BIOL 329 Flashcards
distinguishing a risso dolphin
scars, whiten with age, tall dark sickle-shaped (crescent moon) fin, rounded head
distinguishing grizzly bear from brown black bear
grizzlies have hump on back - enlargement of shoulder blade bones for larger muscles attachment - lots of digging, forehead to nose is more concave
distinguish sea otter
much bigger than river otter, flat tail, dense fur, swim in groups, front paw, back flippers, rarely come on land
number of tetrapod species
~32,000
tetrapods
Amphibia
Reptile
Aves
Mammalia
defining tetrapod feature
legs
defining lizard, bird, mammal feature
lungs
defining reptilia, aves feature
scales
defining aves feature
feathers, wings
defining mammal feature
hair, mammary glands
World Wildlife Fund classification of BC
globally outstanding ecoregion
BC size (geographically)
Bigger than any European country except Russia and any US state except Alaska
BC fauna diversity
More vertebrate species than any other province or territory in Canada
BC amphibia species
~20
43 in Canada
~7000 worldwide
BC reptile species
~20
51 in Canada
~9600 worldwide
BC bird species
~530
615 in Canada
~10,000 worldwide
BC mammals
~150
207 in Canada
~5500 worldwide
BC plants
3150 species
richest flora in Canada
why does BC have such rich flora/fauna
very diverse biogeoclimatic zones
levels of threat and extinction graph
years (increasing up y axis), vs. probability of extinction (0 -1 increasing down x axis)
safe line is straight with high slope, vulnerable has small curve and pretty high slope, endangered has big curve extending along x axis
levels of threat and extinction
safe: 0.1P in 100y
vulnerable: 0.2P in 20y
Endangered: 0.5P in 10y
Critically endangered: >0.5 in 10
mammals vs. reserve size graph
of individuals vs. area
min. population size is a horizontal line
small herbivores, large herbivores, large carnivores are subsequent diagonal lines
where the lines cross is minimum area required to sustain animal population
minimum population size to survive
~2500
minimum reserve area for small herbivores
10km^2
minimum reserve area for large herbivores
~5000 km^2
minimum reserve area for large carnivores
> 100,000 km^2 — doesn’t exist
species listing categories
extinct extirpated endangered threatened vulnerable
extinct species listing
species no longer exists on the planet
extinct examples (BC)
Steller's sea cow Dawson Caribou (1915)
extirpated species listing
species no longer exists in the region but still exists in other geographical areas
extirpated examples (BC)
Pygmy Horned Lizard Sea otter (has been reintroduced)
sea otter extirpation and relocation in BC
hunted to extinction for furs
relocated when US was doing weapons testing
Endangered species listing
facing imminent extirpation or extinction
BC endangered species
Tiger salamander
Keen’s long-eared Myotis
North Pacific Right Whale
Threatened species listing
a species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed
BC threatened species
Vancouver Island Marmot
vulnerable species listing
a species that is particularly at risk because of low or declining population
have features that make them particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events
BC vulnerable species
coastal giant salamander
bighorn sheep
spotted owl
peripheral species
a species that barely extends into the are of political jurisdiction (what are our responsibilities in protecting these species? what if they are peripheral everywhere they live? who will protect them?)
