard) . This legless lizard is corn- (area south and southwest of Gibson Woods

1 1 6 IROCF?EDINGS Of i INDIANA ACADEVIY OF SCIlNC E

Nature Preserve . Site 6) ; hut the only recen t snake) . This species is characteristic of black - report from the Indiana portion of the stud y soil mcsic prairie . The plains garter snake i s area is from Roxanna Marsh (Site 4) fro m abundant west of the Illinois state line, hut i s 1984 (Indiana Department of Natural Re - extremely rare in northwest Indiana . Thi s sources 1992). Leopard frog populations were snake is a western species and, except for dis- notably absent at the Indiana sites sampled i n junct Ohio populations, isnear the easter n recent years (Mierzwa et al . 1991 ; Werth limit of its range here . The only Indiana re - 1990) . Leopard frog populations have report- cords from the vicinity of the study areas ar e edly declined in parts of the Midwest recentl y from the area in or around Miller Woods (Sit e (I larding Holman 1992) . At nearby Illinoi s 15) (1902) and Hessville (south and southwes t sites, including Burnham Prairie (Site I) an d of Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, Site 6 ) Powderhorn Lake (Site 2 in Fig . 2), norther n (1923, 1935) . In contrast, during a 1991 effort , leopard frogs are still common (Mierzwa e t 38 plains garter snakes were caught in drift al. 1991) . fences at Burnham Prairie (Site I ) ; and severa l .Slernolherus odoralus . (Musk turtle) . more were found under boards just west o f Several records of this aquatic turtle exist Wolf Lake and just north of Powderhorn Lak e from the Grand Calumet area . In 1918, Car l (Site 2) (Mierzwa et al . 1991) . Seibert (1950 ) Iiubbs collected a specimen that is now in th e studied this species in the Lake Calumet are a Field Museum collection from the Grand Cal- and reported a density of 840 plains garter

umet River near Miller Woods (Site 15) . Othe r snakes per ha in a vacant. lot near 103 111 and specimens are available from the Grand Cal- in Chicago (northwest o f umet Lagoons (Site 16) and Buffington (b y the neap in Fig . 2) . Lake Michigan m northwest Gary) . Shelfor d Tharnnophis s. sirtalis . (Common garte r (1913) listed musk turtles as characteristic o f snake) . This snake is the most widespread an d the more open swales close to Lake Michigan . abundant snake in the Grand Calumet Rive r The species probably still occurs in some wet - Area. The species has been reported, usuall y lands near the river, hut its benthic preference in substantial numbers, from every site stud- makes it hard to document. Werth (1990 ) ied to date . In the study area, common garte r found musk turtles at Miller Woods (Site 15) , snakes are abundant in dry-mesic sand savan- and a single specimen seen crossing a road i n na and in successional Gelds. They are easil y Hammond in 1996 was turned in at Gibso n collected from under debris. in vacant lots . Woods Nature Preserve . Cornmon garter snakes do not hesitate to ente r .Storeria dekayi . (Brown snake) . Thi s marshes and ponds to forage for frogs an d small, secretive species is the second mos t fish . This species has been found within me- common snake at most locations within th e ters from the Grand Calumet River ; and i n study area . Most individuals were caught in 1996 a specimen was observed along a rail - drift fences or found under boards or othe r road right-of-way 50 in north of the river a t debris . Dry-rnesic sand savanna is probabl y Clark and Pine East (Site 12) . the preferred habitat of the brown snake ; bu t some, individuals have been found in sedg e SPECIES NOW LIKELY EXTIRPATE D meadows, wet prairies, or along the margin s (oluber constrictor. (Blue racer) . Tw o of marshes at Clark and Pine (Site I I) (Mier- old specimens from "Miller" are availabl e zwa et al . 1991) . (Schmidt Necker 1935), and one of them Thamnophis p . proximus . (Western rib - was collected by Meek in 11908 . Morgan bon snake) . This semi-aquatic species is char- Burling (1979) reported a blue racer from a acteristic of shrubby wetland margins (Ross - site southeast of, but apparently isolated from , man et al . 1996), but is uncommon in th e Miller Woods (Site 15) . study area . So far, the species has been re- Elaphe vulpina .(Fox snake) . A single , ported only at Miller Woods (Site 15) an d undated but old specimen (Field Museum o f Clark and Pine Nature Preserve (Site I I) (Re - Natural History 2864) was collected at " :Vlil1 - scull- 1988) . A specimen collected near Mille r cn." Given significant field effort in Miller Woods in 1919 was found within the "pine- Woods in the past 15 years without new cap- oak association . " tures, then fox snakes are either very rare or Thamnophis r. radix . (Plains garter extirpated .

