Great Basin Naturalist

Volume 46 Number 2 Article 8

4-30-1986

Food habits of clouded (Aneides ferreus) in Curry County, Oregon (Amphibia: Caudata: )

John O. Whitaker Jr. Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana

Chris Maser U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon

Robert M. Storm Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

Joseph J. Beatty Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

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Recommended Citation Whitaker, John O. Jr.; Maser, Chris; Storm, Robert M.; and Beatty, Joseph J. (1986) "Food habits of clouded salamanders (Aneides ferreus) in Curry County, Oregon (Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae)," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 46 : No. 2 , Article 8. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol46/iss2/8

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Basin Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. FOOD HABITS OF CLOUDED SALAMANDERS {ANEIDES FERREUS) IN CURRY COUNTY, OREGON (AMPHIBIA: CAUDATA: PLETHODONTIDAE)

John O. Whitaker, Jr.', Chris Maser", Robert M. Storing and Joseph J. Beatty'

Abstract. — Stomach contents of 650 clouded salamanders (Aneidesferreus), collected monthly throughout the year from Curry County, Oregon, were examined. Samples from three age classes were involved: (1) 489 adults, (2) 131 juveniles, and (3) 30 hatchlings. Foods did not vary by se.x, but did vary by age and by season. Hatchlings ate small items, particularly , springtails, , and small . Juveniles fed mainly on flies, isopods (sowbugs), beetles, mites, and in winter; beetles, , and isopods in spring; ants and beetles in summer; and isopods, beetles, and ants in fall. Adults ate isopods and beetles as their major foods in winter, spring, and fall and isopods, ants, beetles, and earwigs in summer. Four species were exceedingly important as foods for these salamanders: an unidentified isopod, the snout (Trachyphloeus bifoveatus), the European earwig {Forfictila auricularia), and an {Lasim alienus).

The clouded (Aneides ferretis) Our study was undertaken to gain a more is found from coastal northwestern California comprehensive idea of the food habits of A. northward throughout western Oregon west ferreus throughout the year, by size groups, of the Cascade Range to the Columbia River. and by sex. All salamanders had been col- Disjunct populations occur on Vancouver Is- lected and preserved in connection with i land, British Columbia. In Oregon the previous study (Beatty 1979). clouded salamander is found from sea level to elevations of about 1525 m (Beatty 1979). Study Area i

Aneides ferreus is associated with two basic The study area, located 9.5 km south of th( types of habitat throughout its range—talus Pistol River, Curry County, Oregon, is in th( and fallen trees (Beatty 1979). Large fallen Sitka spruce {Picea sitchensis) zone within th( trees are the product of old-growth forests Klamath Mountains Province (Franklin an( (Franklin et al. 1981, Harris et al. 1982). In Dyrness 1973). The study area was burned ii Oregon the fallen tree habitat used by A. fer- 1937 and 1938 and was salvage logged in th< reus is essentially Douglas-fir (Pseudotsiiga late 1950s and early 1960s. It has since beei menziesii) in varying stages of decomposition grazed continuously by domestic sheep (Ovi (Beatty 1979, Maser and Trappe 1984, aries) (Fig. 1). Phillips et al. 1981). The area is open (low grass-forb vegetation There have been few food-habit studies of with clumps of swordfern {Pohjstichum muni A. ferreus. Fitch (1936) examined the stom- turn) and trailing blackberry {Ruhus ursinus) ach of five specimens from the Rogue River The widely scattered trees include Douglas-fir Valley in southwestern Oregon. Storm and Sitka spruce, Pacific madrone [Arbutus men

Aller (1947) examined 63 stomachs from A. ziesii), California laurel {UmbeUularia califor ferreus found in decaying Douglas-fir logs in nica), and clumps of red alder (Alnus rubra) western Oregon. Bury and Martin (1973) Several large, charred Douglas-fir snags \ver( compared the distribution and foods of four still standing when the salamanders were col species of plethodontid salamanders, includ- lected (from 1974 through 1977), and the lam ing A. ferreus, from the redwood region of was strewn with many large, fallen, decompo.s northern California; they examined 29 stom- ing, Douglas-fir trees. These trees composed th( achs of this species. habitat o( A. ferreus (Fig. 1).

Department of Life Sciences, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana 47809.

^U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Forestry Sciences LaboratorN, :52(K) J.-ftc illis, Oregon 97331. Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 973.31

228 April 1986 Whitaker et ai, Salamaxofr Food Habits 229

Fig. 1. Study area, 9.5 km south of the Pistol River, Curry County, Oregon. The large, woody materials formed the ihitat of the clouded salamander.