peripheral species example
Northern Leopard frog
Alien species
a species that has been introduced by humans and are not part of our historic wildlife heritage
also exotic/introduced species
example BC alien species
rat
bullfrog
starling
red-listed species
extirpated, endangered, threatened species listings
blue-listed species
vulnerable species listings
VI wolves
hybridized with dogs
shows how small populations are at risk of hybridization - low mate selection
SARA
Species at Risk Act (2004)
prohibits killing, harming, harassing, capturing, or taking of species listed under SARA as threatened, endangered, or extirpated
red and blue species coincide with
geoclimatic zone habitat loss
number of endangered or threatened tetrapod species in BC
~195
yellow-listed species
“secure”
COSEWIC
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (national)
542 million years ago
end of the PreCambrian
Start of the Palaeozoic
Start of the Cambrian
250 million years ago
end of the Palaeozoic
Start of the Mesozoic
start of the Triassic period
65 million years ago
end of the Mesozoic (end of Cretaceous)
start of Cenozoic
start of Tertiary
Devonian
age of fish
transition to land
first tetrapods
major tetrapod diversification
mid paleozoic
largest extinction
P-T extinction (250mya)
more than 90% of species extinct, 60% of families
mammal-like groups get knocked back
reptiles undergo large diversification
continents 200mya
SA, Africa, India, antartica are together at the south pole - Gondwana
first reptiles
Carboniferous (~350mya)
continental changes
Pangaea supercontinent up to P-T boundary
Around Triassic period - Gondwana in S, Laurasia in N
Cretaceous - split into modern continents
separation of continents aids in
diversification (new niches?)
Amniotes
reptiles, birds, mammals
land sustainable egg
2 Amniote lineages
synapsida
diapsida
synapsids
mammals
1 hole at back of skull (plus eye hole like anapsid)
diapsids
reptiles, birds
“dual window” skull
skull fenestra, 2 holes on top of each other at back of skull
origin of tetrapods species
Tiktaalik
Acanthostega
Icthyostega
Tiktaalik
recent discovery (2004, Nunavut) ventral ridge oblique - transverse enlargement of muscle attachment points from shoulder - forearm and forearm - radius and ulna still look quite aquatic, kind of alligator looking- long snout
Acanthostega
origin of digits
enlargement of hind limbs and pelvic girdle
interarticulation between vertebrae
still has pretty aquatic looking body - flat, side splayed limbs, flat shorter head
Ichthyostega
elongation of limb long bones
changes to shoulder girdle
looks like its off the ground a little more, a little less flat
why are tetrapods thought to have arisen in the early Devonian
from molecular data
times of high oxygen levels
developmental plasticity
genetic variability + phenotypic plasticity
different growth patterns dependent on outside factors
fish egg
simplest; nucleus + yolk granules; surrounded by membrane, requires aquatic habitat
amphibian egg
same as fish egg except that it also has a jelly coat made of gooey protein solution so that it can survive in wet environment
amniotic egg
much more complex; shell, albumin, chorion, allantois, yolk sac, amnion; does not require aquatic habitat
mammal egg
placenta = specialized amniotic egg; allantois and yolk sac become umbilical cord
chorion function
gas exchange
allantois function
storage for nitrogenous wastes and O2 transport
albumin
physical protection and reservoir of water and protein
amniote skin
usually waterproof with keratinized epidermis
scales, hair, feathers
amniote ventilation
costal ventilation- lungs/diaphragm (vs. amphibian skin breathing)
tetrapod heart evolution
amphibian - 3 chambered (2 atria, 1 ventricle)
some reptiles- partial septum in ventricle for some separation of oxy-deoxy
crocodile, bird, mammal- 4 chambered, oxy-deoxy are separated
why separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
more efficient
increased regulation of Tb
ectotherms
amphibians and most reptiles
ectotherm habitat
most prevalent in tropics with high evapotranspiration (Warm and wet)
ectotherm genome
more complex, need complex enzyme systems to function t different T’s, highly variable Tb over time
ectotherm activity
generally inactive at night
endotherms
birds, mammals, some dinosaurs, some marine reptiles
mammal Tb
~37-40ºC
facilitate endothermy
feathers, hair, fat, cellular metabolism, counter-current heat exchange
why endothermy?