MIER/MA LI At.. AMPH[I3IANS AND REPTILES 11 7

Fumeces .fasciatus . (Five-lined skink) . been present historically . The queen snake , This lizard is known from a single old speci- Regina .se pternvittata, was reported fro m men collected at "Miller" (Schmidt Necke r Clark and Pine Nature Preserve in 1990, bu t 1935) . The same consideration about rarity o r the specimen was not collected (Griggs extirpation for Llaplie vulpina applies to thi s Balzano pers . comrnun .). The observers were skink . from the east coast and were not familiar wit h Graptemys geographic a . (Map turtle) . the local fauna, so the record is considered Shelford (1913) mentioned map turtles fro m questionable ; however, queen snakes are swales near Lake Michigan, and museu m found in the headwaters of the little Calume t specimens are available from i n River in Porter County, so they could he pre - Lake County . Although the map turtle is not sent elsewhere in the drainage system . The documented in the immediate vicinity of the pickerel frog, Rana paltr,strd ,, was reported Grand Calumet River, the species may onc e from the Clark and Pine complex (Sites 10 — have lived there, and this turtle certainly wa s 12) by Morgan Burling (1979), but not b y present within a few kilometers of the stud y later investigators who spent much more tim e area . at the sites . The cool fen and wooded stream NVecturus maculosus . (Mudpuppy) . Min- habitats frequented by this species are not pre - ton (2001) gives historical records of this spe- sent at Clark and Pine, and no other lak e cies from Wolf Lake and Cortwright and Bea- County records exist . Because the neares t mcr have observed the species in Wolf Lak e known extant populations are . several countie s as recently as 2002 . The mudpuppy still live s away, the report is problematic . Finally, a re- in Lake Michigan and probably entered th e port of the massasauga rattlesnake, Sistruru s Grand Calumet River before the mout h catenates, from Clark and Pine East (bake closed . Poor water quality and contaminate d Michigan Federation 1984) must be rejected . sediments may preclude the presence of thi s Extensive sampling there by several people , bottom-dwelling aquatic species at present . including two with considerable massasauga Opheodrys verualis .--(Smooth gree n experience, failed to confirm the record (Mier- snake) . A single specimen (Field Museum o f zwa et al . 1991) . The habitat at Clark and Pin e Natural History 2110) was collected at "Mill- is also quite different from that typically use d er" in 1902 . Green snakes were once commo n by the species . The report may he based on a on the black soil prairies _just to the west o f sighting of the superficially-similar norther n the Illinois state line (Seibert 1950) . The near- water snake . est known extant population is at Van Vlis- sengen Prairie, which is located just northeas t POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF DREDGIN G of Lake Calumet (northwest of the study area , Dredging of the Grand Calumet River wil l not. in Fig . 2). have little direct impact on the amphibian s Methadon eiuereus . (Redhack salaman- and reptiles . Only two species (snapping turtl e der) . Carl Huhhs collected a redback salaman- and painted turtle) are known to inhabit th e der "near Miller" in 1917 . This species i s channel at present . Some direct injury or mor- characteristic of mesic forest and commo n tality could result from dredging operations , cast of the study area in the National Lake - but because both species are common in near- shore . A small area of suitable habitat wa s by wetlands, the river population would prob- presumably present somewhere near Mille r ably soon be supplemented from those sourc- Woods at one time, but may have since bee n es. A few other species may occasionally ente r destroyed . the river, but these transient individuals rep - resent a small fraction of the population pri- PROBLEMATIC SPECIES marily residing elsewhere . A few additional species have been report- Terrestrial or wetland habitat adjacent to th e ed anecdotally ; they could occur in the stud y river could be impacted by sloughing of the area, but have not been reported or have been banks, soil compaction by heavy machinery , reported based on probable misidentifications . or hydrological alteration related to sedimen t The spiny softshell, Abalone spinifcra, inhab- disposal . Much of the area along the river i s its Lake Michigan in Illinois . This turtle is not highly degraded, e .g ., with overly dense cat- known from the study area, but could have tails and common reed, so modification of

