Multi-Trophic Level Feeding Interactions Among Two Native and Two Non-Native Species: Implications for the Endangered Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma bishopi)

Authors

Kelly C. Jones, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VirginiaFollow
Brandon K. Rincon, Virginia Tech
Thomas A. Gorman, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
Carola A. Haas, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
Richard M. Engeman, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesFollow

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

Collinsorum 4(3) December 2015

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

Eglin Air Force Base (Eglin) in Florida is one of few remaining public lands where the Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma bishopi) occurs, and it represents the only remaining location within the entire range of this endangered species to have two populations that both occur in wetland complexes with >2 occupied wetlands (Gorman et al., 2009). The decline of the species has been rapid and few remaining breeding locations for this species remain. It was listed as federally endangered in 2009 (USFWS, 2009). Flatwoods salamanders depend on complex herbaceous vegetation for all aspects of their life history and while in wetlands they use this habitat for egg laying (Gorman et al., 2014), larval cover (Sekerak et al., 1996; Gorman et al., 2009), and metamorphs and adults are frequently observed climbing in the herbaceous vegetation (Jones et al., 2012). Feral Swine (Sus scrofa) damage and degrade wetlands (and other habitats) on Eglin (Engeman et al., 2007; Brown, 2014), and represent an emerging threat to Reticulated Flatwoods Salamanders and their breeding wetlands on Eglin. Thus, assessing the impacts of swine on flatwoods salamanders is a critical need.