The amphibians of the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, Noble County, Indiana.ABSTRACT. We report the results of a survey of amphibians amphibians members of the animal class Amphibia. Includes frogs, toads, newts, salamanders and cecilians all capable of living on land or in water. near Wolf Lake Wolf Lake is a short-lived American television series that debuted on CBS on September 12th, 2001. Wolf Lake follows a pack of werewolves living in a Seattle suburb. Nine episodes were made before it was cancelled. , Noble County, Indiana Noble County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 46,275. The county seat is Albion6. Geography Main article: Geography of Northeastern Indiana According to the U.S. . From 1995 to 2001 we conducted terrestrial surveys of adult amphibians, anuran calls, and aquatic surveys of spring breeding amphibians and fall amphibians beginning to hibernate See hibernation mode. in wetland sediments of temporary, semi-permanent and permanent wetlands. We collected 20 of the 22 amphibians whose published ranges include Noble County. In our survey we established the presence of Ambystoma jeffersonianum, A. laterale, A. maculatum, A. texanum, unisexual Ambystoma hybrids, Bufo americanus, B. fowleri, Acris crepitans blanchardi, Hyla chrysoscelis The Cope's Grey Tree Frog (Hyla chrysoscelis) is a species of tree frog which is found in the United States. It is almost indistinguishable from the Grey Tree Frog, Hyla versicolor, and shares much of its geographic range. , H. versicolor versicolor /ver·si·co·lor/ (ver?si-kol´er) variegated; having a variety of colors, or changing in color. , Rana catesbeiana, and R. palustris. We also collected Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum, Plethodon cinereus, Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens, Pseudacris crucifer, P. triseriata triseriata, Rana clamitans melonata, R. pipiens, and R. sylvatica. Amphibians, including A. crepitans blanchardi, have readily established in restored wetlands. Keywords: Amphibians, species diversity, Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College Goshen College, (also known as Goshen or GC) is a private Mennonite liberal arts college in Goshen, Indiana with an enrollment of around 1,000 students. The college is accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Council for , Noble County, conservation ********** Studies of global amphibian amphibian, in zoology amphibian, in zoology, cold-blooded vertebrate animal of the class Amphibia. There are three living orders of amphibians: the frogs and toads (order Anura, or Salientia), the salamanders and newts (order Urodela, or Caudata), and the decline point to complex causes, including habitat loss, pesticide poisoning pesticide poisoning, n a toxic condition caused by the ingestion or inhalation of a substance used for the eradication of insects, fungi, and other pests. , introduction of new predators, changing hydroperiod, parasites, UV radiation, and warming climate (for examples, see Wake 1991; Blaustein & Kiesecker 2002; Hayes et al. 2002; Garcia et al. 2004; Mills & Semlitsch 2004; Rohr et al. 2004). The science of amphibian decline has matured such that it can clarify the effect of the interactions and synergisms of a combination of stressors on species and populations (see above studies). Conservation of amphibian species under such assault will require the preservation of habitat that minimizes or mediates the causes of decline, and the perceived urgency of conservation efforts in local areas will undoubtedly be linked to an understanding of the rate of decline. Not all areas in Indiana have been adequately surveyed for populations of amphibian species known to have historically existed or invaded, so good habitat and decline rates are not completely identified. Prior to current agricultural development, Noble County, Indiana, consisted of extensive wetlands and uplands of glacial origins. If the original wetlands were as diverse as the remnant wetlands, Noble County in pre-settlement times supported many amphibian species. In addition to diverse wetland habitat, amphibians need well-drained but moist uplands to support adult amphibians and those amphibians that do not use wetlands for breeding. The current uplands in Noble County support mesic mes·ic adj. Ecology Of, characterized by, or adapted to a moderately moist habitat. mesic Relating or adapted to a moderately moist habitat. maple and oak-hickory forests that are suitable habitat for amphibians. Current wetland land cover is a small fraction of pre-settlement wetlands, and the wetland and upland habitats have been fragmented by development. Multiple studies suggest that this sort of fragmentation and habitat loss is a contributing factor in amphibian decline (Semlitsch 2000; Pellet et al. 2003). Semlitsch & Bodie (2003) proposed a system of buffers and preserved upland adult habitat around breeding wetlands to protect amphibian populations. The buffers protect the wetlands from chemical contamination See: contamination. and adult habitat from disturbance. The proposed system of protected land would form a ring 222-399 m wide around each wetland. Since a large percentage of the land of Noble County is used for agriculture, only a few areas have enough appropriate upland around breeding wetlands to protect the amphibian habitat as Semlitsch & Bodie (2003) suggest. The Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, located in Noble County, is a rich environment for amphibians. It contains many wetland complexes connected by forest and grassland uplands. It therefore approximates the habitat in Noble County prior to extensive agricultural development. Although much of the Learning Center environment