1 18 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY 01 , SCIENC E

these plant communities by dredging activitie s 13, for example, is being. obliterated by con- is not a significant degradation of amphibia n struction activities in 2002. Acquisition o f and reptile habitat . In fact, areas dense wit h these sites would help to preserve a numbe r these plant species could be improved b y of rare species . Acquisition of land contiguou s dredging activities if average water level were to core natural areas, in conjunction with. res- to be increased to around one meter. toration activities discussed below, coul d The primary concern is to protect wetlan d greatly improve the long-term viability of and terrestrial habitat contiguous to the rive r sites that currently support high levels of bio- at the higher quality natural areas, such as, bu t diversity . The best quality sites are in need o f not limited to, Miller Woods (Site 15), Clar k woody vegetation management, includin g and Pine Nature Preserve complex (Sites 10- manual removal of exotic shrubs and the re g- 12) . and DuPont (Site 7) . These sites includ e ular use of controlled fire . Enforcement activ- rare communities used by relatively high den- ities to discourage illegal dumping and poach- sities of amphibians and reptiles . Several rare ing also would he helpful . or uncommon species, including the state-en- Because most of the landscape around th e dangered spotted turtle, Clemmvs guita/o, an d Grand Calumet River once consisted of , lter- state-endangered Blandings turtle, Ernvdoide u nating ridges and swales, some of the am- blandingii, could occur very near the river a t phibians and reptiles in the area are capabl e some of these sites . of utilizing both upland and wetland habitat . Restoration efforts that address both habita t HABITAT ENHANCEMENT AN D components are likely to support the greates t MANAGEMEN T diversity of wildlife, especially if restoratio n Considering the long history of industria l areas are adjacent to the existing core natura l use along the Grand Calumet River, it is per- areas . Early efforts can serve to create buffe r haps amazing that so many amphibians an d areas for existing preserves . Over time thes e reptiles, some of them rare, persist in the area . buffers could be extended to serve as connec- However, because of the presence of seve ral tions between preserves . The challenges t o high quality natural areas contiguous to th e this process will he many in this complex ur- river, unique restoration opportunities ar e ban landscape, but opportunities should h e available . Appropriate management of som e pursued as they present themselves . of the sites described above could enhance th e Wetlands with a direct river connectio n viability of amphibian and reptile populations . could contribute to enhancement of water Water quality in the Grand Calumet Rive r quality and potentially provide habitat fo r has improved considerably since point sourc e some semi-aquatic amphibians and reptiles , pollution has been reduced : however, most of such as mudpuppies, bullfrogs, green frogs , the water in the system still originates as in- snapping turtles, painted turtles, and norther n dustrial discharge or treatment plant effluent . water snakes . Turtles could benefit from open- With the removal of contaminated sediments , ing the existing dense cattail and commo n the Grand Calumet or riparian wetlands in di- reed marshes in riparian areas . For this, deep- rect contact with the river might eventually b e ening of selected areas in conjunction wit h able to support a herpetofaunal assemblage o f dredging operations could improve intersper- at least tolerant species . Clean-up of the rive r sion of marsh and open water habitats . Re - will provide an opportunity to speed or ex- stocking or natural immigration of muskrat s pand restoration of the better quality core ar- also can thin dense stands of cattails . eas already in public ownership, to lobby fo r Many amphibians do not breed in riparia n acquisition of or negotiation of managemen t wetlands, even if cattails and common reed s agreements for other remnants of natural land , are thinned, because of fish predation on egg s and ultimately to take advantage of the rive r and larvae . Creation of a few palustrinc emer- corridor to once again link up some of th e gent wetlands isolated from direct contac t core areas . with the river could provide habitat for thes e Several sites identified by the Indiana Nat- species, including tiger salamanders, Ameri- ural Areas Inventory, including parts of the can toads, western chorus frogs, and norther n Clark and Pine complex, remain in privat e leopard frogs . Because groundwater generall y ownership and are at risk of degradation . Site flows toward lower and larger bodies such as

