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The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 2, No. 2 Fall 2012 Page 1 of 30 TThhee CCaannaaddiiaann HHeerrppeettoollooggiisstt// LL’’HHeerrppééttoollooggiissttee CCaannaaddiieenn A joint publication of The Canadian Association of Herpetologists/Association Canadienne des Herpétologistes (ISSN 0847-1118) and The Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network/Réseau Canadien de Conservation des Amphibiens et des Reptiles (ISSN 1206-7814) Volume 2, Number 2 – Fall 2012 Table of Contents Executive Members of Societies ……………………………………………………………………………2 Instructions for Authors ……………………………………………………………………………………..2 Editorial Notes ………………………………………………………………………………………………3 Meetings …………………………………………………………………………………………………….4 Feature Article Northern Alligator Lizard - Lezard-alligator Boreal (Elgaria coerulea principis) By P. Rutherford………………………………………………………………………………………………8 Common Five-lined Skink - Scinque pentaligne (Plestiodon fasciatus). By C. Seburn and B. Howes……………………………………………………………………………………10 Field Notes Sharp-tailed Snake Discovery. By L. Anthony…………………………………………………………………11 Automated Audio Monitoring of Introduced American Bullfrogs in the Okanagan. By N. Lukey, M. Baxter, S. Ashpole……...……………………………………………………….…..12 Reviews …………………………………………………………………………………………….............14 Thesis Abstracts in Canadian Herpetology ………………………………………………………………...15 Recent Publications in Canadian Herpetology …………………………………………………………......16 News and Announcements …………………………………………………………………………………23 The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 2, No. 2 Fall 2012 Page 2 of 30 CCaannaaddiiaann AAssssoocciiaattiioonn ooff HHeerrppeettoollooggiissttss// AAssssoocciiaattiioonn CCaannaaddiieennnnee ddeess HHeerrppééttoollooggiisstteess AAmmpphhiibbiiaann aanndd RReeppttiillee CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn NNeettwwoorrkk// Current Executive RRéésseeaauu CCaannaaddiieenn ddee CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn ddeess President – Patrick Gregory AAmmpphhiibbiieennss eett ddeess RReeppttiilleess University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Secretary – Jacqueline Litzgus Current Board of Directors Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON Chairperson – Steve Mockford Treasurer – Patrick Gregory Acadia University, Wolfville, NS University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Past Chairperson – David Green Convenor and Board Member – David Green, Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, PQ Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, PQ Treasurer – Jose Lefebvre TCH Editor – Jacqueline Litzgus Acadia University, Wolfville, NS Book Review Editor – Joshua Amiel, Secretary – David Cunnington University of Sydney, Australia Vancouver, BC Directors at Large – Sara Ashpole (TCH Editor), Joe Crowley, David Galbraith, Tom Herman, Kris The Canadian Herpetologist (TCH) is a Kendell, Tana McDaniel, publication produced twice each year by the Canadian Association of Herpetologists and the Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network. Correspondence should be addressed to the Editors Instructions for Authors (Litzgus (CAH) and Ashpole (CARCNET)). Opinions expressed by authors contributing to The We will print articles and news of interest to Canadian Herpetologist are not necessarily shared by herpetologists in Canada. These may be in the form of the publication, its editors, or the two societies. short announcements or letters, or may be written as longer articles. We especially request news of your lab L’Herpétologiste Canadien (LHC) est une and current research activities, lists of your latest publication biannuelle publiée par l’Association publications (up to one year old), travel plans, new Canadienne des Herpétologistes et le Réseau Canadien students, grants, awards, fellowships, new books or book de Conservation des Amphibiens et des Reptiles. Faites reviews, trivia or concerns. Please send your parvenir votre correspondance aux Éditeurs (Litzgus submissions as MS Word documents as email (ACH) et Ashpole (RÉCCAR)). attachments to the Editor (Litzgus or Ashpole). Les opinions exprimées par les auteurs qui collaborent au L’Herpétologiste Canadien ne sont pas nécessairement partagées par la publication, ses éditeurs, ou les deux sociétés. The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 2, No. 2 Fall 2012 Page 3 of 30 EDITORIAL NOTES organization that has an important role to play in the conservation of our amphibians and reptiles. I would like Sara Ashpole to thank David Green who stepped in and served as the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON acting chair. While there he took the opportunity to [email protected] rewrite CARCNET’s Governing Documents and guide their approval by both the board and the membership. This has had a significant impact on the organization in It is already fall, but I am still buzzing from the World several ways. First it establishes a greater role for the Congress this past August. Pat Gregory and David Green membership