has had significant human impact such as farming, draining, or timber harvest, current management is actively restoring historic ecosystems and other ecosystems have begun to recover on their own. Because of the Center's large contiguous area (470 ha) and management history, amphibian habitat is less fragmented than in surrounding areas. Wetland complexes at Merry Lea are connected by uplands suitable for buffering and adult habitat. The restoration and creation of permanent ponds and marshes added further critical amphibian habitat for many anurans. We report results from studies of amphibian populations conducted for seven years at our study property. The studies were diverse and included fall and spring terrestrial surveys, fall and spring trapping of amphibians in wetlands, and anuran call surveys. Amphibian species observed were compared with those expected (Petranka 1998; Minton 2001) and documented for Noble County (Minton 2001). METHODS Study area.--The Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center is a 470 ha natural area that is a diverse assemblage of ecosystems including a wide variety of wetlands, upland forests, prairies, meadows and restored oak savanna An oak savanna is a type of savanna, or lightly-forested grassland, with oaks as the dominant tree species. California oak savannas
Fort Wayne is a city in northeastern Indiana, USA and the county seat of Allen County. Fort Wayne is Indiana's second largest city after Indianapolis. , and 10 km SW of Albion, Indiana Albion is a town in Noble County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,284 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Noble CountyGR6. Geography Albion is located at (41. ). Much of the property is bordered by three small lakes (Bear Lake, Cub Lake, and High Lake) that are the survivors of the draining of a larger lake/wetland complex for agricultural purposes around 1900. Within the study area, wetlands with different hydroperiods and forest cover support diverse amphibian communities. Most of the permanent open wetlands are restored wetlands and are within the shorelines of the original lake. There are also several permanent swamps and shrub-carrs (swamps dominated by tall shrubs and included with swamps in Tables 2 and 3). The distinguishing feature of the Learning Center is an abundance of true temporary wetlands. Many forested temporary ponds exist in the oak-hickory woodlands that bordered the original lake, and several temporary silver maple swamps thrive in the old lakebed lake·bed n. The floor of a lake. . Some of the forested wetlands exhibit semi-permanent hydrology hydrology, study of water and its properties, including its distribution and movement in and through the land areas of the earth. The hydrologic cycle consists of the passage of water from the oceans into the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration (or in wet years. In addition, several open temporary ponds have been excavated to facilitate drainage along trails. All permanent wetlands contain plant communities typical of the Northern Lakes Natural Region of Indiana (Homoya et al. 1985). The edges support Typha latifolia, T. augustifolia, Scirpus cyperinus Noun 1. Scirpus cyperinus - sedge of eastern North America having numerous clustered woolly spikelets wool grass sedge - grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers , Schoenoplectus validus, Schoenoplectus acutus, various Carex and Juncus species, Bidens cernua, Altissima plantago-aquatica, Leersia oryzoides and Phalaris arundinacea Noun 1. Phalaris arundinacea - perennial grass of marshy meadows and ditches having broad leaves; Europe and North America gardener's garters, lady's laces, reed canary grass, ribbon grass . The shallow waters support Potamogeton sp., Eleocharis sp., Polygonum Polygonum genus of toxic plants in the family Polygonaceae, called collectively smartweeds. Some cause nitrate-nitrite poisoning, some cause photosensitization; includes P. aviculare (wireweed), P. convolvulus (Fallopia convolvulus), P. esculentum, P. sp., Utricularia vulgaris Utricularia vulgaris (the Common Bladderwort) is an aquatic species of bladderwort found in North America and Europe. External links
It is a submerged aquatic plant, growing in still or very slow-moving water in ponds and streams with summer and Chara species. Some permanent wetlands have deep waters "Deep Waters" is a short story by P. G. Wodehouse, which first appeared in the United States in the March 25 1910 issue of Collier's Weekly, and in the United Kingdom in the June 1910 issue of the Strand. that contain no vegetation. One permanent wetland and two temporary wetlands are dominated by buttonbush but·ton·bush n. A deciduous North American shrub (Cephalanthus occidentalis) having opposite leaves and spherical clusters of small white flowers. (Cephalanthus occidentalis Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush, Button-bush, Button-willow or Honey-bells) is a species of Cephalanthus native to eastern and southern North America. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 2-10 m (rarely 15 m) tall. ). The shrub-carr contains the woody plants Comus stolonifera, C. sericea, Acer saccharinum, Salix exigua Salix exigua is a species of willow known by the common names sandbar willow, narrowleaf willow, and coyote willow. It is native to western North America from Alaska and British Columbia south to Mexico. , and Ilex verticillata. The small open temporary ponds support a subset of the species found in the open permanent ponds. The forested temporary ponds are generally devoid of vegetation in the wetland basin. Survey techniques.