Banisteria, Number 46, pages 12-24 © 2016 Virginia Natural History Society A Survey of Amphibians at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Anne Arundel County, Maryland Todd A. Tupper1’*, Robert Aguilar2, Tina Sepahpur1, Coline C. Hay1, Seyedesara Ebrahimi1 department of Math, Science, and Engineering 5000 Dawes Avenue Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria, Virginia 22311 2Fish and Invertebrate Ecology Lab Smithsonian Environmental Research Center 647 Contees Wharf Road Edgewater, Maryland 21037 ABSTRACT During a two-year amphibian inventory at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, we documented approximately 93% (13/14) of the county’s frog and toad fauna and 56% (5/9) of the salamanders. We also provide a general framework for monitoring difficult-to-detect calling anurans (Wood Frog and Eastern Spadefoot) and Spotted Salamander at SERC. In addition, we incidentally documented 53% (21/40) of the county’s reptiles. The known herpetofauna of SERC consists of 39 species. Key words: amphibian, anuran call surveys, amphibian monitoring, frogs, toads, salamanders. INTRODUCTION terrestrial adult form (Blaustein & Wake, 1995; Vitt & Caldwell, 2013). Consequently, amphibians are among Amphibians are part of a global biodiversity crisis the most sensitive vertebrates to various forms of (Blaustein et al., 1994). One third of amphibian species environmental disturbances, and are considered to be are threatened with extinction, and nine species have indicators of environmental health (Wyman, 1990). gone extinct since 1980 (IUCN, 2015). Reasons for Depending on the species, one sexually mature female population declines and extinction include natural may produce hundreds or thousands of embryos, population fluctuations and a complex of anthropogenic potentially contributing substantial amounts of biomass factors, including habitat loss, pollution, climate change (in the form of larvae and newly metamorphosed and chytridiomycosis, a disease of the skin caused by a subadults) to their resident ecosystems annually pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Wright & Wright, 1949; Vitt & Caldwell, 2013). Thus, (Davidson et al., 2003; Young et al., 2007; IUCN, amphibians are critical trophic links between aquatic 2015). Amphibians are particularly susceptible to and freshwater ecosystems, and local extinctions can in habitat destruction and chytridiomycosis in part because turn lead to ecological imbalances (Whiles et al., 2006). they have relatively thin, permeable skin that serves as Due to their ecological importance, environmental a respiratory organ and (most typically) a biphasic life sensitivity, and documented declines, localized and history that includes a gilled aquatic larval phase and a large-scale inventory and long-term amphibian monitoring programs have been implemented throughout North America (Weir & Mossman, 2005; Corresponding author: [email protected] Weir et al., 2009; see Cook et al., 2011). TUPPER ET AL.: AMPHIBIAN SURVEY 13 The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in eastern Maryland serves as a natural laboratory for long-term ecological research. The Center seeks to understand the impacts of climate change, invasive species, anthropogenic land use, pollution, and fishery harvest on native flora and fauna (SERC, 2015a). However, aside from selected herbivore-plant interactions, relatively little is known of the non-estuarine fauna of SERC (but see Heyer 1976, 1979; Lynch, 1984; Szlavecz et al., 2011; Cook-Patton et al., 2014a, b). We report the results of an amphibian inventory and provide baseline data that can be used to establish a long-term amphibian monitoring program at SERC. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area and Site Selection SERC (38°33’17.57”N; 76°33,14.29,,W) consists of approximately 1,477 ha of hardwood-dominated forest, ponds, creeks, rivers, tidal marshes, and 19.3 km of protected shoreline along the Rhode River and upper Chesapeake Bay in Anne Arundel County, Maryland (SERC, 2015b; Fig. 1). Forests at SERC can be broadly classified into three main types: (1) the majority (-85%) is a Tulip-poplar {Liriodendron tulipifera) association; (2) a moist lowland assemblage, comprised Fig. 1. Map of anuran calling survey sites, 2014-2015. Dark shaded areas represent SERC with numbers indicating of American sycamore (.Platanus occidentals), ash locations of surveys sites: (1) Glebe Bog, (2) Camp