active at all latitudes, seasons, time of day pathogen resistance higher capacity for sustained activity higher digestion rate control incubation T parental care
poikilothermy
A poikilotherm is an organism whose internal temperature varies considerably
ectothermy
homeothermy
the maintenance of a constant body temperature despite changes in the environmental temperature
endothermy
inertial homeothermy
large bodied ectotherms that warm-up and then ‘hold it’ to maintain their body temperature above ambient temperature
metabolic rate and body mass in tetrapods
tightly positively correlated
however, ectotherms are significantly lower in metabolic needs, and body size can be much smaller
body size in ecto and endotherms
majority of salamanders vs. mammals/birds are nearly entirely outside of each other’s ranges- amphibians can’t get as big, mammals can’t get as small
why endotherms are generally bigger
smaller animals have higher SA:V - lose more heat
also better for endotherms to be rounded
minimum bird/mammal size
~2-3g
salamanders ~0.1g
biomass conversion efficiency (equation)
(energy converted/energy assimilated) x 100
biomass conversion efficiencies in tetrapods
ectotherms ~50% (6-98)
endotherms ~1.5% (0.5-3.0)
plesiomorphic
ancestral, primitive
endotherm biomass conversion efficiency
1.5% – >95% of everything we consume goes to heat – only beneficial in cold climate or nighttime foraging otherwise at a disadvantage compared to ectotherms
anapsid jaw bones
basal, no fenestra, very limited muscle attachment and jaw movement
synapsid
simple fenestra system, little more muscle attachment and jaw movement
diapsid
tuatara, t-rex, 2 fenestra, tremendous horizontal jaw movement control
tetrapod limb transitions
amphibians/many lizards- legs horizontal/lateral/splayed to side, body on ground, inefficient model
derived reptiles- limbs vertical/ventral/underneath body, allow bones of pelvic girdle to support body and legs to be used for forward motion
therapsids
gave rise to mammals
somewhere around the P-T boundary
advanced mammal diversification
around the Cretaceous - Tertiary
Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction (K-T)
over a million years of continuous volcanism (deccan trap) then a meteorite struck ~20% of families dinosaurs 65Ma
rise of the fish occurs when what is happening
global T’s are plummeting (end Devonian)
P-T extinction occurs when what is happening
global T’s are rising majorly
Oxygen levels re dropping (down to ~12% of todays)
siberian traps (volcanism)
abrupt ocean acidification (massive CO2 injection to atmos.)
widespread wildfires
low O2 advantageous for endotherms
amphibians common starting in
paleozoic
amphibians diversify in
Permian
ancient amphibians
some similarity to modern salamander, lizards, snakes
mainly aquatic juveniles, terrestrial adults
all fossils have spool-shaped vertebra, solid skull
amphibian evolutionary record shows
numerous reverse evolutions back to aquatic habitat for adults
repeated loss of ‘tetrapod’ limbs for burrowing and full aquatic life
amphibian fossil record completion
gap after permian until jurassic
3 groups of modern amphibians occur from Permian
all modern amphibians, 3 living groups
lissamphibia: anurans, urodela, caecilians
anurans
“no-tail”
frogs
Urodela
“tailed”
salamander
Caecilian
“blind”, legless, burrowing, tropical
limbless, serpentine amphibians
meaning of amphibian
amphi - biphasic life cycle (aquatic-terrestrial)
most species dependent on temporary or permanent aquatic habatats
BC Amphibians
11 species
2 invasives
origin of extant amphibians
Late Carboniferous, around 315 Mya
divergence between frogs and salamanders
Early Permian, around 290 Mya
length of typical frog life cycle
3 years first egg cleavage 3-12hours embryo has tail bud 4 days hatches 6 days tadpole feeding on larvae 7 days limbs, lungs 75+ days tail shortens, functional lungs 90+ days juvenile for 1-2 years sexually mature 3 years
metamorphisis triggered by
thyroxine (pituitary gland)
additional effects during metamorphosis
tail muscles, gill arches, gills and operculum are reabsorbed and reincorporated in to other muscles
lung/eye/brain development
inner ear for hearing
why do frogs have specialized hearing for very low sounds
because they live close to the ground
why do frogs eyes bulge
enlarge buccal cavity - increase ‘mouth’ volume so they can fit more in
predation by snakes during frog metamorphosis
tadpoles 33%
transforming tadpoles 67%
transforming adults 90% (moving closer to shore?)
