Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2015 Development of a conservation action plan for the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in West Virginia William J. Greathouse Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Greathouse, William J., "Development of a conservation action plan for the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in West Virginia" (2015). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 5707. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/5707 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DEVELOPMENT OF A CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN FOR THE EASTERN HELLBENDER (CRYPTOBRANCHUS ALLEGANIENSIS ALLEGANIENSIS) IN WEST VIRGINIA William J. Greathouse Dissertation submitted to the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science Eugene E. Felton, Ph.D., Committee Chairperson Robert Dailey, Ph.D. Margaret Minch, DVM Thomas K. Pauley, Ph.D.. J. Todd Petty, Ph.D. Division of Animal and Nutrition Sciences Morgantown, West Virginia 2015 Keywords: hellbender, Cryptobranchus, salamander, head-started, reintroduction, translocation Copyright 2015 William J. Greathouse ABSTRACT DEVELOPMENT OF A CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN FOR THE EASTERN HELLBENDER (CRYPTOBRANCHUS ALLEGANIENSIS ALLEGANIENSIS) IN WEST VIRGINIA William J. Greathouse The Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) is the largest salamander in North America growing to 75 centimeters in length. This fully aquatic species is an indicator of good stream and river quality and has been considered to be in decline or rare throughout its range. This study focused on the current distribution of the Eastern hellbender at sites of historic occurrence in West Virginia in order to determine the species’ current range and factors impacting its distribution in order to facilitate planned reintroductions and translocations of hellbenders reared in human care. The success of the reintroduction and translocation efforts were also a key focus of this study to determine if the release of individuals raised in human care could contribute to the conservation of this species in West Virginia. Results of this study have indicated that hellbenders were only detected at 12 of 23 (52%) surveyed sites of historic occurrence, and the habitat variables most strongly associated with the presence of this species at historic sites was the presence of forested landscape within the watershed and increased dissolved oxygen concentration within streams and rivers. Key data from diet intake studies showed that 84% of hellbenders collected in West Virginia during periods of feeding had consumed crayfish with fish species being the second most frequently observed item consumed. In addition, no (39 of 39) hellbenders captured from July 8th - August 29th in West Virginia had any food items present in their stomach during surveys. The greatest factor associated with the lack of prey consumption was water temperatures in excess of 23°C. These findings were confirmed with individuals in human care with individuals maintained at these temperatures not eating and losing an average of 15.33 grams during the 86 day trial period. Finally, we created predictive models based on sites of hellbender presence during our surveys to identify high probability of occurrence sites for translocation of head-started hellbenders. We then released 14 individuals at a reintroduction site where head-started hellbender eggs were collected as well as 15 individuals at a translocation site that was previously occupied by hellbenders. Survival rates through 6 months of tracking during this study did not differ statistically between sites. Movement and home range were greater at the reintroduction site than at the translocation site, and stream bank shelters were used more frequently than stone shelters at the reintroduction site than at the translocation site. Increased movement and alternative shelter use are believed to be due to reduced shelter availability due to fewer boulders and the presence of adult hellbenders at the reintroduction site as opposed to conditions at the translocation site. Future hellbender conservation efforts in West Virginia should include preservation of forest habitat near current hellbender populations and surveillance of historic sites based upon predictive model results. Reintroductions and translocations of head-started juveniles or sub- adults should be conducted at sites of greatest predicted occurrence with long-term monitoring for detection of reproductively sustainable populations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation and the research associated with it have been made possible by the sacrifice of my wife, Susan, and my daughters, Caroline, Bethany, Emma, and Hannah. Their sacrifice of time with me over the past several years has enabled me the opportunity to complete this study and to enjoy my passion of studying this magnificent species. I also must acknowledge the impetus of pursuing this degree to my parents, Bill and Sally, who have always instilled the importance of education in spite of not having the opportunity to attend college themselves. I would like to thank my graduate research advisor, Dr. Eugene Felton, as well as the rest of my graduate committee members, Dr. Robert Dailey, Dr. Margaret Minch, Dr. Thomas Pauley, and Dr. Todd Petty, who have provided their time, guidance, expertise, patience, and understanding to enable me to complete this research. I would also like to thank Penny Miller, the director of Oglebay’s Good Zoo, Dr. Michael Miller, the zoo’s former veterinarian, and Dr. Barbara Wolfe of the Wilds for their support and encouragement of me to pursue this degree. Without the support and encouragement of all of these individuals, I would not have been able to have managed a full-time career, my studies, and my family in the manner that they facilitated. Furthermore, I would like to thank the West Virginia Division of Wildlife for funding this study through the State Wildlife Grant Program and Walt Kordek and Michael Welch of the West Virginia Division of Wildlife for guidance and assistance with completion of these studies iv as well as Barbara Sargent for assistance with collection permit guidance. I would also like to thank the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Fund for partial funding of the telemetry equipment utilized during this study. Finally, the activities associated with the completion of this research were not possible without the support of many co-workers, interns, and volunteers from Oglebay’s Good Zoo who assisted with several of the activities carried out during this project including field surveys for hellbender presence – Susan Greathouse, Mindi White, Kala Bassa, Troy Quick, Bryan Blawut, James DeNucci, Sid Jacobs, Dan Martin, Kyle Jones, Amy Toman, Phillip Cahill, Mike Adams, Kanyon McClean, Kyleigh Garberson, Rebecca Spear, Kortney Jaworski, Daniel Caron, and Stan Myers; caring for hellbenders in human care during rearing – Susan Greathouse, Mindi White, Kala Bassa, Troy Quick, Melanie Hengler, and Katie Marino; surgical implantation of radio telemetry transmitters - Dr. Paige Stoehr and Dr. Todd Moores; and radio telemetry survey assistance – Susan Greathouse and Derek Zagort. I greatly appreciate the support and the effort of all of the aforementioned individuals who have supported my endeavors and these efforts to conserve such a fascinating species in our state. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..iv LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………vii LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………viii LIST OF APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………………………………………………………………..4 CHAPTER 3: LANDSCAPE AND MICROHABITAT VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE EASTERN HELLBENDER (CRYPTOBRANCHUS ALLEGANIENSIS ALLEGANIENSIS) IN WEST VIRGINIA…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………51 CHAPTER 4: INCREASED WATER TEMPERATURES ASSOCIATED WITH FASTING IN THE EASTERN HELLBENDER (CRYPTOBRANCHUS ALLEGANIENSIS ALLEGANIENSIS)……………………………………….74 CHAPTER 5: SURVIVAL, HOME RANGE, AND SHELTER SELECTION OF REINTRODUCED AND TRANSLOCATED HEAD-STARTED EASTERN HELLBENDERS (CRYPTOBRANCHUS ALLEGANIENSIS ALLEGANIENSIS) IN WEST VIRGINIA……………………………………………………………………………………....88 CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS…………………………………………………………124 CURRICULUM VITAE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….193 vi List of Tables Chapter 2 Table 1. Historic