MIFRtWA ET At . . AMP111IBIANS AND REPTILES 11 9

the Grand Calumet River (Watson et al . 1989) , could help in maintaining suitable habitat con- wetlands of excellent quality have persisted a t ditions. DuPont, Clark and Pine complex, Mille r Corridor linkages . Enhancement of ex- woods, and other sites, sometimes only meter s isting riparian wetlands or restoration of wet - from the main channel . Restored or created lands in areas filled in the past could help t o wetlands separated from the channel by nar- establish corridors linking some of the core row areas of upland may have a reasonabl e natural areas . Such corridors would he espe- chance of maintaining good water quality an d cially useful if they included, in addition t o supporting a variety of plants and animals . riparian wetlands, at least a narrow uplan d in addition to traditional enhancement an d border seeded with native grassland vegeta- restoration techniques such as woody vegeta- tion and scattered depressions with seasona l tion control or wetland excavation, comple x wetlands . but innovative opportunities are possible nea r The Gary Regional Airport (Site 9), in par- the Grand Calumet River. Some areas of de - ticular, could be investigated for restoratio n graded habitat are presently of minimal valu e feasibility along the river. Bordering the air - to amphibians and reptiles, but they are im- port are marshes and degraded remnants of mediately adjacent to high quality natural ar- ridge and swale topography and at least on e eas . Areas impacted by heavy machiner y interesting and infrequently seen species, th e movement or other dredging activity could be western slender glass lizard . However, politi- excavated to below the water table and the n cal and security considerations might con - covered with clean sand, mimcking the ridge strain restoration efforts at this location . Wet- and swale topography once seen in early aeria l lands near runways might increase the risk o f photographs (see Fig .. 1) . If native vegetation bird strikes unless designed appropriately . Th e can be established on both wetlands and in- control tower is located near the river, and vis- ibility during controlled burns could be an is - tervening uplands, buffer or corridor areas sue . could be established in this way . The technica l Areas adjacent to the Grand Calumet Rive feasibility of such an effort should first be r today support a surprisingly diverse herpeto- carefully reviewed by appropriate specialists . fauna, although the remaining habitat is frag- Potentially suitable locations are present with - mented by past industrial land uses . Manage- in the Gary Sanitary District and DuPont (Sit e ment and enhancement of remnant natura l 7) reaches, and others may be located throug h areas, restoration of wetlands and adjacent up- additional field efforts . land at more degraded sites, and a long-ter m In Illinois, particularly near Burnham Prai- strategy for linking or buffering core areas o f rie (Site I), potential buffer restoration oppor- open space could help maintain biodiversit y tunities exist . Fill material between the rive r well into the future . and the natural area could be excavated, as- suming that it can be disposed of safely an d LITERATURE CITED economically ; and wetlands could be estab- Ahearn, P.J . R .O. Kapp . 1984. Pollen analysi s lished in the excavated areas . Similarly, an y and vegetational history associated with archae - landfill site created for river sediments coul d ological sites in Berrien County, Michigan . Pp. 113--123, In Late Archaic and Early Woodland be restored with the addition of native soil an d adaptation in the Lower St. Joseph River Valley , vegetation on top of any cap material . Natura l Berrien County, Michigan . (E .B . Garland, ed .). dispersal or reintroduction of animal specie s Michigan Department of Transportation, (unpubl . might then he feasible . This could he a lin e report). opportunity to address an environmental prob- Bacone, J .A . 1979 . Shell oil dune and swale : A lem and establish a semi-natural ecologica l report on a natural area . Indiana Dep artment o f system at the same time . Natural Resources . Division of Nature Preserves , The Grand Calumet lagoons within and Indianapolis, Indiana. (unpubl . report) . . near Miller Woods may be better able to sup - Bogart, J .P. A .P. Jaslow. 1979 Distribution an d call parameters of Hr/u c{rrv .roscelis and Hula port aquatic life than more contaminate d versicolor in Michigan . Royal Ontario Museu m reaches to the west . After dredging operation s of Life Sciences Contributions 117 :3-13 . are completed, any measures to control wate r Bowles, M . 1989 . Evaluation of Clarke and Pine , movement between this and other reaches Tolleston Ridges, and Gibson Woods, Lake