in both the election of board members and organized a very successful and memorable conference – in participating in the operation of CARCNET through the most ever attended with 1675 registered participants greater participation in committees. Second, it representing 48 counties. The talks and posters were establishes a Vice-Chair who will be the next Chair, a outstanding and I appreciated hearing about research Chair, and a Past Chair; this provides CARCNET with a from far reaching places. Some of the highlights for clear line of succession. This might all sound a little dry myself include Richard Wassersug and Jim Bogart’s for an introductory message, but these changes are recognition for their contributions to Herpetology; important as they should make CARCNET a more vital watching Jose Lefebvre auction off Joe Crowley’s and responsive organization – thanks David. Blanding turtle blanket for $175. A great line was when the Elasmobrach Plenary speaker Lara Ferry said only So, don’t be surprised snake people up shark researchers for the most wicked if you are approached tattoos – meanwhile flashing a few extreme photos that to participate in a none of us would think unusual. CARCNET committee. In fact, if We are very excited to announce that our 2013 joint there is a committee CARCNET and CAH conference will be held next that you feel you fall in Sherbrooke, Quebec. If you are interested in could contribute to, volunteering with the preparations, including French feel free to contact translation of our website and supporting materials, you me, or the committee can email [email protected]. I would like to continue to chair. The Important encourage our student members to apply for bursaries Amphibian And and scholarships. This year, every CARCNET student Reptile Areas who applied received funds to assist with travel to the (IMPARA) program World Congress. CARCNET scholarship applications is being revitalized; for research or outstanding volunteer contributions to the study and conservation of Amphibians or Reptiles are so expect to see more Steve Mockford, Chair due 1 Dec. 2012. areas recognized in CARCNET the near future. Anyone can nominate an area for recognition, so if you Finally, it is wonderful to see CARCNET collaborating know of an area that is deserving of recognition (and with CAH more and I have enjoyed being co-editor with who doesn’t), visit the CARNET webpage and download Jackie and previously the editor of the CARCNET the nomination document. Boreal Dipnet. However, there is time for change and this will be my last edition as co-editor. Thank you to The Annual General Meeting took place at the World all the contributors over the years! Congress of Herpetology in Vancouver, BC. The conference was a great opportunity and CARCNET was well represented. At that meeting three new board Note from the CARCNET chair members were elected and, while their terms do not officially start until the New Year, I would like to by Steve Mockford welcome Scott Gillingwater, (Upper Thames River Acadia University, Wolfville, NS Conservation Authority, ON), Yohann Dubois [email protected] (Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, QC), and Jackie Litzgus (Laurentian University, Sudbury, I am pleased to have been afforded the opportunity to ON) to the board. Scott will become the new Vice-Chair. assume the position of Chair of CARCNET, and with it the opportunity to participate in directing a vital The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 2, No. 2 Fall 2012 Page 4 of 30 With David and the board having put the organization on issues loomed large but there was more. Symposia titles a new footing, I couldn’t have asked for a better time to were dominated by the Four Horsemen of the take over as Chair. I look forward to working with all of Apocalypse: war (invasion, eradication, translocation, you. reintroduction), famine (collapsing food webs), disease (chytrid, ranavirus, chelonian herpesvirus etc.), and death (species and populations disappearing at a rate explicable only by the previous factors + climate change, which was MEETINGS everywhere). Thus the scary phrase voiced outside every session: The New Normal. No longer hoping to fix things, many seemed resigned to simply coping with the disaster TCH will post announcements about upcoming upon us—and learning enough to deal with the coming herpetological meetings and provide reports of recently- ecological collapse. held meetings. Cavalier chemical practices of big agriculture are responsible for “colony collapse syndrome” in honeybees WORLD CONGRESS OF HERPETOLOGY and a precipitous decline in butterflies, but it now also VANCOUVER, BC appears that aerosolized, hormone-disrupting pesticides from California’s Central Valley—which grows 50 per #WCH2012: Apocalypse is the New Ecological cent of America’s food—are carried to high-altitude areas Normal that have seen massive frog die-offs. This montane paradigm also holds in Central and South America, areas by Leslie Anthony of the worst chytrid disasters. Research has found that the Whistler, BC fungus has long