Letts CFraxinus spp.), elms (Ulmus spp.), river birch (Betula Pond, (3) Contees Wetland/Cypress Swamp, (4) Beaver Pond, nigra), and other woody vegetation along freshwater (5) North Fork (6) Snake House Wetland, (7) Construction streams; and (3) a somewhat xeric assemblage that Pond, (8) Mathias Wetland, (9) Retaining Pond, (10) Mill fringes tidal marshes, consisting of chestnut oak Swamp, (11) O’Neill Marsh (12) Hog Island Complex, (13) (Quercus prinus), white oak (Quercus alba), black gum Fox Point, (14) Horseshoe Bog, and (15) C02 Marsh. (Nyssa sylatica), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) and other woody vegetation. Like much of the eastern U.S., SERC’s wetlands to sample. Site selection was not random, and forest age and structure reflect historical agricultural was based in part on accessibility. activities and local history. The land that now comprises SERC’s main campus was mostly fallow Anuran Call Surveys from the end of the Civil War to approximately 1915, when it was used as a dairy with grazing pastures and We conducted weekly anuran (frog and toad) call fields for feed production until 1945. Thus, the majority surveys between 21 March and 5 September 2014 and of SERC’s contemporary forests are ca. 70-150 years 2015 following North American Amphibian Monitoring old (Higman, 1968; McMahon et al., 2010, G. Parker, Program guidelines (Weir & Mossman, 2005). SERC pers. comm.). Sampling began after sunset and consisted of listening Freshwater inputs into the Rhode River are for calling anurans for 5 min at each site. Most surveys primarily from the North Fork Muddy Creek, South began well after sunset, but before 0100 h (x =116.4 Fork Muddy Creek, and their lower order streams. min after sunset; SE = 4.69). Each detected species These streams are associated with several swamps, was assigned an ordinal calling index value (scale of 1 - beaver impoundments, and vernal wetlands which 3) based on the degree of overlap between calls (Weir range from small, tannin-rich, short-hydroperiod & Mossman, 2005). Undetected species were assigned ephemeral wetlands, to larger and clearer-water a rank of “0” for that survey. During each call survey, permanent ponds. We selected 15 (Fig. 1) of these we also recorded surface water and air temperatures 14 BANISTERIA NO. 46, 2016 with fixed armor casting pocket thermometers, and sky survey site and walked away from the starting point and wind conditions, and noise interference levels haphazardly looking for herpetofauna, both outwardly based on protocols in Weir & Mossman (2005). We visible and beneath debris, for 45 minutes. If detected stopped conducting anuran call surveys at sites if during time-constrained searches, or otherwise surveys resulted in non-detections for all species for incidentally while traveling between sites, we four consecutive weeks. considered a given species “present.” We documented species at sites other than at habitats adjacent to call Egg Mass Counts survey sites, so those sites also appear in Table 1. We calculated descriptive statistics with Minitab Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) often vocalize version 16 and Microsoft Excel 2013. Maps were diumally and oviposit globular and conspicuous egg created in ArcGIS 10.1. We based common names, and masses in permanent and ephemeral wetlands (Wright generic and specific epithets of herpetofauna on Crother & Wright, 1949; Berven 1990; Klemens, 1993). Thus, (2012). egg mass counts are a widely used technique to monitor their populations (Berven, 1990; Crouch & Paton, RESULTS 2000; Cook & Boland, 2005). Spotted Salamander (Ambystomci maculatum) oviposits similarly (Wright & Anuran Call Surveys Allen, 1909), and egg mass counts are also used to monitor their populations (Brodman, 1995, 2005; Egan We conducted a total of 503 anuran call surveys at & Paton, 2004; Petranka et al., 2003; Cook & Boland, 15 sites between 13 March and 5 September 2014 and 2005). We conducted three rounds of egg mass counts 2015, documenting 13 species. The Construction Pond, via the maximum daily count method (Cook & Boland, Mathias Wetland, Retaining Pond, Beaver Pond, and 2005) at seven wetlands during known breeding periods Horseshoe Bog contained the most species. By contrast, after the onset of appropriate temperatures (Crouch & only one species was detected at Fox Point, which also Paton, 2000; Egan & Paton, 2004; Brown & Jung, had the fewest detections of calls. Surveys