fully metamorphosed adults 45%
tadpole gas exchange
gills and skin
highly permeable skin densely covered in mucous glands
adult frog gas exchange
gills, lungs, cutaneous respiration, depending on extent of metamorphosis
terrestrial, arid, highly active species use primarily lungs
tadpole/frog mucous glands secrete
mucopolysaccharides (maintain mostness, permeability)
If tadpole/frog does not maintain moisture/mucous
overheat
amphibian drinking
ABSORB through ‘pelvic patch’ (highly vascularized skin patch)
urea in skin facilitates water absorption from moist surface
amphibian over-hydration
can easily over-hydrate and die
may have to lift themselves off the ground on to all 4 limbs to dehydrate
how to amphibians occupy dry habitat
behavioural adaptations: nocturnal, remain underground in dry season, forage only on rainy days, rest under leaves, ru mucopolysaccharides all over skin
frog defense
camouflage, aposematic
mucous
parotid glands
Aposematic coloration
warning signs, frogs with warning colours have particularly bad toxins in their skin (poison dart frogs), some frogs mimic these colours
Frog mucous as defense
antibiotic and reduce handling success of predators
Parotid glands
poison glands
repository for waste/toxins/junk - sometimes these compounds come from their diet and are stored there
compounds found in parotid glands
hemolytic proteins
epibatidine (neurotransmitter blocker)
tetrodotoxin (lethal)
neurotoxins
neurotoxins in poison dart frogs
alkaloids acquired from eating ants
ants obtain from fungus and vegetation
amphibian skin secretions as medicine
toxins, antimicrobial peptides, opioids, steroids, alkaloids
these compounds show cytotoxic, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral activities (including anti-HIV). and easily obtainable
TTX
tetrodotoxin, only in amphibians, anti predator defense, unknown origin
frog foraging
tadpoles - herbivory
adults - carnivore
some carnivorous tadpoles
frog foraging, eyes
binocular vision for active capture or prey, including insects in flight
frog foraging, mouth
specialized tongue protrusion, folds out, releases from back
large mouth for swallowing large prey
reduced intestine
fossil of species similar to frog compared to present
modern- much less vertebrae, elongated pelvic girdle, longer hind limbs and toes
why the changes in present frog form
jumping (more muscle attachment)
when frogs jump their limbs
are all extended to increase lift
using limb length we can tell
life history, predict habitat
long forelimb, short hindlimb
walker-hopper
short forelimb, short hindlimb
walker-hopper-burrower (fat)
long forelimb, long hindlimb
jumper, walker-jumper
short forelimb, long hindlimb
swimmer, hopper
global amphibian species
7022 2500 declining 1800 threatened 168 extinct under the most threat of all tetrapods on the planet
BC Anurans (11species +2 alien)
rocky mountain tailed frog, coastal tailed frog, pacific treefrog, boreal chorus frog, red-legged frog, bullfrog, green frog, columbian spotted frog, northern leopard frog, oregon spotted frog, wood frog, western toad, great basin spadefoot toad
Western Toad scientific name
Anaxyrus (Bufo) boreas
Western toad distribution
sea level - 2200 m (Mt. top) wet forest - grassland majority of BC except NE corner terrestrial adult (adapted to dry, prefer moist), aquatic reproduction very large distribution - opportunistic
Western toad oddities
primarily nocturnal (at low elevation) ~silent during reproduction often walk, not hop winter hibernation nov-april, 1m depth can't breathe under water
Western toad reproduction
black pearl egg strands
hatch within several weeks
tadpoles develop over summer
metamorphose late summer
Western toad listing
formerly widespread, major population reduction from raccoon predation (alien)
endangered in S US
IUCN red-listed
IUCN
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Western Toad longevity
up to 10 years
core habitat
necessary habitat for survival
hibernacula
place of refuge for hibernation often communal (68% of western toads)
Why western toad may not be adequately protected
protection traditionally at “vegetated buffers” (riparian zone) but 80-90% of hibernacula were beyond buffer zone
Western toad migration
migrate to communal breeding site April-July
150-2000m
90,000 body lengths!