120 PROCLFiDINCiS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENC E

County, Indiana as potential National Natura l Endangered, threatened, and rare species an d Landmarks . Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois . high quality natural communities and natural ar- (unpubl . report) . eas documented from or adjacent to the Gran d 13reden, E 1988 . Natural history and ecology of Calumet River on the Highland and Gary quad- Fowlers toad, into wnnclhousei fowler/ (Am- rangles in Fake County, Indiana . Division of Na- phibian : l3ufonidae) in the Indiana Dunes Na- ture Preserves, Indianapolis, Indiana . tional Lakeshore . I"ieldiana Zoology, N .S. 49 :1 - Lake Michigan Federation . 1984 . The Grand Cal- 16. umet : Exploring the rivers potential . Lake Mich- Choi, Y.D . 1999/2000 . Wetland flora of the Gran d igan Federation, Chicago, Illinois . Calumet River in northwest Indiana : Potentia l Madison, D .D . 1993 . Tiger salamander habitat use . impacts of sediment removal and recommenda- New York Department of Environment and Con- tions for restoration . Proceedings of the Indian a servation, Endangered Species Unit, Delmar, Academy of Science 108/109 :19-43 . New York . (unpubl . report) . Chrzastowski, M .J. T.A. Thompson . 1992 . Lat e Mierzwa, K .S. 1993 . Amphibians and reptiles o f Wisconsinan and Holocene coastal evolution o f two macrosites in McHenry County, Illinois . the southern shore of Lake Michigan : Quaternar y McHenry County Conservation District. (unpubl . coasts of the United States : Marine and lacustrin e report) . systems . Society of Economic Palynology an d Miezsa, K.S. 1998 . Amphibian habitat in th e Mineralogy Special Publications 48 :397-413. midwestern United States . Pip . 16-23, In Statu s Chrzastowski, M.J ., EA . Pranschke, C .W. Sha- and Conservation of Midwestern Amphibians . bica. 1991 . Discovery and preliminary investi- (M .J. Lannoo, ed .). University of Iowa Press , gations of the remains of an early Holocene for- Iowa City . est on the Iloor of southern Lake Michigan . Mier/ma, K .S ., S . Culberson, K .S. King C . Ross . Journal of Research 17 :543-552 . 1991 . Illinois-Indiana regional airport study : Bi- Collins, J .T. 1990 . Standard common and curren t otic cornmunities . Technical Paper 7, Appendi x scientific names for North American amphibian s E, Volume II, TAMS Consultants, Inc., Chicago, and reptiles, 3 edition. Society for the Study o f Illinois. Amphibians and Reptiles herpetological Circula r Minton, S .A ., Jr. 2001 . Amphibians and Reptile s 19 . 41 pp . of Indiana . 21 ed . Indiana Academy of Science, Congdon, J .D ., A.E . Dunham R .C . van Lobe n Indianapolis, Indiana. Sels . 1993 . Delayed sexual maturity and de- Morgan, D . J. Burling. 1979 . Listing of verte- mographics of Illandings turtles (Emplokle a hrates seen on selected Lake County natural ar- Implications for conservation an d eas during August, 1978, with comments o n management of long-lived organisms . Conser- preservation values . In Indiana Department of vation Biology 7 :826-833 . Natural Resources and Natural Land Institute . A n Cowles, I I C. 1901 . The plant societies of Chicago Inventory of Natural Areas in the Indiana coasta l and vicinity . Geographic Society of Chicago Bul- Zone Study Area, Indiana State Planning Servic e letin 2 : I -76 . Agency Technical Report. Fibbers, B .C. 1984. Reconstruction of the floristi c Resetar, A . 1988 . Distribution and ecology of am- environment in central Berrien County, Michi- phibians and reptiles in selected areas of Lake , gan, 2000 B .C. to nineteenth century A .D. Pp . Porte-, I .aPorte, and Newton Counties, Indiana , 83-107, In Late Archaic and Early Woodland ad- with emphasis on state-listed species . Indian a aptation in the Lower St . Joseph River Valley , Department of Natural Resources, Nongame an d Berrien County, Michigan . (E .B . Garland, ed .). Endangered Wildlife Program, Indianapolis, In- Michigan Department of Transportation, (unpubl . diana . (unpubl . report) . report) . Richards, R.I.. 1987 . The vertebrate collection o f Harding, J .H. J .A . Holman . 1992 . Michigan the Indiana State Museum : "Old" specimens an d frogs, toads, and salamanders . Michigan State records. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy o f University Museum . Science 97 :547-570. Heyer, W.R ., M .A. Donnelly, R.W. McDiarmid, Rossman, D .A., R.B . Ford R.A. Seigel . 1996. I,.C . Hayek M .S. Foster . 1994 . Measuring an d The Garter Snakes : Evolution and Ecology . Uni - Monitoring Biological Diversity : Standard Meth- versity of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma . ods for Amphibians . Smithsonian Institutio n Schmidt, K .P W.L. Necker. 1935 . Amphibian s Press, Washington, D .C. and reptiles of the Chicago region . Chicag o Holman, J .A . K.D . Andrews . 1994. North Academy of Sciences Bulletin 5:57-77 . American Quaternary cold-tolerant turtles : Dis- Seibert, H .C. 1950 . Population density of snakes tributional adaptations and constraints . Borea s in an area near Chicago. Copeia 1950 :229-230. 23 :44-52 . Shelford, V.E. 1913 . Animal cornmunities in tem - Indiana Department of Natural Resources . 1992. perate America, as illustrated in the Chicago re-