Materials and Methods quency of occurrence in stomachs, and per- cent frecjuency that each item composed of The salamanders were collected by dissect- the total number of items. Data were sepa- ng fallen trees and were placed in refriger- rated by month, year, age class, and sex in the ited containers to keep them cool and moist, adult salamanders. rhey were transported to the laboratory A^ithin 24 hours (except the May sample), dlled in 0.2% chlorobutanol, fixed in alcohol- Results and Discussion ormalin-acetic acid (AFA), washed in running Results 1-6. :ap water for 24 hours, and stored in 63% are given in Tables To deter- 3thanol. Snout-vent length (SVL) was mea- mine if there were any qualitative differences sured from the tip of the snout to the anterior in feeding behaviors because of age, we sepa- idge of the cloaca. rated the data into the following age classes: The stomachs were opened later and the (1) adults (SVL > 45 mm), (2) juveniles (SVL Dreserved food items were removed. Sala- 22-44 mm), and (3) hatchlings (SVL 14-19 nanders from every month of the year, except Vlay, had food in their stomachs; the lack of Adults (SVL 45+ mm) bod in specimens taken in May was probably he result of not preserving them soon enough It appeared that foods of adult A. ferreus ifter capture. Food items were examined in did not vary greatly by sex. To assess similari- vater with the aid of a 10-70 power zoom ties and differences we used four of the larger

lissecting microscope. The food was identi- individual samples: (1) 32 males, 54 females;

ied as completely as possible, counted, and 24 March 1976; (2) 15 males, 16 females; 11

jercent volumes visually calculated for each April 1975; (3) 18 males, 13 females; 13 August

ype of food in each stomach. Data were then 1976; (4) 15 males, 14 females; 30 November summarized as mean percent volume, fre- 1974. 230 Great Basin Naturalist Vol. 46, No. 2

Table 1. Food eaten in winter (December-February) by 55 Adult Aneidesferreus (snout-vent length 45+ mm) from Curry County, Oregon.

Total percent Percent Percent of volume for Food item volume individuals major group ISOPODA 44.0 39.4 COLEOPTERA Curculionidae Trachyphloeus bifoveatus 16.1 Brachyrhinus rugosostriatus 1.8 Chaetechus setiger 0.7 Unidentified 0.3 Carabidae Amura sp. 0.7 Scarabaeidat Aphrodius crihratulus 2.6 Unidentified adult 0.7 Dermaptera Forficula aiiricularia 10.8 Diptera Sciaridae 2.9 Mycetophilidae 1.9 Phoridae 0.1 Unidentified larvae 0.9 Araneida Gnaphosidae 2.1 Autrodiaetus pacificus 1.0 Ebo sp. probably pepinensis 0.2 Amaurobiidae 0.9 Micryphantidae 0.04 Chilopoda 1.8 DiPLOPODA 1.8 Homoptera Aphididae 0.3 Cercopidae 0.2 Cicadellidae 0.2 Hymenoptera Formicidae Aphaenogasfer subterraneus 0.6 Lasius aliemis 0.1 Unidentified 0.04 Neuroptera Hemerobiidae 0.7 Hemiptera Tingidae 0.3 ACARINA 0.1 COLLEMBOLA 0.04 Vegetation 3.3 Unidentified insect 1.7 Shed skin 1.1 April 1986 Whitaker i 232 Great Basin Naturalist Vol.. 46, No. 2 ^

Table 2 continued.

Percent Pe

Food itei volume April 1986 Whitaker et al. : Salamander Food Habits

Table 3 continued. 234 Great Basin Naturalist Vol. 46, No. 2

(snout-vent length 45+ mm) from Table 4. Foods eaten in fall (Septemhei -November) by 125 aduliAncidesferreu.s Curry County, Oregon.

Food item ISOPODA COLEOPTERA Curculionidae Trachtjphloeus bifoveatus Chaetechus setiger Sitona hispidiilus Unidentified Carabidae Calathiis ruficoUis Unidentified Tenebrionidae Phthora americanum Unidentified Scarabaeidae Aphrodius sp. Staphylinidae Atheta sp. Pselaphidae Batrisodes sp. Unidentified Unidentified larvae Hymenoptera Formicidae Lasius alienus Aphaeonogaster subterranea Ant species #9 Tapinoma sessile Camponotus vicinus Stenamma diecki Stenamma sp. Ant species #10 Unidentified Vespidae Braconidae Unidentified Dermaptera Forficida auricula ha Araneida April 1986 Whitaker et al.: Salamander Food Harits 235

Table 4 continued.

Food item 236 Great Basin Naturalist Vol. 46, No. 2

Table .5. Foods of 1.31 juvenile Aneides ferreus (snout-vent length 20-4.5 mm from Curry County, Oregon. Presented as percent volume and percent of prey individuals. April 1986 Whitakeretal.: Salamand 238 April 1986 Whitakeretal.: Salamander Food Habits 239

into two size classes: (1) 17 individuals with a concentrate the salamanders' food; for exam- snout-vent length of 14-18 mm, x - 16.9, and ple, some beetles and flies, eaten by the sala-

(2) 21 individuals with a snout-vent length of manders, depend on these trees for part or all 24-36 mm, x = 29.3. Stomachs of hatchlings of their life cycles (Deyrup 1975, 1976). Fur- contained mites (30.3%) and springtails ther, large, decomposing Douglas-fir trees re- (27.9%); these two foods totaled 58.2% of the main moist inside during summer drought diet. Stomachs of juveniles contained only (Maser and Trappe 1984) and thereby main- 7.0% springtails and 2.5% mites for a total of tain quality habitat not only for the clouded

9.5% for these two items. salamander but also for its food supply.