Columbia Spotted Frog scientific name
Rana luteiventris
columbia spotted frog distribution
900-2200m
core habitat = constant water body
diverse habitat (wet forest, sage bushland, alpine tundra)
most of BC, not NE corner or West coast
columbia spotted frog oddities
overwinter at bottom of water bodies that don’t freeze
tadpole can last >1yr
opportunistic feeder
majority of time in water
columbia spotted frog feeding
aquatic/terrestrial inverts. (snails, insects, crustaceans, spiders)
20 orders of inverts., 20% beetles, 20% ants/wasps, 10% flies
columbia spotted frog breeding
migrate between water bodies for breeding egg masses laid in shallow water tadpole can be >1yr mature in 2-3yrs longevity up to 10yrs
Oregon spotted frog
sub population w/ slightly different call - diversified group? do not interbreed
spectral habitat evaluation
spectral distribution can make habitat quantifiable - how much grass is there? tree canopy? dry, yellow, grass?
spectral habitat evaluation output
hyperspectral cube
each pixel contains ‘pages’ of every different wavelength
hyperspectral data collection
fly over with imaging spectrometer - emit dispersed spectrum, light passes through focusing lenses and collimating slit to diffraction grating, produce data cube
wood frog scientific name
Rana sylvatica
wood frog distribution
most of BC, not W coast or S end - well adapted to cold (N BC)
most of Canada
largely terrestrial, close to water (marshes, riparian, wet grass)
wood frog oddities
short tadpole stage
winter in root spaces
freeze solid
wood frog breeding
tadpole - several months
adult in 2 yrs
max life 3-4 years
wood frog freezing
genes in muscle metabolic pathway shut down
liver tissue remain active
up-regulate ribosomal protein
increase urea level to increase plasma osmolality (H2O leaves cell into interstitial space)
reduce ice crystal development - dehydration
Coastal tailed frog scientific name
Ascaphus truei
Coastal tailed frog distribution
only slim band on W coast, not the islands
clear, cold, very fast streams
coastal tailed frog oddities
no vocal sac no eardrum more vertebra than other frogs closely related to 'living fossil' tadpoles up to 4years can't flip tongue tail only in males one of longest living females store sperm
coastal tailed frog breeding
tail is copulatory organ - only NA frog w/ internal fertilization
f/m stores sperm from late summer -overwinter, allows fertilization in spring
eggs attached to downstream side of rock
tadpoles stay in stream up to 4 years before metamorph
why coastal tail frog has no eardrum
no vocalization, don’t need it - probably partly because of extremely fast flowing water habitat
coastal tail frog life span
15-20 years, highly unusual
one of longest living frogs
coastal tail frog closest relation
ancient NZ frog (Leiopelmatidae) which is indistinguishable from 150mya - considered ‘living fossil’
coastal tail frog diet
tadpole- algae, inverts
adults - insects, snails
adults must jump on prey - no tongue flip
high vocalization
requires higher O2 than high levels of locomotion
O2 doubles with doubling of call length
major physiological cost to calling
why spend energy for vocalization
longer calls made when other males are calling nearby
females prefer longer calls
pacific tree frog scientific name
Pseudacris (Hyla) regilla
largest family of amphibians
Hylidae
pacific tree frog habitat/distribution
S BC, including V. Isl, down to CA
on ground, among shrubs, gross, close to water
sea level to >3000m
pacific tree frog breeding
use ephemeral ponds breed Jan - Aug eggs attach to vegetation eggs hatch in 3 weeks tadpoles metamorph. in 2 months
ephemeral
short lasting, not constant, transient
pacific treefrog oddities
tremendous dexterity can't live in lakes - susceptible to predation by fish camouflage/bright pigment introduced on H.G. active day & night
BC anurans
Western Toad Columbia Spotted Frog Wood Frog Coastal Tailed frog Pacific Treefrog Boreal Chorus frog Red-legged frog Great Basin Spadefoot toad leopard frog american bullfrog green frog
Boreal Chorus frog scientific name
Pseudacris maculata
Boreal Chorus frog distribution
NE corner of BC, Middle - East side of NA (north = cold)
adults fully terrestrial, near water
boreal chorus frog reproduction
tadpole metamorphose in 2 months
adults live 2 years
boreal chorus frog oddity
smallest BC frog
freezes in winter
highly vocal
boreal chorus frog cold adaptation
freezes overwinter in dry habitat- sugar in cells, intercellular spaces freeze
can’t freeze as cold as others
resume activity upon thawing in spring
Red-legged frog scientific name
Rana aurora
red-legged frog distribution
NW corner - only sunshine coast, VI
wet coastal forest, adults terrestrial
red-legged frog breeding
shaded streams/ponds Jan-March
adult males make breeding calls underwater
tadpoles 4-5months before metamorph.
