TY - JOUR
T1 - Growth, Survival, Longevity, and Population Size of the Big Mouth Cave Salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus necturoides) from the Type Locality in Grundy County, Tennessee, USA
AU - Niemiller, Matthew L
AU - Glorioso, Brad M.
AU - Fenolio, Dante B.
AU - Reynolds, R. Graham
AU - Taylor, Steven Joseph
AU - Miller, Brian T.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this project was provided in part by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (contract nos. ED-04-01467-00 and ED-06-02149-00), the Department of Biology at Middle Tennessee State University, and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. We graciously thank the Roberts family for access to Big Mouth Cave. The following individuals provided valuable assistance in the field and with some analyses: M. Benard, C. Davis, B. Fitzpatrick, C. D. Hulsey, N. Mann, J. Miller, J. Todd, K. Ulicny, M. Venarsky, and G.R. Wyckoff. This study was authorized by MTSU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (protocol no. 04-006) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (scientific collection permit no. 1450). Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/3/1
Y1 - 2016/3/1
N2 - Salamander species that live entirely in subterranean habitats have evolved adaptations that allow them to cope with perpetual darkness and limited energy resources. We conducted a 26-month mark-recapture study to better understand the individual growth and demography of a population of the Big Mouth Cave Salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus necturoides). We employed a growth model to estimate growth rates, age at sexual maturity, and longevity, and an open population model to estimate population size, density, detectability, and survival rates. Furthermore, we examined cover use and evidence of potential predation. Individuals probably reach sexual maturity in 3-5 years and live at least nine years. Survival rates were generally high (>75%) but declined during the study. More than 30% of captured salamanders had regenerating tails or tail damage, which presumably represent predation attempts by conspecifics or crayfishes. Most salamanders (>90%) were found under cover (e.g., rocks, trash, decaying plant material). Based on 11 surveys during the study, population size estimates ranged from 21 to 104 individuals in the ca. 710 m2 study area. Previous surveys indicated that this population experienced a significant decline from the early 1970s through the 1990s, perhaps related to silvicultural and agricultural practices. However, our data suggest that this population has either recovered or stabilized during the past 20 years. Differences in relative abundance between early surveys and our survey could be associated with differences in survey methods or sampling conditions rather than an increase in population size. Regardless, our study demonstrates that this population is larger than previously thought and is in no immediate risk of extirpation, though it does appear to exhibit higher rates of predation than expected for a species believed to be an apex predator of subterranean food webs.
AB - Salamander species that live entirely in subterranean habitats have evolved adaptations that allow them to cope with perpetual darkness and limited energy resources. We conducted a 26-month mark-recapture study to better understand the individual growth and demography of a population of the Big Mouth Cave Salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus necturoides). We employed a growth model to estimate growth rates, age at sexual maturity, and longevity, and an open population model to estimate population size, density, detectability, and survival rates. Furthermore, we examined cover use and evidence of potential predation. Individuals probably reach sexual maturity in 3-5 years and live at least nine years. Survival rates were generally high (>75%) but declined during the study. More than 30% of captured salamanders had regenerating tails or tail damage, which presumably represent predation attempts by conspecifics or crayfishes. Most salamanders (>90%) were found under cover (e.g., rocks, trash, decaying plant material). Based on 11 surveys during the study, population size estimates ranged from 21 to 104 individuals in the ca. 710 m2 study area. Previous surveys indicated that this population experienced a significant decline from the early 1970s through the 1990s, perhaps related to silvicultural and agricultural practices. However, our data suggest that this population has either recovered or stabilized during the past 20 years. Differences in relative abundance between early surveys and our survey could be associated with differences in survey methods or sampling conditions rather than an increase in population size. Regardless, our study demonstrates that this population is larger than previously thought and is in no immediate risk of extirpation, though it does appear to exhibit higher rates of predation than expected for a species believed to be an apex predator of subterranean food webs.
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U2 - 10.1643/OT-14-197
DO - 10.1643/OT-14-197
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84961817087
VL - 104
SP - 35
EP - 41
JO - Copeia
JF - Copeia
SN - 0045-8511
IS - 1
ER -