co-existed with amphibians, but new [email protected] strains are emerging and/or being moved around with invasive species to confront already immune- If you read my 2008 book, Snakebit: Confessions of a compromised animals. The unstoppable chytrid epidemic, Herpetologist you’ll know I poke fun at this motley sect, like the deformities, has more than one cause. but also hold them in great esteem. After all, they’re up Another take-home was that both aquatic and against a lot. At that point, our heroes were a decade into terrestrial ecosystems are on the edge globally, and the fight against Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid though studying proximal causes and celebrating local fungus), the microscopic meteor plowing through the conservation victories are fine, there’s an elephant in the world’s 6,000-plus amphibian species and leaving a trail room: every study points back to loss or degradation of of extinctions. They were battling big invasive species habitat. It’s simple: animals dwelling in non-optimal fires—global incursions of the Cane Toad and Bullfrog, conditions are already ecologically and genetically overrunning (ha ha) of Guam by the Asian Brown stressed; add a litany of toxic chemicals, a rapidly Treesnake, and an emergent population of Burmese changing climate, and a host of competing invasive Pythons in Florida’s Everglades that seemed more species and you have a formula for emerging disease, novelty than threat. Debate also lingered over disfigured collapsing food webs, population crashes, and extinctions. frogs that had become increasingly common in If I write Snakebit, Too someday, I hope it isn’t a agricultural ponds in the mid-nineties; something was eulogy. happening at a critical stage in development. Disease? A toxin? It would be uncovered that parasites—larvae of a common liver fluke—could cause the observed polymelia The recipient of the CAH's Rankin and polydactyly by burrowing into tadpoles while their Distinguished Herpetologist Award for 2012 was limbs were forming. But the reason parasites were so Dr. Richard Wassersug. prevalent, and the amphibians so susceptible, was exposure to chemicals: fertilizer in the former, immunity- destroying pesticides in the latter—both exacerbated by By Jacqueline Litzgus increasing water temperatures tied to a warming climate. Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON To catch up on the latest swell research into all this [email protected] fun, I attended the 7th World Congress of Herpetology in Vancouver. Though admirably executed by esteemed The award is presented by the Canadian Association of snake-wrangler, Pat Gregory, the almost 2,000 Herpetologists/Association Canadienne des Herpétologistes in recognition of outstanding service to participants seemed uncharacteristically subdued, their the advancement of herpetology in Canada. The award usual posturing replaced by palpable gloom. Funding The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 2, No. 2 Fall 2012 Page 5 of 30 is named in honour of jeffersonianum and A. laterale. These salamanders have the late Michael a unique genetic system. Each individual carries the Rankin. Richard genomes of more than one bisexual species of received a B.A. in Ambystoma. But, as Jim figured out, they are not hybrids. Geology and Biology They have a nuclear genomic constitution consisting of from Tufts University at least one genome like that of Ambystoma laterale (L) in 1967 and a Ph.D. and up to four other genomes from A. laterale and any of from University of four other species. They are, effectively, sexual parasites, Chicago in 1973. and require the sperm of diploid males of related, co- The majority of his occurring bisexual species of Ambystoma in order to scientific career has reproduce. This reliance exposes them to a unique threat been spent studying since several of their sexual host populations are the functional considered endangered or in decline. Unisexual morphology and Ambystoma usually outnumber their sexual host species. behaviour of anuran However, since they cannot reproduce, and therefore larvae, and he has cannot survive as a population, without the presence of Richard Wassersug, dedicated himself to diploid males of their sexual hosts, the loss of the Distinguished Herpetologist science diploids means eventual doom for the unisexual Photo provided by UBC communication. population. Richard’s more recent work focuses on prostate cancer and the psychology of androgen deprivation. Richard spent most of his career at Dalhousie University in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, arriving there in 1981. Now in semi-retirement, he holds a Visiting Professor position in the Department of Urologic Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Richard was presented with the Rankin Award by CAH President Pat Gregory at the World Congress of Herpetology in Vancouver in August 2012. Congratulations Richard! CARCNET Blue Racer Award 2012 By David Green Jim Bogart, Blue Racer Recipient, Hilton Falls Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, PQ Photo