Heading 1 i Science Review for the Scott Bar Salamander (Plethodon asupak) and the Siskiyou Mountains Salamander (P. stormi): Biology, Taxonomy, Habitat, and Detection Probabilities/Occupancy Douglas J. DeGross and R. Bruce Bury Open-File Report 2007-1352 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey ii Report Title U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2007 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS--the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Suggested citation: DeGross, D.J., and Bury, R.B., 2007, Science Review for the Scott Bar Salamander (Plethodon asupak) and the Sis- kiyou Mountains Salamander (P. stormi): Biology, Taxonomy, Habitat, and Detection Probabilities/Occupancy: Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey, Open-File Report 2007-1352, p. 14. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. 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Heading 1 iii Contents Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Biology ............................................................................................................................................................1 Taxonomy .......................................................................................................................................................2 Color and Morphology .........................................................................................................................2 Phylogenetics ........................................................................................................................................3 Habitat .............................................................................................................................................................4 Impacts to Habitat.................................................................................................................................6 Timber Harvest and Silvicultural Practices ...............................................................................................6 Fire....... ....................................................................................................................................................7 Mining and Other Ground Disturbing Practices ..............................................................................8 Combined Risk Model...........................................................................................................................8 Detection Probabilities/Occupancy ............................................................................................................8 Conclusions.....................................................................................................................................................8 Systematics............................................................................................................................................8 Habitat ....................................................................................................................................................9 Modeling Salamander Populations and Habitat ..............................................................................9 Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................10 References ..................................................................................................................................................11 iv Report Title (This page left blank intentionally) Science Review for the Scott Bar Salamander (Plethodon asupak) and the Siskiyou Mountains Salamander (P. stormi): Biology, Taxonomy, Habitat, and Detection Probabilities/Occupancy Douglas J. DeGross and R. Bruce Bury Introduction Biology The Plethodon elongatus Complex in the Klam- Species of the genus Plethodon have fairly rigid physi- ath-Siskiyou Ecoregion of southern Oregon and northern ological requirements. Some unifying characteristics of the California includes three species: the Del Norte salamander, salamanders in this genus are their fully terrestrial exis- Plethodon elongatus; the Siskiyou Mountains salamander, P. tence, direct development, relatively small size, and lack of stormi; and the Scott Bar salamander, P. asupak. This review functional lungs (Dunn 1926, Zug et al. 2001). Although a aims to summarize the current literature and information thorough physiological evaluation has not been conducted on available on select topics for P. stormi and P. asupak. These either P. stormi or P. asupak, moist conditions are required are both terrestrial salamanders belonging to the Family by both forms. Plethodon salamanders, due to their lack of Plethodontidae, which contains more species and has a wider functional lungs, respire through their permeable skin. This geographic distribution than any other family of salamanders process requires moisture to properly allow for cutaneous gas (Wake 1966, 2006; Pough 1989). The genera of this family exchange (Feder 1983). This obligatory condition is attained have greatly diversified ecologically across North America, by the salamanders actively seeking out moist microhabitats, Central America, northern South America, Sardinia, southeast- including those found by retreating underground, in other ern France and northwestern Italy, and have recently been dis- animal burrows, or the interstitial spaces created by the rocky covered on the Korean peninsula (Min et al. 2005). The genus substrates. Plethodon is found exclusively in North America and is split Plethodon stormi and P. asupak can be found closest to into three distinct clades, based upon morphology and phylo- the surface during the region’s wet season, which starts with genetics (Highton and Larson 1979): eastern small Plethodon, the first fall rains and runs through the spring, or when site eastern large Plethodon, and the western Plethodon. The west- specific conditions present equable conditions. The region ern Plethodon are the greatest representation of Plethodontidae has low humidity in summer or other dry spells (mostly late in the Pacific Northwest, with 8 species. The two species with spring and early fall) when these organisms are driven into the most restricted ranges of these regional congeners are the subterranean refugia for available moisture and to avoid high Siskiyou Mountains and Scott Bar salamanders. temperatures. These salamanders occupy the interior of the Klam- Water loss from dry conditions can be lethal to Plethodon ath-Siskiyou Ecoregion which straddles the California and salamanders, and evidence from the Del Norte salamander (P. Oregon state lines, between Siskiyou County (CA) and elongatus) indicates sensitivity to these conditions (Ray 1958). Jackson and Josephine Counties (OR). The relatively recent This would infer limited utilization of habitats or microcli- discovery of P. asupak (Mead et al. 2005) and the limited matic environments that occur outside their zone of tolerance range of both species have created an environment of uncertain (Welsh et al. 2007). If sites experience changes in these condi- conservation status for these species. This review will focus on tions, it may result in reduction of time spent for foraging and four central topics of concern for land and resource managers: reproduction (Feder 1983). No current studies have attempted Biology; Taxonomy; Habitat; and Detection Probabilities/ to examine the biological limits or conditions acceptable to Occupancy. either P. stormi or P. asupak, but changes in habitat and micro- climate variables have been studied in their close relative P. elongatus (Biek et al. 2002, Major 2005, Karraker and Welsh 2006). 2 Report Title Mobility of P. elongatus appears to be extremely low Past studies and inferences of current studies on this (Welsh and Lind 1992). Due to the environmental extremes of complex have indicated the potential for additional taxonomic the interior Klamath Siskiyou region with freezing winter tem- delineations or distinct population segments within the group peratures and hot, dry summer conditions, most salamanders (Bury 1973, Mahoney 2004, Mead et al. 2005, DeGross 2004, are found during a narrow sampling timeframe (D. DeGross, DeGross and Bury unpublished). However, none of these pers. observation). Further, seasonal movements across the variants has been described in the literature. The systematic landscape appear to be even more restricted for the two spe- relationships of the group remain of high biological interest cies found in the interior compared to other salamanders (e.g., due to its marked geographic variation over relatively short P. elongatus) living closer to the coast and in less extreme geographic distances and the recent description of a new spe- conditions. cies. Large skin surface to body mass ratios have been cor- related to greater water