--Amphibians were surveyed in the spring (1997-2001) and fall (1995-2001). Because the semi-permanent wetlands only exhibited a permanent hydroperiod in one wet year during our study and in all other years of the study dried in fall, results from those wetlands were combined with those of temporary wetlands. In the springs of 1998 to 2001, anurans were monitored using standard call survey techniques (Scott & Woodward 1994), with three call surveys done each season. Amphibian species were identified by their calls and abundance was estimated using a three point scale: 1 = individuals can be counted, 2 = calls of individuals can be distinguished but there are some overlapping of calls, and 3 = full chorus and calls are constant, continuous and overlapping. Salamanders and some anurans were surveyed using minnow minnow, common name for the Cyprinidae, a large family of freshwater fish which includes the carp (Cyprinus carpio), and of which there are some 300 American species. The European minnow is Phoxinus phoxinus. traps set in a subset of the wetlands (Adams et al. 1997). These were not baited and were checked daily for the duration of the Ambystoma mating season mating season n → época de celo mating season n → saison f des amours mating season mating n → (usually mid-February through mid-April). Each wetland was sampled with the same intensity (1 trap per 7 m of perimeter). For most years, wetlands with a range of hydroperiods in one 25 ha area were trapped. In the spring of 2001, eight new temporary wetlands (all wooded wetlands), one new temporary swamp, and one new permanent wetland were trapped in five other areas of Merry Lea. Finally, some terrestrial surveys were conducted in spring by turning over logs and woody debris from mid-February to early June. Most spring terrestrial surveys were not systematic, but in three years (1998, 2000, and 2002) college classes turned over all woody debris in two 4 ha oak-hickory woods, and in two years (2000 and 2002) in one 2 ha oak-hickory woods (Crump & Scott 1994). Identification and number of salamanders were recorded. Only Plethodon cinereus density data will be reported since other salamander salamander, an amphibian of the order Urodela, or Caudata. Salamanders have tails and small, weak limbs; superficially they resemble the unrelated lizards (which are reptiles), but they are easily distinguished by their lack of scales and claws, and by their moist, species found are primarily fossorial fos·so·ri·al adj. Zoology Adapted for or used in burrowing or digging: the fossorial forefeet of a mole. [From Late Latin species; consequently our collection could not accurately reflect their densities. Many wetlands and terrestrial areas were sampled again in the fall using minnow trapping and terrestrial surveys. Since temporary wetlands dried by August, only permanent wetlands were trapped in the fall. More terrestrial surveys were conducted between September and November of 1998 and 1999. Woody debris in appropriate uplands was overturned and the presence of amphibian species was recorded. During the rest of the year, all amphibians encountered were noted. Voucher specimens or photographs are stored in the collections of the Learning Center. RESULTS Eight salamander species and 12 anuran species were encountered during the study period for a total amphibian species richness  This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject.Please help recruit one or [ improve this article] yourself. See the talk page for details. of 20 species (Table 1). Seven salamander species (Ambystoma jeffersonianum, Ambystoma laterale, Ambystoma maculaturn, Ambystoma texanum The Smallmouth Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) is a species of salamander found in the central United States, from the Great Lakes region in Michigan to Nebraska, south to Texas, and east to Tennessee, with a population in Canada, in Pelee, Ontario. , Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum, Ambystoma unisexual hybrids, and Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) and five anuran species (Bufo americanus, Pseudacris crucifer, Pseudacris triseriata triseriata, Rana pipiens and Rana sylvatica) were captured during spring trapping. All Ambystoma, Plethodon cinereus, N. viridescenes viridescens, and R. sylvatica were collected during terrestrial surveys of the uplands around surveyed wetlands. All anurans were heard during the call surveys and encountered during spring and summer months near the wetlands. Caudata.--Of the nine salamander species (and Ambystoma hybrids) whose ranges include Merry Lea, seven were encountered during our surveys (Table 1). All expected Ambystoma species were collected in spring trapping of breeding ponds, including members of the A. jeffersonianum complex of unisexual hybrids. In addition to those Ambystoma expected, A. jeffersonianum (Jefferson's salamander) was collected. Of the diploid diploid /dip·loid/ (dip´loid) 1. having two sets of chromosomes, as normally found in the somatic cells; in humans, the diploid number is 46. 2. an individual or cell having two full sets of homologous chromosomes. species, A. texanum (smallmouth salamander) was by far the most abundant (Table 2), being found in large numbers in wooded temporary ponds on the east side of the Learning Center property and rarely on the west side. The next most abundant species was A. laterale, but this field designation includes unisexual hybrids, so it is unclear how many diploid bisexual A. laterale were actually collected. Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum (eastern tiger salamander), A. jeffersonianum, and A. maculatum (spotted salamander) were rarer. Plethodon cinereus (red-backed salamander) was common in spring and fall terrestrial surveys of upland oak-hickory forests. A total of 224 red-backed salamanders was captured with 63.8% red-backed and 36.2% leadbacked morphs. The average density of P. cinereus in eight surveys conducted in three years was 2.7 [+ or -] 0.02 (mean [+ or -] standard error) salamanders/ha. Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens (eastern newt The Eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) is a common salamander of eastern North America. This species has four subspecies:
Of the salamanders whose ranges include the study site, Hemidactylium scutatum (four-toed salamander The Four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) is native to North America. It is a member of the Plethodontidae family of salamanders, which is characterized by their absence of lungs; they instead achieve respiration through their skin and the tissues lining their ) and Necturus maculosus (mudpuppy mud·puppy also mud pup·py n. pl. mud·pup·pies 1. Any of several large North American salamanders of the genus Necturus, especially N. ) were not collected. In an extensive survey of Merry Lea's bogs and remnant bogs, the four-toed salamander was not seen (A. Swinehart pers. comrnun.). Later surveys by one of the authors (MCL MCL - Macintosh Common LISP ) also did not find any specimen. The study site does contain some typical N. maculosus habitat, but mudpuppies were not encountered in pond or ditch surveys. There exist accounts of mudpuppies caught by fishermen in High Lake and Bear Lake, but these accounts cannot be verified. Throughout the study period, ambystomatid salamanders exhibited a strong preference for breeding in temporary ponds and in most years were trapped only in wetlands of this type (Table 2). In the spring of 2000 we observed a shift in Ambystoma breeding to temporary swamps and a permanent swamp (Table 2) which coincided with a drought that kept the temporary ponds we surveyed from filling in the fall of 1999 or spring of 2000. The permanent shrub-carr where most of the spring 2000 breeding occurred had dried to isolated deeper pools. This permanent shrub-carr had been surveyed in the previous spring seasons, but no breeding salamanders had been captured. Anura.--All anuran species expected to be found at the Learning Center were encountered (Table 1). Call surveys showed H. chrysoscelis (Cope's gray treefrog), H. versicolor (eastern gray treefrog), P. crucifer (spring peeper spring peeper: see tree frog. spring peeper Species (Hyla crucifer) of tree frog found in ponds, marshes, and other damp areas in the U.S. During the breeding season it can be found in woodland ponds; at other times it is seldom seen. ) and P. triseriata triseriata (western chorus frog The Western Chorus Frog or Striped Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata) is a species of tree frog found in Canada and the United States. From southern Quebec to South Dakota, and south to Kansas and Oklahoma. Description Western Chorus Frogs are small (1. ) to be consistently most abundant (Table 3). Bufo americanus (American toad), B. fowleri (Fowler's toad), R. catesbeiana (bullfrog bullfrog, common name of the largest North American frog, Rana catesbeiana. Native to the E United States, this species has been successfully introduced in the West and in other parts of the world. The body length is 4 to 8 in. ), R. clamitans melanota (green frog green frog Rana clamitans. ), R. sylvatica (wood frog), and R. pipiens (northern leopard frog The Northern Leopard Frog(Lithobates pipiens[1][2], previously Rana pipiens) is a species of Leopard frog from the true frog family native to parts of Canada and United States. It is the State Amphibian of Minnesota and Vermont. ) were found at intermediate abundance. The least common frogs of Merry Lea were R. palustris (pickerel pickerel: see pike. pickerel Any of several North American pikes (family Esocidae), distinguished from the northern pike and muskellunge by their smaller size, completely scaled cheeks and gill covers, and banded or chainlike markings. frog) and A. crepitans blanchardi (Blanchard's cricket frog). In fact, Blanchard's cricket frog was heard in only one permanent swamp and only in 2001. This was a restored swamp and 2001 was the first year it held water. The swamp was then sampled with dip nets and several A. crepitans blanchardi individuals were collected. DISCUSSION Of the 22 amphibian species whose ranges include Noble County, 20 were encountered in our studies at Merry Lea. Species that were collected in this survey that are not included in Minton (2001) belong to the Ambystomatidae: A. jeffersonianum, A. laterale, A. maculatum, and A. texanum; Bufonidae: B. americanus and B. fowleri; Hylidae: A. crepitans blanchardi, H. chrysoscelis, and H. versicolor; and Ranidae: R. catesbeiana and R. palustris. Of these, only A. crepitans blanchardi and R. palustris are possibly rare at Merry Lea. The absence of these new county record species from Minton's list for Noble County is probably the result of a lack of study time in the area. The species common at Merry Lea--A. texanum, B. americanus, H. versicolor, P. crucifer, P. triseriata triseriata, and R. clamitans melanota--are common in counties surrounding Noble County. The anurans we found seemed common throughout Noble County, with the possible exceptions of R. palustris and A. crepitans blanchardi listed above. All of the Caudata collected would be found where temporary breeding ponds are surrounded by appropriate forested adult habitat. With increased development in Noble County, these two critical habitat elements are becoming more rare and unlinked. The collection of A. jeffersonianum extends the species range. Brodman (2001) collected A. jeffersonianum in Wells County Wells County is the name of several counties in the United States:
trip·loid adj. Having three times the haploid number of chromosomes in the cell nucleus. n. hybrids that reproduce via gynogenesis gyn·o·gen·e·sis n. The development of an embryo that contains only maternal chromosomes because the egg has been activated by sperm without fusion of the egg and sperm nuclei. (Bogart & Licht Licht (Light), subtitled "The Seven Days of the Week," is a cycle of seven operas composed by Karlheinz Stockhausen which, in total, lasts over 29 hours. Origin The project, originally titled Hikari 1986). The hybrid members of this complex cannot be identified, nor separated from the diploid species, in the field. Since the exact identity must be determined by analysis of the genome, we cannot be certain that all of the 134 salamanders we identified as A. jeffersonianum were the diploid bisexual species. We did collect male A. jeffersonianum, which proves that the bisexual species is present at Merry Lea. On average, only 36.2% of the A. jeffersonianum we collected were male, therefore there were probably many unisexual female A. jeffersonianum/A, laterale hybrids previously known as Ambystoma platineum (formed from the fusion of a diploid egg and a haploid haploid /hap·loid/ (hap´loid) 1. having half the number of chromosomes characteristically found in the somatic (diploid) cells of an organism; typical of the gametes of a species whose union restores the diploid number. sperm, resulting in a nuclear condition of two sets of A. jeffersonianum chromosomes and one set of A. laterale chromosomes, or JJL JJL Jeunesse Juive Laique (Brussels, Belgium youth movement) JJL Josephson Junction Logic ), or Ambystoma tremblayi (JLL JLL Jones Lang LaSalle (real estate service and investment management firm) JLL Junior League of London JLL Junior League of Louisville JLL Joint Lessons Learned JLL Junior League of Lincoln JLL Junior League of Lynchburg ). We also made no genetic analysis of the unisexual Ambystoma hybrids that were included with A. laterale in Table 2. Again, we collected A. laterale males, so we did encounter the diploid bisexual A. laterale. Without the genetic analysis, we cannot definitely determine which Ambystoma species were involved in the hybridizations. In Adams, Wells and Jay counties of Indiana, Brodman (2001) collected salamanders which genetic analysis identified as A. laterale (the bisexual diploid species) and A. jeffersonianum/A, laterale (JLL) triploid hybrids. The range of A. jeffersonianum/A, laterale unisexual triploids includes Noble County (Petranka 1998), hence an identification of the hybrids we collected as A. jeffersonianum/A. laterale (JLL) unisexuals is plausible. The appearance of many of the hybrids we collected was intermediate between A. laterale and A. texanum. The range of A. texanum/A. laterale unisexuals stops abruptly at the northwest Ohio-Indiana state line and extends into southern Michigan Southern Michigan is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a region of rolling farmland and scattered urban centers. Southern Michigan is commonly considered to be the area west of the Southeast Michigan area and east of Battle Creek, consisting of (Petranka 1998; Kraus 1985; Bogart et al. 1985). Given that Merry Lea is about 64 km from the state line and the A. texanum/A. laterale unisexual range, it is entirely possible that some of the hybrids we collected are A. texanum/A, laterale hybrids. Good habitat for the two species not encountered, H. scutatum and N. maculosus, was not common in our study area. Hyla scutatum prefers to nest on moss mats that allow the larvae Larvae, in Roman religion Larvae: see lemures. to wiggle through to open water. Most of the bog habitat in our study area was degraded when the lake levels were lowered to promote agriculture, making breeding habitat for H. scutatum rare. Still, more systematic surveys are justified in the higher quality bog remnants. Necturus maculosus was not encountered in surveys of ditches on site, nor has it been captured in Cub Lake, the smallest lake in the survey area, or in permanent ponds. The mudpuppy has declined in Indiana, possibly due to increased siltation and chemical pollution (Minton 2001). Since the Learning Center is surrounded by agriculture and has experienced much siltation, mudpuppies may have been extirpated. The high richness and abundance of amphibians we found can be attributed to physical characteristics of the study property. The landscape contains healthy temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent wetlands for amphibian breeding and adult use. The temporary wetlands protect R. sylvatica tadpoles Tadpoles are a psychedelic rock band formed in 1990 in New York City by Todd Parker (guitars/vocals) and Michael Kite Audino (drums.) In 1992, Nick Kramer (guitars/vocals), David Max (bass) and Andrew Jackson (guitars) of the fledgling Manhattan group, Hit, joined the Tadpoles and Ambystoma larvae from vertebrate predators that are voracious consumers of eggs and larvae. The permanent wetlands, many of which are restored, provide ample tadpole tadpole, larval, aquatic stage of any of the amphibian animals. After hatching from the egg, the tadpole, sometimes called a polliwog, is gill-breathing and legless and propels itself by means of a tail. habitat for other anurans. These wetlands are still directly linked with upland habitat that is suitable for metamorphs emerging in summer and fall, and for adults. The metamorph stage can be particularly sensitive to inappropriate habitat since they may not be able to direct their movements toward suitable habitat (Rothermel 2004; but see also Marsh et al. 2004; Rothermel & Semlitsch 2002) and are more susceptible to desiccation des·ic·ca·tion n. The process of being desiccated. des  ic·ca (Spight 1968).
