Comparative Life History Traits of the Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus) and Eastern Red-backed Salamander (P. cinereus) in an Appalachian Mountain Forest in South-Central Pennsylvania

摘要

Selected life history traits were examined in the Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus) and the Northern Red-backed Salamander (P. cinereus) using specimens opportunistically-collected from a single site in south-central Pennsylvania during 2004-2016. Incidence of capture of P. cinereus was 2.9X that of P. glutinosus, although percent juveniles of P. glutinosus was 2X that of P. cinereus. Incidence of tail loss was lower in P. glutinosus (45.2%) than in P. cinereus (66.7%) and differed more among sexes and size-classes of P. glutinosus. Typical of northern populations, capture success was strongly bimodal in both species, whereby most individuals were captured in spring and fall during March-October. Likewise, gonadal cycle did not conflict with those of other northern populations of respective species. However, age and body size at sexual maturity in both species were more subject to local conditions than latitudinal gradients. Intra- and interspecific differences were apparent in dorsal pattern and tail condition. Our findings can serve as baseline data for similar kinds of future studies that examine temporal changes in geographically-variable life history traits as climate increasingly becomes a significantly changing variable.