Hatchlings (SVL 14-19 mm) Acknowledgments Among the smallest salamanders were six nestlings attended by both an adult male and D. Grayson, D. Metter, and J. Trappe criti- female. The nest was found 13 September cally read and improved this paper. D. Bel- 1976. Five of the nestlings had stomachs that navis, H. Hanlin, W. HoflPman, S. Howe, and yellowish material, thought contained 100% R. Pietruszka helped with the fieldwork. G. to be yolk. The sixth had a stomach that con- Peters, A. Moldenke, and J. Munsee identi- tained three mites volume), an ant (5% by fied some of the food items. B. Crook allowed {Tapinoma sessile) a mycetophilid (15%), us to collect the salamanders on his property. (30%), and a linyphyid (50%). Some Fieldwork was supported by grants to JJB and feeding may therefore occur while the young RMS from the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial are still in the nest. Fund, the American Museum of Natural His- With the exception of the above young and tory, and the Society of the Sigma Xi; identifi- one collected in April, hatchlings (<20 mm cation of food items was supported by a grant SVL) were found from November through to JOW from the US DA Forest Service, February. these, 17 taken in fall Of were and Pacific Northwest Research Station (Coopera- 13 in winter (Table 6). As expected, food items tive Agreement PNW-82-232). We are sin- were small. Major foods in the fall sample, in cerely grateful for the help. order of decreasing volume, were mites, This paper represents a partial contribution springtails, and very small beetles. These (no. 3) of the project entitled "The Fallen three groups composed 72.9% of the total vol- Tree—An Extension of the Live Tree." The ume. The mites and springtails occurred in project is cooperative among the U.S. De- about 70% to 75% of the stomachs, and the partment of the Interior, Bureau of Land three together accounted for 93.7% of the Management; U.S. Department of Agricul- prey items in the sample. No flies were found. ture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Re- Small food items also dominated the winter search Station; Oregon State University, De- sample. Springtails formed the most abun- partment of Forest Science; U.S. Department dant prey items (56.3% of the total), but of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service; flies primarily dark-winged fungus gnats, — and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Sciaridae—made up the greatest collective volume (27.7%). In order of importance, by decreasing volume, were flies, springtails, Literature Cited very small beetles, mites, and .

Beatty. J J 1979. Morphological variation in the clouded salamander, Aneides fcrreus (Cope) (Amphibia: Conclusions Caudata: Plethodontidae). Unpublished disserta- tion, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 94 pp. A newly hatched clouded salamander eats Bury, R. B., and M Martin 1973. Comparative studies small food items (mites and springtails). As an on the distribution and foods of plethodontid sala- individual matures, the size of prey increases manders in the redwood region of northern Cali- fornia. Herpetol. 7: 331-335. to larger items, such as beetles and eai-wigs. J. Deyrup, M. A. 1975. The insect community of dead and All the prey listed in this paper can be found in dying Douglas-fir, 1: The Hymenoptera. Conifer- and around large, fallen, decomposing Dou- ous For, Biome, Ecosyst. Anal. Stud. Bull. 6. 104 glas-fir trees. Large, rotting Douglas-fir trees pp. 240 Great Basin Naturalist Vol. 46, No. i

1976. The insect community of dead and dying Harris, L DC Maser, andA McKee 1982. Patterns o Douglas-fir: Diptera, Coleoptera, and Neu- old growth harvest and implications for Cascade roptera. Unpublished dissertation, University of wildlife. N. Amer. Wild, and Nat. Resour. Conf Washington, Seattle. 504 pp. 47: 374-392. Fitch. H. S. 1936. and reptiles of the Rogue Maser, C , and J M Trappe. 1984. The seen and unseei River Basin, Oregon. Amer. Midi. Nat. 17(3): world of the fallen tree. USDA For. Serv., Pacifu 634-652. Northwest For. and Range Exp. Stn., Portland Franklin,] F, AND CT Dyrness. 1973. Natural vegeta- Oregon. Gen. Tech. Rep., PNW-133. 56 p. tion of Oregon and Washington. USDA For. Phillips, C. H. Chrostowski, A McMillan, M. Serv., Pacific Northwest For. and Range Exp. Wal TER, R. Wilson, and M ELrzROTH 1981. Wildlife Stn., Portland, Oregon, Gen. Tech. Rep., PNW- Mi habitats and species 8.417 pp. management relationships program, Oregon Coast Range. Vol. 11: Amphibi- Franklin,] F , K Cromack. ]r , W Denison, A McKee, ans and reptiles. For. Serv., Pacific C Maser, ] Sedell, F Svvanson, and G ]uday USDA North- ieiii old-growth west Region, Corvallis, Oregon, Siuslaw Nat 1981. Ecological characteristics of p Douglas-fir forests. USDA For. Serv., Pacific For., 57pp.

Northwest For. and Range Exp. Stn., Portland, Storm, R. M., and A. R. Aller. 1947. Food habits o: ititii

Oregon. Gen. Tech. Rep., PNW-118. 48 pp. Aneides ferreus . Herpetol. 4(2): 59-60.