In a wide survey of northwest Indiana Northwest Indiana, also known as The Calumet Region, or just The Region, is comprised of Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, and Jasper counties in Indiana. This region neighbors Chicago, Illinois and Lake Michigan, and is also the Indiana component of the Chicago landscape variables, Brodman et al. (2003) correlated the presence of ditches and agriculture within 200 m with lower amphibian species richness and abundance. Amphibian richness and abundance were positively correlated with the number of wetlands within 400 m, wetland area, and the presence of semi-permanent hydrology. As a relatively large preserve, Merry Lea can maintain wetland complexes with temporary to permanent hydrology in places removed from agricultural development. This protection of wetlands not only buffers them from sources of chemical contamination, but also protects the essential upland habitat suitable for metamorphs and adults. Increased fragmentation of landscapes that separates larval larval 1. pertaining to larvae. 2. larvate. larval migrans see cutaneous and visceral larva migrans. habitat from adult habitat, and wetlands from each other, puts amphibian populations in northeastern Indiana at risk. Long-term data are critical to ensure accurate assessment of amphibian species richness. In our study, we were not always able to detect the presence of less common species, such as B. fowleri. Because the property was surveyed for several years, we are confident that the Fowler's toad population is stable. Long-term data overlap years when environmental conditions such as drought or flood prevent breeding by particular amphibians, or when the landscape changes through fragmentation or restoration. In the last year of this survey, we were able to document A. crepitans blanchardi breeding in a newly-restored wetland. This sort of monitoring is being done accurately by trained citizens who survey anuran calls and salamanders locally (Nelson & Graves 2004; Lepage et al. 1997). These data have great potential to enhance our ability to appropriately identify and protect amphibian populations in the midwestern USA. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Part of this study was supported by an Indiana Academy of Science grant to the authors, as well as grants to other Goshen College students. We gratefully acknowledge the frequent assistance of the staff of the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center and dozens of Goshen College students who helped conduct these studies. Those students who contributed significantly are David Rupp, Amal Friesen, Leah Siderhurst, Jason Byler, Laura Matthews, Rachel Kauffman, Jenny Smith, Joanna Beyeler, Joaquin Garcia, Darren Bender, Debby Scott, Justin Weldy, Deb Lefever, Daragh Deegan, Rebecca Waltner-Toews, Jason Kauffman, Shawn Slabaugh and Rachel Jackson Rachel Donelson Robards Jackson, born Rachel Donelson (June 15 1767 – December 22, 1828) wife to the 7th President of the United States, Andrew Jackson. Prior to her marriage to Jackson, when she was 17 years old, she had married Captain Lewis Robards of a prominent . We thank two anonymous reviewers and Editor Jim Berry for comments that greatly improved this paper. Manuscript received 22 April 2005, revised 15 September 2005. LITERATURE CITED Adams, M.J., K.O. Richter & W.P. Leonard. 1997. Surveying and monitoring amphibians using aquatic funnel traps. Pp. 47-54, In Sampling Amphibians in Lentic Adj. 1. lentic - of or relating to or living in still waters (as lakes or ponds) lake - a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land lotic - of or relating to or living in actively moving water Habitats. (D.H. Olson, W.P. Leonard & R.B. Bury, eds.). Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology, Olympia, Washington. Blaustein, A.R. & J.M. Kiesecker. 2002. Complexity in conservation: Lessons from the global decline of amphibian populations. Ecology Letters 5:597-608. Bogart, J.P. & L.E. Licht. 1986. Reproduction and the origin of polyploids in hybrid salamanders of the genus Ambystoma. Canadian Journal of Genetics The Journal of Genetics (not to be confused with another journal called Genetics) is a scientific journal in the field of genetics and evolution. The Journal of Genetics and Cytology cytology (sītŏl`əjē), in biology, the study of the structure of all normal and abnormal components of cells and the changes, movements, and transformations of such components. 60:848-855. Bogart, J.P., L.E. Licht, M.J. Oldham & S.J. Darbyshire. 1985. Electrophoretic identification of Ambystoma laterale and Ambystoma texanum as well as their diploid and triploid interspecific in·ter·spe·cif·ic adj. Arising or occurring between species. interspecific also interspecies Arising or occurring between species. Adj. 1. hybrids (Amphibia: Caudata) on Pelee Island, Ontario. Canadian Journal of Zoology The Journal of Zoology (not to be confused with a different journal called Zoology) is a scientific journal concerning zoology, the study of animals. It was founded in 1830 by the Zoological Society of London. External links
Brodman, R. 2001. New county records of amphibians and reptiles from Indiana. Herpetological Review 32:282-284. Brodman, R., J. Ogger, T. Bogard, A.J. Long, R.A. Pulver, K. Mancuso & D. Falk. 2003. Multivariate analyses of the influence of water chemistry and habitat parameters on the abundances of pond-breeding amphibians. Journal of Freshwater Biology 18:425-436. Crump, M.L. & N.J. Scott, Jr. 1994. Visual encounter surveys. Pp. 84-92, In Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity: Standard Methods for Amphibians. (W.R. Heyer, M.A. Donnelly, R.W. McDiarmid, L.C. Hayek & M.S. Foster, eds.). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. Garcia, T.S., J. Stacy & A. Sih. 2004. Larval salamander response to UV radiation and predation predation Form of food getting in which one animal, the predator, eats an animal of another species, the prey, immediately after killing it or, in some cases, while it is still alive. Most predators are generalists; they eat a variety of prey species. risk: Color change and microhabitat microhabitat the normal environment, the natural home, of a microorganism. use. Ecological Applications 14:1055-1064. Hayes, T.B., A. Collins, M. Lee, M. Mendoza, N. Noriega, A.A. Stuart & A. Vonk. 2002. Hermaphroditic her·maph·ro·dite n. 1. An animal or plant exhibiting hermaphroditism. 