conducted at 2005). To maximize visibility, we only conducted the Mathias Wetland and Mill Swamp yielded the counts while wearing polarized glasses during relatively highest proportions of detections (Tables 1 and 2). clear, calm weather. Onset of calling occurred earliest in Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) and Wood Frog (on our first Additional Sampling Methods survey; 72nd and 73rd day of the year), and latest in Green Treefrog {Hyla cinerea; 114th day of the year). Due to the explosive breeding behavior of the We detected full choruses (calling index values = 3) in Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) (Hansen, all species except Upland Chorus Frog {Pseudacris 1958), there is a greater chance of not detecting this feriarum) and Gray Treefrog {Hyla versicolor). We species with call surveys (Cook et al., 2011). Therefore, only detected Eastern Spadefoot while in full chorus, we augmented call surveys by using throw trapping and only in 2014 (Table 3). (quantitative enclosure sampling), [see Shaffer et al., 1994] combined with a removal sampling [Hayek, Egg Mass Counts, Throw Trapping, Time 1994]) as means of detecting and quantifying Eastern Constrained Searches, and Incidental Encounters Spadefoot tadpole abundance. The throw trap was a 1 m3 box with fine mesh screening attached on four sides. Between 24 March and 18 April 2015, we The top and bottom of the trap remained unscreened. conducted egg mass counts at seven sites, yielding Before sampling we created cross-sectional and maximum counts of 977 Wood Frog and 209 Spotted longitudinal transects in the wetland which we used to Salamander egg masses. The Beaver Pond (a large guide tossing of the trap. Every two meters along each permanent wetland) had the most Spotted Salamander transect we tossed the trap into the water (open sides egg masses (31% of the total), and Snake House Pond down and up). Using an aquatic D-frame dip net, we (a relatively small, short hydroperiod wetland) scooped out larvae, counted them, and temporarily contained the fewest (0.01 %). Over half of Wood Frog removed them from the wetland in five-gallon buckets egg masses (54.2%) were located at Horseshoe Bog (a until we made it completely across both transects. large river-fed seasonal wetland), whereas only one egg We used time-constrained searches (Scott & mass was found at Snake House Pond (Table 4). Woodward, 1994) to identify salamanders and anurans We captured 3,826 Eastern Spadefoot tadpoles at that were undetected with egg mass counts and anuran the only known breeding site (Camp Letts Pond) with call surveys. We began each search at an anuran call one round of 11 throws of a single trap in 2014. We did Table 1. Detections of amphibians and reptiles at SERC study sites. An “x” = detected, a dash = not detected. Site abbreviations not identified in Appendix 1 are: EDU (Education Building), located -0.75 kmNNE of Fox Point. See Appendix 2 for species abbreviations. Species BEPO CALE C02 COPO CONTE EDU GLEBE FOPO HOMA HOVE HOSH MATH MISW NOFR ONEIL RETAIN SNHO AMTO X - X X - X X - X X X X X X X - X BOTU X - - X - X - - - - - - - - X - - BUFR X - - X X - X - - - - X X - - X X CGTF X X - X X X X - X - X X X - X X - CHFR - - X - - - - - - - X - - - - - - CRFR X - - X X - - - - - X X X X X X X DBTE - - X - - X - X X - - - - - - - - FLSK X - X X - X - - X - - X - - X X - FTSA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X - - GASN X - - X X - - - - - - - - - - X X GRFR X X X X X - X - - X X X X X X X X T U GRTF X - - X X - - - X - - X X - - - X P P KISN - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - E R MASA X - - X X - - - - - X - - - X - - E MUDT X - - - X X - - - - - - - - - X - T A MUSK X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - L NBSN X - - X - - - X - - - X - - - X - .: A NGTF - - - X - - - - - - - X - - - - - M NWSN X - - X - X X X X - - - - - - X X PH PATU X - X X - - - X X - - - X - - X - IB PIFR X - X X X - X - X - X - X - X X X IA N RACER X - - X - X - - X - - - - - X X - S RASN X - - X - X X - - - - - - - - X X UR RBSA X X - - X - X - X - X - - - - - X V E RBTU - - - - - - - X X - - - - - - - - Y RESL - - - - - - - X X - - - - - - - - RGSN X - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - RISN X - - - - - - - - - - - - - X - X RNSN X X - X X - - - X - - - - - - - - RSNE X - - - - - - - X - - - - - X - - SESN X - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - SLFR X X X X X X X X