by Jo Ellen Bogart [email protected] The CARCNET Blue Racer Award is presented to an Early in his career, Jim, like most scientists at the time, individual in recognition of cumulative contributions to was not fully aware of the vulnerabilities of amphibian research and conservation of amphibians and reptiles populations and their decline. But he quickly realized Canada. The award for 2012 was presented to Dr. Jim that to study these animals was not enough – they had to Bogart, University of Guelph, during the WCH7 plenary be protected, too. Consequently, Jim devoted a great by David Green. Jim has devoted his career to deal of his time towards conservation issues, mainly understanding the evolution and diversity of amphibians directed towards the salamanders he has studied so and, in the process, became a highly respected and intently for so long. He is Chair of the Jefferson internationally recognized expert in amphibian genetics Salamander Recovery Team and he has worked with and president of the Herpetologists’ League. His local organizations such as the Ontario Vernal Pool primary contribution to science is his monumental work Association and the Friends of the Cawthra Bush to unraveling the genetic and reproductive peculiarities of make people aware of salamanders and their importance. the diploid-polyploid complex of hybridogenic and He has worked internationally with his former graduate unisexual salamanders related to Ambystoma student, Barbara Zimmerman, to establish a scientific The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 2, No. 2 Fall 2012 Page 6 of 30 research station with the Kayapo Indians of Brazil in aid decrease threats and restore and enhance habitats. The of the study and conservation of rainforest amphibians in British Columbia Western Painted Turtle Working their territory. Group formed in 2009 as a way to share knowledge and Through his graduate program and undergraduate resources, standardize survey and monitoring teaching in Herpetology at the University of Guelph, Jim methodology, test and improve habitat restoration trained a generation of Canadian herpetologists, and methods, collaborate on research, share public education former students of Jim’s who have gone on to contribute and outreach materials, and collaborate on grant writing service in aid of conservation of amphibians include and fund raising proposals. Members come from diverse Barbara Zimmerman, Les Lowcock, Barb Mable, Jim organizations including government agencies, non- Austin, Karine Beriault and David Green. Now that he government environmental groups, stewardship has retired as a professor, Jim has agreed to take on the organizations, and academia. The group meets once or job of co-chair of the COSEWIC Amphibians and twice a year to coordinate projects/initiatives and Reptiles Subcommittee. Jim’s lifetime of devotion to sometimes hold training workshops. The group also amphibians makes him a worthy recipient of the Blue serves as a source of expertise and rapid response if Racer Award. there are threats or issues concerning Western Painted Turtles in B.C. Looking forward, the group is hoping to host the first Western Painted Turtle survey blitz in B.C. CARCNET Silver Salamander Award 2012 on World Turtle Day, 23 May 2013. Purnima Govindarajulu BC Ministry of the Environment, Victoria, BC CARCNET Student Awards [email protected] By Joe Crowley The CARCNET Silver Salamander Award is presented Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, ON to an individual or an organization in recognition of a [email protected] specific contribution to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Canada. The award for 2012 was Since this year's CARCNET meeting took place at the presented to Purnima Govindarajulu in recognition of World Congress of Herpetology, there was a CARCNET the BC Western Painted Turtle Working Group by student award session for students to present their Sara Ashpole during the CARCNET AGM. research on topics relevant to Canadian amphibian and reptile conservation and compete for the CARCNET Best Student Platform Presentation Award. Eligible posters were also judged for the CARCNET Best Student Poster Award. This year's CARCNET posters and presentations were excellent and covered a range of issues related to Canadian amphibian and reptile conservation, including landscape genetics, community ecology, threat assessment and research into specific management strategies for species at risk. Presentations and posters were scored against a number of criteria including scientific design, clarity, content, relevance to conservation and presenter performance or layout. We would like to congratulate Christina Davy, PhD candidate at the Royal Ontario Museum, for being this year's winner of the CARCNET Best Student Platform Presentation Award. Her talk about landscape genetics Western Painted Turtle of Spotted Turtle populations in Ontario provided a Photo by Purnima Govindarajulu glimpse into the past, present and future of this species in Ontario and it was delivered exceptionally well (clear, concise and with