2. Something that is a combination of disparate or contradictory elements. , demasculinized frogs after exposure to the herbicide herbicide (hr`bəsīd'), chemical compound that kills plants or inhibits their normal growth. A herbicide in a particular formulation and application can be described as selective or nonselective. Atrazine atrazine a triazine herbicide; it is not poisonous at levels of intake likely to be encountered in agriculture. atrazine Toxicology A nonphytoestrogenic herbicide. See Phytoestrogen. at low ecologically relevant doses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The name of this country. The United States, now thirty-one in number, are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, 99:5476-5480. Homoya, M.A., D.B. Abrell, J.R. Aldrich & T.W. Post. 1985. The Natural Regions of Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 94:235-268. Kraus, F. 1985. Unisexual salamander lineages in northwestern Ohio and southwestern Michigan: A study of the consequences of hybridization hybridization /hy·brid·iza·tion/ (hi?brid-i-za´shun) 1. crossbreeding; the act or process of producing hybrids. 2. molecular hybridization 3. . Copeia 1985:309-324. Lepage, M., R. Courtois & C. Daigle. 1997. Surveying calling amphibians in Quebec using volunteers. Herpetological Conservation 1:128-140. Marsh, D.M., K.A. Thakur, K.C. Bulka & L.B. Clarke. 2004. Dispersal and colonization through open fields by a terrestrial, woodland salamander. Ecology 85:3396-3405. Mills, N.E. & R.D. Semlitsch. 2004. Competition and predation mediate the indirect effects of an insecticide on southern leopard frogs. Ecological Applications 14:1041-1054. Minton, S.A. 2001. Amphibians and Reptiles of Indiana. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis, Indiana. Nelson, G.L. & B.M. Graves. 2004. Anuran population monitoring: Comparison of the North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. Amphibian Monitoring Program's calling index with mark-recapture estimates for Rana clamitans. Journal of Herpetology 38:355-359. Pellet, J., A. Guisan & N. Perrin. 2003. A concentric analysis of the impact of urbanization on the threatened European tree frog The European tree frog is a small frog that can grow to 4,5 cm in size at most. Historically, tree frogs were used as barometers because they respond to approaching rain by croaking. In the breeding season, even when migrating to their mating pools, they croak as well. in an agricultural landscape. Conservation Biology 18:1599-1606. Petranka, J.W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. Rohr, J.R., A.A. Elskus, B.S. Shepherd, P.H. Crowley, T.M. McCarthy, J.H. Niedzwiecki, T. Sager, A. Sih & B.D. Palmer. 2004. Multiple stressors and salamanders: effects of herbicide, food limitation, and hydroperiod. Ecological Applications 14:1028-1040. Rothermel, B.B. 2004. Migratory success of juveniles: A potential constraint on connectivity for pond-breeding amphibians. Ecological Applications 14:1535-1548. Rothermal, B.B. & R.D. Semlitsch. 2002. An experimental investigation of landscape resistance of forest versus old-field habitats to emigrating juvenile amphibians. Conservation Biology 16: 1324-1332. Scott, N.J., Jr. & B.D. Woodward. 1994. Surveys at breeding sites. Pp. 118-125, In Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity: Standard Methods for Amphibians. (W.R. Heyer, M.A. Donnelly, R.W. McDiarmid, L.C. Hayek & M.S. Foster, eds.). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. Semlitsch, R.D. 2000. Principles for management of aquatic-breeding amphibians. Journal of Wildlife Management 64:615-631. Semlitsch, R.D. & J.R. Bodie. 2003. Biological criteria for buffer zones around wetlands and riparian riparian adj. referring to the banks of a river or stream. (See: riparian rights) habitats for amphibians and reptiles. Conservation Biology 17:1219-1228. Spight, T.M. 1968. The water economy of salamanders: Evaporative water loss. Physiological Zoology zoology, branch of biology concerned with the study of animal life. From earliest times animals have been vitally important to man; cave art demonstrates the practical and mystical significance animals held for prehistoric man. 41:195-203. Wake, D.B. 1991. Declining amphibian populations. Science 253:860. Mary C. Linton: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater The University of Wisconsin–Whitewater (also known as UW-Whitewater) is part of the University of Wisconsin System, located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It became Wisconsin's second public college on April 21, 1868 when it opened its doors to 39 students taught by nine , 800 S. Main St., Whitewater, Wisconsin 53190 USA Andrew M. Gascho Landis: The Ohio State University Ohio State University, main campus at Columbus; land-grant and state supported; coeducational; chartered 1870, opened 1873 as Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, renamed 1878. There are also campuses at Lima, Mansfield, Marion, and Newark. , Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, 1314 Kinnear Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212 USA
Table 1.--Amphibian species of Merry Lea Environmental Learning
Center of Goshen College. F = found during this study,
R = included in range maps of Minton (2001) or Petranka
(1998), M = Minto county record, and N = new county record.
Species expected Common name F R M N
Caudata
Ambystomatidae
Ambystoma jefjersonianum Jefferson's salamander X X
A. laterale Blue-spotted salamander X X X
A. maculatum Spotted salamander X X X
A. texanum Smallmouth salamander X X X
A. tigrinum tigrinum Eastern tiger salamander X X X
Unisexual Ambystoma X X X
Plethodontidae
Hemidactylium scutatum Four-toed salamander X X
Plethodon cinereus Red-backed salanuuulrr X X X
Proteidae
Necturus maculosus Mudpuppy X
Salamandridae
Notophthalmus Eastern newt X X X
viridescens
viridescens
Anura
Bufonidae
Bufo americanus American toad X X X
B. fowleri Fowler's toad X X X
Hylidae
Acris crepitans Blanchard's cricket frog X X X
blanchardi
Hyla chrysoscelis Cope's gray treefrog X X X
H. versicolor Eastern gray treefrog X X X
Pseudacris crucifer Spring peeper X X X
P. triseriata triseriata Western chorus frog X X X
Ranidae
Rana catesbeiana Bullfrog X X X
R. clamitans melonata Green frog X X X
R. palustris Pickerel frog X X
R. pipiens Northern leopard frog X X X
R. sylvatica Wood frog X X X
Table 2.--Total minnow trap captures of Ambystoma salamanders in four
wetland types. Unisexual hybrids are included with Ambystoma laterale.