X - X X X - X X X SNTU X - X X - X - X X - - - X - - X - SPPE X X X X X X X X X - X X X X X X X SPSA X - - - X - X - - - X - - - - - X SPTO - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SPTU - - - - - - - - - - - - X - X - X WOFR - X - X X - X - - - X X - - X - - WOSN X - X X X - - - - - - - - - X - - Table 2. Proportion of surveys yielding detections per study site at SERC. * = Documented after study period. See Appendix 2 for species abbreviations. Site AMTO BUFR CHFR CGTF CRFR GRFR GRTF PIFR SLFR SPPE SPTO WOFR Beaver Pond 0.04 0.68 - 0.08 0.48 0.72 0.20 0.20 0.24 0.32 - * Camp Letts Pond - - - 0.21 - 0.21 - - 0.21 0.50 0.14 0.07 C02 Marsh 0.30 - 0.30 - - 0.10 - 0.10 0.50 0.60 - 0.00 Construction Pond 0.16 0.36 - 0.32 0.36 0.64 0.20 0.12 0.36 0.28 - 0.08 Contees Wetland - - - 0.13 - 0.20 - 0.07 - 0.40 - - Cypress Swamp - - - - - - - - - - - - B A Glebe Bog - - - - - 0.47 - - 0.05 0.37 - 0.05 N IS Fox Point - - - - - - - - 0.09 0.00 - - T E R Hog Main 0.18 - - 0.18 - - - - 0.55 0.36 - - IA Hog Vernal - - - - - - - - - - - - Horseshoe Bog 0.09 0.04 - 0.48 0.30 0.61 - 0.09 0.26 0.30 - 0.04 Mill Swamp 0.08 0.63 - 0.29 0.63 0.79 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.29 - - North Fork - - - - - - - - 0.25 0.38 - - O'Neill Marsh 0.15 - - 0.25 - 0.60 - 0.25 0.30 0.35 - 0.05 Retaining Pond - 0.67 - 0.21 0.46 0.67 - 0.08 0.04 0.29 - - Snake House Wetland - - - - 0.08 0.08 - - - 0.08 - - N O . 4 6 , 2 0 1 6 Table 3. Seasonal calling chronology of anuran species detected on CAS at SERC. Data are pooled from 2014 and 2015. Values are maximum calling index values calculated for each species during a given sampling period. See Appendix 2 for species abbreviations. Sampling Period AMTO BUFR CGTF CHFR CRFR GRFR GRTF NGTF PIFR SLFR SPPE SPTO WOFR March 13-March 19 - - - - - - - - - 1 3 - 3 March 20-March 27 3 - - - - - - - 1 3 3 - 3 March 28-April 3 3 - - 2 - - - - 1 2 3 - - April 4-April 10 3 1 - 2 - - - 1 3 2 3 - - April 11-April-17 1 2 - - 1 1 - - 2 1 3 - - April 18-April25 1 2 3 - - 1 - 1 - 2 3 3 - April 26-May2 1 2 3 - 3 2 - - 2 2 3 - - T U P May 3-May 9 - 3 3 - 3 3 - - - 1 - - - P E R May 10-May 16 - 1 - - 3 1 - - - 1 - - - E T May 17-May 23 - 2 3 - 3 3 2 - - 1 - - - A L May 24-May 30 - 3 2 - 3 3 1 1 - - - - - .: A May 31-June 6 - 1 3 - 3 3 1 - - - - 3 - M P H June 7-June 13 - 2 2 - 3 3 2 - - - - - - B IA June 14-June20 - 2 2 - 3 3 2 - - - - - - N S June 21-June 27 - 1 2 - 3 3 1 - - - - - - U R June 28-July 4 - 1 1 - 3 3 3 - - - - - - V E Y July 5-July 11 - 1 1 - 3 3 1 - - - - - - July 12-July 18 - 1 1 - 2 3 2 - - - - - - July 19-July 25 - 1 - - - 1 - - - - - - - July 26-Aug 1 - 1 - - - 1 - - - - - - - Aug 2-Aug 8 - 1 1 - 1 3 - - - 1 - - - Aug 9-Aug 15 - 1 - - - 1 - - - - - - - Aug 16-Aug 22 - 1 - - - 1 - - - - - - - Aug 23-Aug 29 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Aug 30-Sep 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - --j 18 BANISTERIA NO. 46, 2016 Table 4. Number of egg masses detected, grouped by we recommend continued monitoring and searches for species and site. additional Upland Chorus Frog breeding areas at SERC. The only breeding site (Camp Letts Pond) used by the Site SPSA WOFR Eastern Spadefoot identified in this study contains Beaver Pond 65 2 water for short periods after major rain events, and is Camp Letts Pond 26 87 the closest study site to sandier areas associated with C02 Marsh 19 12 Chesapeake Bay shorelines. The lone Four-toed Contees Wetland 49 114 Salamander documented in this study was found inside Horseshoe Bog 11 530 a rotting log in a boggy area close to the O’Neill O'Neill Marsh 36 231 Wetland. This species occurs in and around boggy Snake House Wetland 3 1 ponds and floodplains, is almost always associated with sphagnum moss, and is patchily distributed even in not complete a second round of throws because the areas with suitable habitat (Klemens, 1993). We wetland dried just prior to sampling. The largest recommend further targeted sampling of likely habitats concentration of tadpoles appeared to be in the to fully access the occurrence of Four-toed Salamander shallower regions toward the edge of the wetland. We at SERC. did not find Eastern Spadefoot tadpoles or adults in Although not documented in this study, Northern 2015. Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata), Northern A total of 1,170 search minutes (19.5 hours) in 2014 Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuse us), and Mud and 2015 yielded three additional salamander species: Salamander (Pseudotriton montanus) were purportedly Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens; 3 sites). detected at SERC in the early 1980s (J. Lynch, SERC, Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus; unpubl. data). Additionally, the Maryland Biological 6 sites) and Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum; Stream Survey documented Northern Two-lined 4 sites). Spotted Salamander was detected at five Salamander (1997, 2008, and 2014) and Pseudotriton additional sites and one Four-toed Salamander sp. (2008) in tributaries of the North Fork Muddy (Hemidactylium scutatum) was found incidentally at a Creek, immediately adjacent to SERC (MBSS, 2015). sphagnum-rich bog ca. 200 m northeast of O’Neill Preferred habitats of these species vary, but in general, Wetland. All salamander species except the latter can they inhabit streams of varying gradients containing be found at the Beaver Pond. Contees Wetland and partially submerged cover and nearby damp, closed- Horseshoe Bog (both seasonal wetlands) contained canopy woodlands and vernal ponds (Bruce, 1975; see three of these species. Klemens, 1993). We conducted few time-constrained searches in habitats appropriate for these species. DISCUSSION Therefore, future sampling along North Fork Muddy Creek (where suitable habitat exists) may provide a Overview more accurate assessment of their presence at SERC. Fowler’s Toad {Ancixyrus fowled) was not detected SERC’s main campus and additional parcels in our study, but purportedly was found at SERC in the provide habitat for approximately 93% (13/14) of Anne early 1980s (J. Lynch, SERC, unpubl. data). This Arundel County’s anurans, and 56% (5/9) of its species is a subclimax community habitat specialist that salamanders. We also incidentally documented favors early successional (pine, pine-oak, or scrub) approximately 53% (21/40) of the county’s reptiles habitats with well-drained, sandy soils and open-canopy (Reed, 1956; MARA, 2015; Table 1). These numbers (both permanent and ephemeral) wetlands (Klemens, include sea turtles and historical records, but exclude 1993; Tupper & Cook, 2008). These habitats are scarce documented non-natives. In total, 39 species were at SERC. It is possible that natural successional found, 28 of which can be found in or near the Beaver changes since the early 1980s may have made SERC Pond. Although all species documented at SERC in this unsuitable for this species. However, it is more likely study can be found elsewhere in Anne Arundel County, that subadult American Toads (.Anaxyrus americanus) Upland Chorus Frog, Eastern Spadefoot, and Four-toed were misidentified as Fowler’s Toads. Therefore, we Salamander are uncommon in the county. Upland consider prior reports of Fowler’s Toad unreliable in Chorus Frog is under consideration for possible state the absence of additional supporting documentation. listing (MARA, 2015). We heard choruses of this Fowler’s Toad occurs elsewhere in Anne Arundel species at two adjacent, vernal sites (Horseshoe Bog County where its preferred habitat is more abundant and C02 Marsh) along the south side of Rhode River (MARA, 2015) (Fig. 1). Although this population appears to be small, Recently, a new species of frog, the Coughing Frog, TUPPER ET AL.: AMPHIBIAN SURVEY 19 or Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog (Lithobates kauffeldi), environmental variation. However, the direction and was described (Feinberg et al., 2014). Suitable habitats magnitude of these differences (particularly in for this species likely occur at SERC, but its status in American Bullfrog) are of interest because they support Maryland is not yet determined (MARA, 2015). a growing body of data indicating that climate warming Analyses of recordings of Leopard Frogs at SERC were is causing onset of anuran calling to occur earlier than confirmed as being Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates formerly known because minimum thresholds for sphenocephalus) by J. Feinberg (Rutgers University, calling activity also occur earlier (Gibbs & Breisch, New Brunswick, New Jersey). We are currently using 2001; Parmesan & Yohe, 2003; Ledneva et al, 2004; automated data recorders to determine if Coughing Com, 2005; Tupper et al, 2012). Although the precise Frog exists at SERC. effects of climate change on amphibians are yet to be determined, the majority of speculated consequences Anuran Call