lots of enthusiasm). This year's The Western Painted Turtle is a species of CARCNET Best Student Poster Award went to James conservation concern in British Columbia and there are a Baxter-Gilbert, MSc candidate at Laurentian University, number of efforts under way to conserve the species, The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 2, No. 2 Fall 2012 Page 7 of 30 for his informative and interesting poster on road monitored. If the exclusion structures (e.g., fences) of ecology and the effects of a major highway (and the the new highway are effective, animals should be proposed mitigation) on several reptile species at risk in prevented from accessing the road and we should Ontario. Congratulations James! Both Christina and therefore observe a reduction in road mortality. Radio James received an award of $250. The detailed abstracts telemetry, automated PIT tag readers, and wildlife for Christina's presentation and James' poster can be read cameras will be used to monitor reptile movements below. We would like to thank everyone who around and under the road via population connectivity participated in the presentation and poster sessions and structures (e.g., eco-passages). Additionally, a look forward to another great meeting next year. “willingness to utilize” experiment will be conducted, which will assess turtle behaviour in response to the eco- passage. If the population connectivity measures are effective, movements between habitats on either side of road, and use of the eco-passages are expected. Conclusions drawn from our study will allow development of recommendations for future road mitigation structures to reduce road mortality, and counteract the decline of reptile biodiversity. Platform Presentation Christina M. Davy. Genotypes and ghosts - comparative landscape genetics of a northern turtle community. (Supervisor: Robert W. Murphy, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON) James Baxter-Gilbert, CARCNET Poster Award Photo by Jolene Laverty Poster Presentation James Baxter-Gilbert. On The Road Again: Measuring the Effectiveness of Mitigation Structures for Reducing Reptile Road Mortality. (Supervisors: David Lesbarrères and Jacqueline D. Litzgus, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON) Many reptile populations are negatively impacted by roads, especially because seasonal migratory movements increase individual encounters with traffic. The Highway 69/400 corridor, connecting southern and northern Ontario, runs along the eastern Georgian Bay Coast, one of Canada’s richest areas of reptile biodiversity. A section of new 4-lane highway has been designed to Christina Davy, CARCNET Platform Award include mitigation structures (e.g., eco-passages, fences) Photo by Amelia K. Whitear intended to lessen the detrimental effects this major Conservation and landscape genetics analyses of reptiles roadway poses to numerous Species-at-Risk (SAR) often assume that related species will respond to factors reptiles. Using a Before-After-Control-Impact-Paired which can influence their genetic structure (for example, (BACIP) study design, we will quantify reptile road population fragmentation) in a similar way. There are mortality present on the existing, non-mitigated 2-lane many conservation genetics studies of individual snake, highway (in spring and summer 2012) and compare it to lizard or turtle species, but data from multiple species mortality on the new, mitigated 4-lane highway (in are not often integrated. We use landscape genetics spring and summer 2013). In both years of the study, a analyses to investigate variation in genetic population control site without any mitigation measures will also be structure among three turtle species with differing The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 2, No. 2 Fall 2012 Page 8 of 30 behaviours, life history strategies and degrees of Distribution: In Canada they occur in southern British endangerment and population fragmentation. Using Columbia, north to Clearwater and Stuie including microsatellite genotype data from Spotted Turtles, eastern Vancouver Island and several Gulf Islands. They Blanding’s Turtles and Snapping Turtles we test are found as far east as Creston, British Columbia. In the hypotheses about the genetic effects of population United States they are found south along the coasts of fragmentation on these three species. We also use Washington, Oregon and California to Little Sur River standard landscape genetic analyses to test hypotheses in Monterrey County and in the Sierra Nevada past about the relative influence that major landscape features Sequoia National Forest, Kern County. They occur on in southern Ontario have had on the population structure several islands off the coasts of Washington and of each species and discuss important similarities and California. Their distribution extends east to the north tip differences between them. of Idaho and northwestern Montana. General Habitat Requirements: They can be found in dry woodland, in grassland, along the banks of creeks, CARCNET Travel Bursary 2012 and on ocean