• Research

• Longleaf Pine Research
• Aquatics Research
• Wildlife Research
• Predation and Predator Management
• Wildlife/Habitat Relationships
• Threatened and Endangered Species
• Rare Amphibian Surveys
• Flying Squirrel Competition with RCW
• Research Publications
• Graduate Projects

The Status of Pond Breeding Amphibians at Ichauway

Research Team: Dr. Lora L. Smith (Assistant Scientist), Christopher Borg (Research Technician III) and Anna Liner (Research Technician)

The significance of temporary ponds to breeding amphibians has only recently been recognized (Moler and Franz 1987, LaClaire and Franz 1991, Dodd 1992, Hart and Newman 1995, Semlitsch 1998). Under most conditions, these ponds experience an abbreviated hydroperiod that prevents the establishment of predatory fishes. There is an entire suite of amphibians in the southeastern United States that is dependent on these fishless ponds for reproduction. These amphibians spend much of their life in the uplands surrounding the ponds, thus, they require both terrestrial and wetland habitat to complete their life cycle. Of the pond breeding amphibians in southwest Georgia, three are of particular concern because of recent population declines: the flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum), striped newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) and gopher frog (Rana capito). Wetland losses, silvicultural practices in upland habitats, and fire exclusion are all factors that have likely contributed to the decline of these species.

The flatwoods salamander is federally listed as a threatened species (USFWS 1999), and the striped newt and gopher frog are considered rare in Georgia (Dodd and LaClaire 1995, Georgia DNR). Little is known of the natural history of these species, due in part to their fossorial existence during much of the year. Basic life history information is needed to address questions related to habitat protection and management for all three of these species. Ichauway is one of the few protected areas where known breeding ponds for all three species exist in an undisturbed landscape, and is in many ways the ideal place to address many of these long term research questions.

The goal of this project is to identify breeding sites of flatwoods salamanders, striped newts and gopher frogs on Ichauway. All ponds on-site were surveyed in 2002 to evaluate their suitability as breeding sites. Despite drought conditions, Florida gopher frogs were observed at three ponds and one striped newt breeding pond was identified. In addition, one historic flatwoods salamander breeding pond was monitored with a partial drift fence in 2002. Although no flatwoods salamanders were detected at this pond in 2002, 20 other species of herpetofauna were captured at the fence. Ponds will be re-surveyed in 2003 to identify additional breeding sites and two historic flatwoods salamander breeding ponds will be the focus of intensive study in late 2002 and 2003. These ponds will be completely encircled in drift fences and all salamanders entering and leaving the pond will be marked and released in an attempt to quantify the reproductive effort and ultimately to address questions about longevity, site fidelity, and movements. Use of these ponds by striped newts and gopher frogs also will be monitored.

Research in progress, publications forthcoming.

Funded by: The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center