Surveys are negative (Gibbons et al, 2000; Corn, 2005; Parmesan, 2006). Therefore, continued long-term Anuran call surveys are an inexpensive and monitoring of anuran populations could help elucidate effective way of detecting anurans and monitoring their phenological changes that may result from climate long-term population trends (Weir & Mossman, 2005; change. Weir et al., 2009; Cook et al, 2011). Our work will Due to infrequent, explosive patterns of allow natural resource managers to initiate a citizen vocalization, it is difficult to detect Eastern Spadefoot science-based approach to anuran monitoring. Citizen with standardized anuran call surveys. We detected full science-generated data has been useful in a variety of choruses on two occasions in 2014, but none in 2015. monitoring programs (Conrad & Hilchey, 2011; To more accurately monitor populations of this species Dickenson et al., 2010). Community involvement in at SERC, anuran call surveys should be supplemented amphibian monitoring at SERC is necessary for with throw trapping of larvae. Surveyors could also monitoring to continue because there are currently no deviate from the standardized calling survey protocol funded amphibian monitoring initiatives at SERC. We and visit sites when vocalization is most likely to occur encourage readers to volunteer. (see Hansen, 1958; Klemens, 1993). Patterns in anuran vocalization are similar to other Although Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) Mid-Atlantic studies (Lee, 1973; Ernst, et al., 1997; is widespread throughout southern Anne Arundel Weir et. al, 2005; Tupper et. al 2012), However, a County, Gray Treefrog (H. versicolor) is typically noticeable variation occurred in American Bullfrog. found in more northern portions of the county and areas Onset of calling in this species occurred three weeks west of the Patuxent River (MARA, 2015). We earlier (a full month earlier if we consider 2016 data; documented Gray Treefrog at SERC, but calling 73rd vs. 112th day of the year) in our study than was activity was infrequent. Only one or two individuals recorded at Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, were detected in 2014, and this species has not been Virginia just five years prior (Tupper et al, 2012; see heard since. Its appearance may have corresponded also estimates of American Bullfrog detection with importation and planting of native shrubbery as probability by Weir et al., 2005). Onset of calling in part of a re-vegetation project in an area in front of the American Bullfrog from these Mid-Atlantic studies Mathias Wetland. occurred prior to, or immediately after, the earliest records of calling documented in North Carolina in Egg Mass Counts 1933 (Harper, 1935). Given the more southern latitude, we would expect early records of calling in North Egg mass counts are a cost-effective and accurate Carolina to reflect a corresponding earlier breeding way to monitor Wood Frog and Spotted Salamander phenology. However, the earliest record reported in populations (Crouch & Paton, 2000; Cook & Boland, Harper (1935) is 19 days later than our earliest 2005; Skidds et al, 2007). In the maximum loci method observation. Furthermore, when we compared the (Cook & Boland, 2005), three rounds of counting are breeding phenologies of 10 anuran species from SERC conducted across the breeding season of both species to the same species documented at Huntley Meadows and the maximum count obtained from any of the three Park in 2010 and 2011, we found that 90% called rounds is used as that year’s tally. In the Mid-Atlantic, earlier at SERC than they did at Huntley Meadows there is overlap between Southern Leopard Frog and Park. The unexpected differences to Harper (1935) may Wood Frog oviposition during the latter half of the simply be anecdotal, and the short-term differences Wood Frog breeding season (Brown & Jung, 2005). It between the breeding phenologies of anurans at SERC is difficult to differentiate between Wood Frog and and Huntley Meadows Park could be due to localized Southern Leopard Frog egg masses. Therefore, counts 20 BANISTERIA NO. 46, 2016 obtained from late-season samples may be unreliable. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Daytime calling anuran surveys conducted early in the calling season (see Crouch & Paton, 2000) may be a We would like to thank the following people for better means of monitoring Wood Frog populations field assistance: Sonya Boldaji, Danny Boothe, Nicole than egg mass counts. Cintas, Lauren Fuchs, David Graham, Kirk Goolsby, We found surprisingly few Spotted Salamander egg Elias Goolsby, Kristin Jayd, and Mike Novak. Northern masses after three rounds of egg mass counts at seven Virginia Community College Department of Math, sites. This species is positively associated with pond Science, and Engineering (Alexandria Campus), the hydroperiod, size, depth, and upland forest area within Northern Virginia Community College Educational 1 km of breeding sites, and negatively associated with Foundation, and Dan Gustafson provided financial and alluvium location (Skidds et al., 2007). Low abundance logistical support. Steve Roble and an anonymous may be due to normal population fluctuations, lack of reviewer provided critical feedback that helped to appropriate within-pond and upland habitat (Klemens, improve the manuscript. 1993; Egan & Paton, 2004; Skidds et ah, 2007), movement of alluvial deposits (Skidds et ah, 2007) LITERATURE CITED associated with development of adjacent habitats, or a combination of these variables. Berven, K. A. 1990. Factors affecting population Wood Frog egg masses were more abundant than fluctuations in larval and adult stages of the Wood Frog those of Spotted Salamander, however, over half were (Rana sylvatica). Ecology 71: 1599-1608. found at a single site (Horseshoe Bog). This site is a long-hydroperiod, temporary wetland without predatory Blaustein, A. R., & D. B. Wake. 1995. The puzzle of fishes. Most of this wetland contains persistent non- declining amphibian populations. Scientific American woody vegetation which provided attachment substrates 272: 52-57. for many of the masses. A large portion of the wetland also contains shrub cover, which is typically not Blaustein, A, R., D. B. Wake, & W. P. Sousa. 1994. associated with Wood Frog abundance and is Amphibian declines: judging stability, persistence and negatively associated with many other species. We susceptibility of populations to local and global suggest monitoring the expansion of shrub cover at this extinctions. Conservation Biology 8: 60-71. site. Ideally, at least half the wetland should remain free of woody emergent so that the physical and biological Brodman, R. 1995. Annual variation of breeding attributes remain suitable for reproduction of Wood success of two syntopic species of Ambystoma Frog and other anurans (Volpe, 1952; Werner & salamanders. Journal of Herpetology 29: 111-113. Glennemeier, 1999; Skelly et al., 2002; Tupper & Cook, 2008). Brodman, R. 2002. Twelve-year study monitoring two species of pond-breeding salamanders in northeast CONCLUSIONS Ohio. Ohio Journal of Science 102: 123-127. SERC’s main campus and additional parcels contain Brown, L. J., & R. E. Jung. 2005. An introduction to at least 93% of the anurans, 56% of the salamanders, mid-Atlantic seasonal pools. United States and 53% of the reptile species recorded from Anne Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Arundel County, Maryland. The breeding phenology Integrated Assessment. EPA/903/B-05/001. 92 pp. shift observed for American Bullfrog underscores the need for continued long-term monitoring. A more Bruce, R. C. 1975. Reproductive biology of the Mud concentrated sampling effort in streams is necessary to Salamander, Pseudotriton montanus in western South detect Northern Two-lined, Northern Dusky, and Carolina. Copeia 1975: 129-137. Eastern Mud Salamanders. As an aside, amphibian and reptile pathogens are present at SERC (SERC Conrad, C. C., & K. G. Hilchey. 2011. A review of unpublished data; Tupper et al., 2015). Heightened citizen science and community-based environmental biosecurity protocols should be established (see VHS monitoring: issues and opportunities. Environmental website for disinfection protocol; VHS, 2015) to reduce Monitoring and Assessment 176: 273-291. transmission between sites. TUPPER ET AL.: AMPHIBIAN SURVEY 21 Cook, R. P., & K. Boland. 2005. A comparison of Belvoir and Northern Virginia. Bulletin of the approaches to counting Spotted Salamander Maryland Herpetological Society 33: 1-62. (Ambystoma maculatum) egg masses in vernal ponds. Herpetological Review 36: 272-274. Feinberg J. A., C. E. Newman, G. J. Watkins-Colwell, M. D. Schlesinger, B. Zarate, B. R. Curry, H. B. Cook, R. P., T. A. Tupper, P. W. C. Paton, & B. C. Shaffer, & J. Burger. 2014. Cryptic diversity in Timm. 2011. 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