Numbers of wetlands of each type that were sampled are in parentheses
after the wetland type. In 2000 the previously sampled wooded temporary
ponds were dry due to drought so two open ponds that were in the
vicinity (within 150 meters of the wooded ponds) were sampled. The
wooded temporary ponds in the original study site filled in 2001, so
were revisited. In addition, five new study sites with eight wooded
temporary wetlands, one temporary swamp and one permanent swamp were
sampled. In 2002, the original study site was sampled, and also two of
the wooded temporary ponds sampled in 2001 were included. Aj =
Ambystoma jeffersonianum, Al = Ambystoma laterale, Am = Ambystoma
maculatum, At = Ambystoma texanum, and Ati = Ambystoma tigrinum
tigrinum.
Year/Wetland type Trap nights Aj Al Am At Ati
1997
Temporary pond (3) 1223 15 159 0 307 0
Temporary swamp (1) 180 0 0 0 0 0
Permanent pond (1) 516 0 0 0 0 0
Permanent swamp (1) 450 0 0 0 0 0
1998
Temporary pond (3) 573 15 8 0 196 0
Temporary swamp (1) 84 0 0 0 0 0
Permanent pond (1) 84 0 0 0 0 0
Permanent swamp (1) 210 0 0 0 0 0
1999
Temporary pond (3) 837 25 182 0 449 4
Temporary swamp (1) 124 0 0 0 0 0
Permanent pond (1) 124 0 0 0 0 0
Permanent swamp (1) 310 0 0 0 0 0
2000
Temporary pond (2) 144 0 5 0 20 2
Temporary swamp (1) 180 1 9 0 12 0
Permanent pond (1) 216 0 0 0 0 0
Permanent swamp (1) 216 3 27 0 192 0
2001
Temporary pond (11) 3748 42 811 11 1135 21
Temporary swamp (2) 519 3 24 0 35 0
Permanent pond (1) 172 0 0 0 0 0
Permanent swamp (2) 641 0 4 0 42 0
2002
Temporary pond (5) 1998 30 497 0 517 39
Temporary swamp (1) 210 0 0 0 0 0
Permanent pond (1) 432 0 0 0 0 0
Permanent swamp (1) 378 0 0 0 0 0
Table 3.--Mean maximum call indices for anurans. The call indices
are averaged for four wetland types. Two restored wetlands were
added in 2001. Ba = Bufo americanus, Bf = Bufo fowler, Acb = Acris
crepitans blanchardi, Hch = Hyla chrysoscelis, Hv = H. versicolor,
Pc = Pseudacris crucifer, Ptt = P. triseriata triseriata, Rca = Rana
catesbeiana, Rcm = R. clamitans melonata, Rpa = R. palustris,
Rpi = Rana pipiens, and Rs = R. sylvatica. Number of wetlands of
each type is indicated in parentheses. Call index numbers are
1 = individuals can be counted, there is space between calls;
2 = calls if individuals can be distinguished but there is some
overlapping of calls; and 3 = full chorus, calls constant and
overlapping.
Year/Wetland type Ba Bf Acb Hch Hv Pc
1998
Temporary pond (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Temporary swamp (1) 0 0 0 2 2 3
Permanent pond (1) 1 0 0 2 2 3
Permanent swamp (2) 1 0 0 3 3 3
1999
Temporary pond (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Temporary swamp (1) 0 0 0 2 2 2
Permanent pond (1) 2 2 0 2 2 2
Permanent swamp (2) 0 0.7 0 3 2.7 3
2000
Temporary pond (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Temporary swamp (1) 0 0 0 2 2 3
Permanent pond (1) 1 0 0 2 2 3
Permanent swamp (2) 1 0 0 3 3 3
2001
Temporary pond (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0.7
Temporary swamp (2) 0 1 0 3 1 2
Permanent pond (1) 0.5 2 0 2 2 2
Permanent swamp (3) 0 0.7 0.7 3 2.7 3
Year/Wetland type Ptt Rca Rcm Rpa Rpi Rs
1998
Temporary pond (3) 0 0 0.7 0 0 0
Temporary swamp (1) 3 0 2 0 0 2
Permanent pond (1) 3 2 2 1 3 0
Permanent swamp (2) 1 0.5 1.5 3 3 0
1999
Temporary pond (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Temporary swamp (1) 2 0 0 0 0 2
Permanent pond (1) 2 1 1 1 1 0
Permanent swamp (2) 2.7 0.7 2 1 1.3 0
2000
Temporary pond (3) 0 0 0.7 0 0 0
Temporary swamp (1) 3 0 2 0 0 2
Permanent pond (1) 0 2 2 1 3 0
Permanent swamp (2) 1 0.5 1.5 0 1 0
2001
Temporary pond (3) 2 0 0 0 0 1.7
Temporary swamp (2) 2 0 1 0 1 3
Permanent pond (1) 3 0.5 2 1 2 0
Permanent swamp (3) 2.7 0.7 2 1 1.3 0
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