Breeding Pond Occupancy of the Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) in East-central Missouri

摘要

Ringed Salamanders are wetland-dependent amphibians that are regionally endemic to the Ozark Highlands and Ouachita Mountains. To assess the most important variables influencing breeding wetland use by Ringed Salamanders in east-central Missouri, we sampled a total of 38 wetlands during the fall 2010 breeding season. We found the presence of predatory fish was the most important variable determining whether Ringed Salamanders used a breeding wetland and that breeding wetlands were significantly associated with increased areas of continuous forest. These breeding habitat requirements can be used to aid in conservation efforts for this species as well as other fall-breeding ambystomatid salamanders.