great basin spadefoot toad distribution
small patch in S BC ~mid
dry forest/sagebrush flat
great basin spadefoot breeding
april-july, following heavy rains
utilize springs/slow-moving water, temporary pools- takes advantage of moisture when available - breeds immediately - ephemeral reproduction
great basin spadefoot oddities
ephemeral, immediate reproduction
digs burrows with spade foot
primarily nocturnal
adults hibernate or aestivate for up to 8months (winter or dry times)
aestivation
similar to hibernation, inactivity and lowered metabolic rate, entered in response to high T and arid conditions
leopard frog scientific name
Rana pipiens
leopard frog distribution
one of most widely distributed in NA possible on VI? not in rest of BC mid- southern ends of E Canada damp meadows
leopard frog oddities
opportunistic feeders (anything moving) overwinter @ bottom of ponds/rivers that don't freeze major continent wide collapses
leopard frog collaps
since 1960’s
multifactorial: roadkill, herbicides, toxins, habitat, dams, fungus, alien predaters
American Bullfrog scientific name
Rana catesbeiana (alien)
American bullfrog distribution
very SW tip of mainland, and SE coast of VI
LITTLE bit in S: ON, QC, maritimes
historically one of most abundant/widespread in NA
recently introduce in W NA, Europe, SA, Australia
American bullfrog breeding
reproduce in vegetation-clogged ponds
American bullfrog feeding
tadpole - herbivorous
adults - opportunistic - sunsets, fish, snakes, ducklings, other frogs - up to 0.75kg
American bullfrog invasive
displaced other frogs from lower mainland and E VI
spreads chytrid fungus
american bullfrog oddities
can jump 2m
much deeper call (big size)
not very susceptible to chytrid fungus’
adults extremely opportunistic
chytrid fungus
Batrachochyrium dendrobatidis
causes fungal skin infection
lethal to other amphibians
Green (bronze) frog scientific name
Rana clamitans alien
green frog distribution
very very SW tip of mainland, very very SE tip of VI
SE end of Canada - huge distribution jump (introduced)
primarily aquatic, permanent water bodies, do not migrate
green frog wintering
ponds or underground
green frog breeding
tadpoles active throughout year
Anura sister species
Urodela
Urodela
salamanders
Anura, Urodela origin (time period)
Permian
~300 may
salamander life cycle
similar to frog but more complex complex and variable mating egg mass laid in water aquatic larva (external gills) terrestrial adult OR gilled adult (neoteny/paedmorphosis)
some salamander life cycle oddities
spermatophore and internal fertilization in derived groups
european salamander - live birth
paedomorphosis
most terrestrial salamander
European Plethodon - lost lungs, use cutaneous respiration, no aquatic larval stage
salamander size
usually 5-10cm
up to 100cm
BC salamanders
Northwestern (Coast, Mts, GD) Long-toed (Coast, Mts, GD, interior) Tiger (Southern interior) Coastal Giant (georgia depression) Wandering (coast, Mts) Coeur d'Alene (S Interior, Mts) Western Redback (Coast, Mts, Georgia depression, S Interior) Ensatina (Coast, Mts, GD) Roughskin Newt (Coast, Mts, GD)
Long-toad salamander scientific name
Ambystoma macrodactylum
long-toad salamander distribution
most of BC, not Northern edge
sea level - 2800m
diversity of habitats - con. forest, mts, sagebrush- close to water
2nd most divers salamander in NA
long-toed salamander breeding
in small ponds male drops spermatophore f/m picks up with cloaca eggs/larvae develop 4months carnivorous larvae, ~1yr metamoph. in autumn, leave ponds
long-toed salamander odditites
