Understanding the Influences of Forest Type, Cover Board Type and Weather on Salamanders

Salamanders are vital bioindicators that function to support a terrestrial forest ecosystem. The continuous loss of amphibian species and their habitat can have profound impacts on terrestrial systems. In terrestrial environments, salamanders use natural cover for refuge, foraging, and maintaining moisture; however, artificial cover has commonly been used to survey and conserve these species. The objective of this study was to assess terrestrial salamander preference for natural versus artificial coverboards in relation to forest stands in two successional stages located within the James H. Barrow Biological Field Station (Hiram, Ohio). Ten artificial (particle board, 30 x 33 cm) and ten natural (white ash, 30 x 30 cm) coverboards were placed in two 50 m parallel transects arranged 2 m apart within transitional and mature forests. Surveys were conducted weekly between the second week of September and the second week of November from 2018 to 2021. Average weakly precipitation and max temperature were recorded. Both abundance and species richness were significantly higher under natural coverboards and in the transitional forest. There were also correlation between species richness and abundance with daily max temperature and weakly precipitation. 678 individuals across five species were found: Eastern Red-Backed Salamander, Spotted Salamander, Four-Toed Salamander, Red-Spotted Newt, and Northern Two-Lined Salamander. Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders were the most abundant species within both mature and transitional forests. Natural coverboards may be a better method to survey terrestrial salamanders because artificial coverboards are comprised of wood chippings, wax and adhesives which may alter soil permeability for less favorable conditions.蝾螈（Salamander）是至关重要的生物指示物种，对陆地森林生态系统具有支撑作用。两栖动物物种及其栖息地的持续丧失，会对陆地生态系统造成深远影响。在陆地环境中，蝾螈会借助自然覆盖物完成避难、觅食与水分维持等行为；但人工覆盖物常被用于这类物种的调查与保护工作。 本研究旨在评估位于俄亥俄州希拉姆市詹姆斯·H·巴罗生物野外站（James H. Barrow Biological Field Station）内两个演替阶段林分中，陆地蝾螈对自然与人工覆盖板的偏好性。研究设置了10块人工覆盖板（颗粒板，尺寸30×33 cm）与10块自然覆盖板（白蜡木，尺寸30×30 cm），在过渡林与成熟林内布设两条间距2米的50米平行样带，并将覆盖板布置于样带中。 调查于2018年至2021年的9月第二周至11月第二周期间每周开展一次，同时记录当周平均降水量与当日最高气温。结果显示，自然覆盖板下方的蝾螈个体数量与物种丰富度均显著更高，且过渡林内的相关指标优于成熟林。物种丰富度与个体数量分别与当日最高气温、当周降水量存在相关性。本次调查共记录到5个物种的678个个体，分别为红背蝾螈（Eastern Red-Backed Salamander）、斑点钝口螈（Spotted Salamander）、四趾蝾螈（Four-Toed Salamander）、红点新螈（Red-Spotted Newt）与北方双线蝾螈（Northern Two-Lined Salamander）。其中红背蝾螈在成熟林与过渡林中均为优势物种。 由于人工覆盖板由木片、蜡质与粘合剂制成，可能会改变土壤渗透性，形成不利的生存环境，因此自然覆盖板或许是更为适宜的陆地蝾螈调查方法。