The Van Dyke's salamander (Plethodon vandyke,) is a rare species endemic to
Washington State. It has been found in cool moist microhabitats along streams, splash zones
of waterfalls, and headwater seeps. We explored the association of the Van Dyke's
salamander with hydrologic condition, geomorphology, disturbance characteristics, and
vegetation structure in first- and second-order streams, and headwater seeps in the Cascade
Range of Washington. We conducted salamander surveys and measured habitat
characteristics at 50 streams and 40 seeps May-October 2000-2002. We described Van
Dyke's salamander occurrence in stream and seep sites at three spatial scales: between
sites, within sites, and between microhabitat sites. Using presence and absence as the
response, we fit logistic regression models predicting Van Dyke's salamander occurrence. To
identify the model that best fit the data, we ranked a priori models using Bayesian Information
Criterion (BIC). Results were consistent for both stream and seep sites, at all three spatial
scales. Best approximating models indicated that Van Dyke's salamander occurrence at sites
was related to geological and hydrological habitat characteristics that provided hydnc and
thermal stability.
The probability of Van Dyke's salamander occurrence along streams was associated
with habitat characteristics that protected salamanders from exposure, provided a source
cover, and stream habitat types providing splash zone areas. Between streams, Van Dyke's
salamander occurrence was positively associated with the proportion of valley walls with
canopy cover <5%, the proportion of the stream channel dominated by bedrock, boulder, or
soil substrates, and additional stream channels entering the main channel. Within streams,
the probability of Van Dyke's salamander occurrence increased with the presence of non-forested
areas, the presence of bedrock dominated stream habitat types, and the presence of
vertical or V-shaped valley wall morphology. Between microhabitat sites, the probability of
Van Dyke's salamander occurrence increased with an absence of trees, the presence of
seeps, and the presence of small cobble sized substrates.
The probability of Van Dyke's salamander occurrence in seeps was associated with
habitat characteristics that protected salamanders within the larger landscape, provided a
moisture gradient from dry to saturated, and the presence of cover objects. Between seeps,
Van Dyke's salamander occurrence was positively associated with seep faces having a dry
and sheeting hydrology, and with seep faces >5 m high. Within seeps, the probability of Van
Dyke's salamander occurrence was negatively associated with seeps that had proportionately
more point measures of total overhead cover that were >25%. Between microhabitat sites,
the probability of Van Dyke's salamander occurrence was positively associated with an
increase in the percent cover of small cobble, small gravel, and bedrock substrates.
We conducted mark-recapture surveys of the Van Dyke's salamander at two high-gradient
stream sites located within the Cascade Range of Washington State, June-November
2002. Sites known to support populations of the Van Dyke's salamander were chosen, and
were ecologically different. One site, lacking significant overstory and located within the blast
zone created by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, was surveyed 10 times. The other
site, located in an old-growth coniferous stand, was surveyed 11 times. Abundance of
salamanders at the blast zone site was estimated to be 458 (95% Cl: 306-739). Abundance
of salamanders at the old-growth site was estimated to be 100 individuals (95% Cl: 61-209).
Capture probabilities were extremely low (5 = <0.10) for all trapping occasions at both sites,
with an average capture probability for the two sites of 0.038 (range = 0.02-0.09). Analysis of
movement patterns suggested that most individual salamanders had home ranges <2 m, at
least when moving on or near the surface. Individuals were recaptured under the same cover
object as initial capture 36% of the time, and 89% of the recaptured individuals moved <2 m.
Our results indicated that populations of the Van Dyke's salamander were rare on the
landscape, even within the species documented range. Van Dyke's salamander occurrence
was associated with geological and hydrological habitat characteristics that created
microhabitats favorable for a species that is especially sensitive to heat and drying due to
physiological constraints. Animals were difficult to detect due to fossorial habits and low
capture probabilities, and it is likely that the Van Dyke's salamander was not detected even at
sites where it existed. Life history characteristics, such as lunglessness and fossorial habits,
low capture probabilities, and low abundances make it difficult to manage for and protect the
Van Dyke's salamander. However, habitat associations may be used to identify and protect
habitats suitable for Van Dyke's salamander occurrence. / Graduation date: 2004
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/31610 |
| Date | 18 November 2003 |
| Creators | McIntyre, Aimee P. |
| Contributors | Schmitz, Richard A. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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