overwinter on land, beneath frost line
adults produce toxins in tail
usually nocturnal
long-toed salamander feeding
insects, zooplankton, small fish, worms, tadpoles
northwestern salamander scientific name
Ambystoma gracile
northwestern salamander distribution
East coast BC down to CA
all of VI
moist coastal forests, grasslands
NW salamander breeding
larvae hatch 2-4 weeks (16mm)
metamorph. 1-2 years (80mm)
NW salamander oddities
neotenic adults common
different life histories at elevations
terrestrial mainly fossorial except during rain
NW salamander elevation vs. development
high elevation - population completely neotenic
low elevation and S populations - have non-gilled terrestrial adults
fossorial
adapted to digging and life underground such as the badger
rough skinned newt scientific name
Taricha granulosa
lateral line
system of sense organs found in fish, salamanders, used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water
Rough skinned newt distribution
W coast BC, down to CA, all of VI, same as NW salamander
moist forests, under logs
rough skinned newt breeding
in spring, shallow water, larvae in autumn, adults move to forest, return in 2 years
male drop sperm packet, female collects
rough skinned newt oddities
live for up to 12 years
carnivorous larval and adult
most toxic of BC salamanders
only salamander active in day
rough skinned newt feeding
insects, slugs, earthworms, other amphibians
rough skinned newt toxin
tetrodotoxin -damage Na channels in cell, causes paralysis and death
displays by flipping head&tail
3% of skin can kill adult human
garter snakes (major predator) resistant to toxin
Western Redback Salamander scientific name
Plethodon vehiculum
western redneck salamander distribution
SW BC down to Oregon, all of VI
Douglas fir
one of few to utilize young forests (2nd growth)
mostly associated with rocky habitat
underneath bark, stones, debris, decaying wood
western redneck salamander breedings
eggs- individual, clumps, parental care
wandering salamander scientific name
Andes vagrans
wandering salamander distribution
VI, isolated habitat SW Oregon (imported?)
old-growth
fully terrestrial, somewhat arboreal
under decaying wood
wandering salamander breeding
8-17 eggs singly on roof or side of log cavity or under bark, suspended separately on mucus stalks
females guard eggs
eggs hatch fall-early winter
wandering salamander oddities
alien from cali oak bark imports ~1850s
previously misclassified as Cloudy salamander
specialist
coastal giant salamander scientific name
Dicamptodon tenebrosus
coastal giant salamander distribution
very tiny distribution S mainland, W coast US to CA
coastal forest near fast mt stream
sea level - 2000m
coastal giant salamander breeding
larval stages remain in stream >1yr
adult stage moves to terrestrial habitat
long lived ~25yrs
some stay in stream and retain gills (neoteny)
coastal giant salamander oddities
neotenic adult 2X size of terrestrial (30cm vs. 15cm)
one of largest in NA
long lived
largest infection disease threat to amphibian biodiversity
Bd
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
few geographic-host limitations = widespread
decline and extinction>200 species worldwide
killing populations?
many factors. contaminants everywhere. systems weakened, pathogens gaining foothold.
second Chytridiomycota pathogen
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans causing lethal skin infections in salamanders
pregnancy leading to Bd outbreak?
Xenopus used for pregnancy testing (1930s), populations escaped, coexists with and harbours Bd