MIER/MA ET AL . AMPHIBIANS AND R[PTII .ES 1 2 1

gion . University or Chicago Press . Chicago . Il- and lake-level variation in southern Lake Mich- . linois . igan . Sedimentary Geology 80 :305-318 .D . Smith, PW. S .A . Minton, Jr.: 1957 . A distrihu- Watson . I . .R ., R .J . Shedlock, K .J . Banasiak . L tional swimmary or the herpetofauna or Indiana Arihood . PK . Doss . 1989 . Preliminary anal- and Illinois . American Midland Naturalist 58 : ysis of the shallow ground-water system in th e 341-357 . vicinity or the Grand Calumet !River/Indiana I Iar- Sohiech, S .A ., TV Simon D .W. Sparks . 1994 . bor Canal, northwestern Indiana . United State s Pre-remedial biological and water quality assess- Geological Survery Open File Report 88 _ ment of the Fast Branch Grand Calumet River, Werth, R .J . 1990 . Terrestrial vertehrates : Amphih- Gary, Indiana, June 1994 . United States Fish an d ians, reptiles and mammals . In Ecology of Mille r Wildlife Service Biological Report . Blooming - Woods. (R.L. Pcloquin, R .L. Whitman i . R.J . ton, Indiana . Werth, eds .) . Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Sullivan . B .K . . K .B . Malmos 9 M .L (riven . 1996 . Research Progress Report 90-01 . Systematics or the /air/o aroodhonsei comple x Wilhelm, G .S . 1990 . Special vegetation of the In- (Anura : Bufonidae) : Advertisement call varia- diana Dunes National Lakeshore . Indiana Dune s tion . Copeia 1996 :274-279 . National Lakeshore Research Progress Report Thompson, TA . 1992 Beach-ridge development 90-01 .