beaches. They are often associated with rocky outcroppings, talus slopes, northern and montane coniferous forests, and streams. In addition, this species thrives in disturbed areas, such as logging mills, hydrocuts and clearcuts, where there is an abundance of surface debris. Critical Habitat Characteristics: This species requires rocks and surrounding vegetation for hiding and they have high site-fidelity. Basking typically occurs in protected areas such as crevices or under rock cover. They are often found on forest edges or in forests but their association with forests is not clear. Hibernation requires access to rock crevices below the frost-line. Reproduction: In British Columbia, Northern Alligator Lizards are viviparous with an unknown mating system. Females breed the third spring after birth and breed Congratulations to (clockwise top left) Lauren Stoot every year; male breeding age is unknown. Females may (photo by N. Cairns), Laura Gardiner (photo by M. breed until seven years of age; males as old as eight McDermid), Julia Riley (photo by S. Boyle), and years of age have been captured. There are no mating Amanda Xuereb (missing) recipients of the CARCNET displays; males actively pursue females. Copulation is travel bursary, WCH7 Vancouver, BC. likely a risky undertaking as it may take place in the open and may continue for up to twelve hours. Average clutch size is five, ranging from two to eight young. FEATURE ARTICLES Reproductive females are site-faithful; these sites may provide protection from predators and necessary thermal requirements to complete gestation. Northern Alligator Lizard - Lezard-alligator Boreal (Elgaria coerulea principis) Phenology: In British Columbia, animals emerge from hibernation in mid-April. Mating takes place shortly By Pamela Rutherford after emergence from hibernation from mid-April to late- Brandon University, Brandon, MB May. Young are born from mid-August to mid- [email protected] September. Animals enter hibernation in late-September. The active period is extended in United States Status/Protection in Canada and globally: COSEWIC populations. (NAR), British Columbia (S4), Canada (T5), Global (G5). Feeding: They are diurnal foragers and typically active in late afternoon. Adults eat larger insects (beetles, The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 2, No. 2 Fall 2012 Page 9 of 30 caterpillars, and grasshoppers), spiders, snails, scorpions, afternoon presumably when their body temperatures and millipedes. They will eat stinging and biting have reached some threshold. animals, although invertebrates having offensive secretions seem to be avoided. It is likely that Economic/social importance: Their dull colour and invertebrates are consumed in available proportions, but secretive nature makes them unattractive and difficult for food consumption in nature has not been studied. most people to capture. British Columbian populations Newborn lizards likely eat smaller insects, although little of this species are at the northern limit of the range is documented about their food habits, even in captivity. making them genetically important to the species and possibly susceptible to extinction. Predators: Known predators include: racers, rattlesnakes, garter snakes, rubber boas, shrikes, red- Known/potential vulnerabilities: Their site-fidelity and tailed hawks, and cats. They use their tail as a decoy and dependency on rock and vegetative cover makes them are likely to autotomize their tail if captured. vulnerable to modification of their localized habitat. Some habitat has been removed for road construction Motility: At Creston, British Columbia, hibernation and quarrying. They are disturbed by people moving occurs in the summer habitat with no seasonal migration, near basking sites and this disturbance may be although movement away from hibernation sites has detrimental to gravid females. In addition, the been reported for some United States populations. They thermoregulatory constraints of gravid females means are site-faithful; individuals are typically recaptured that a cool summer may reduce reproductive output. within ten metres of a previous capture, both within a There is likely little road mortality; although roads may summer season and from year to year. Movements of act as barriers. Illegal collecting appears minimal based greater than one hundred metres are rare. on my personal experience and not damaging to the population. Predators include feral and domestic cats, in addition to natural predators such as rubber boas and small raptors. Suggested references: COSEWIC. 2002. COSEWIC Status Report on the Northern Alligator Lizard Elgaria coerulea in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 32 pp. Fitch, H.S. 1935. Natural history of the alligator lizards. Transactions of the Academy of Sciences St. Louis 29: 1-38. Rutherford, P.L. 2002. Costs of reproduction in a temperate-zone lizard, Elgaria coerulea. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. Rutherford, P.L. 2004. Proximate mechanisms that contribute to female-biased sexual size dimorphism in an anguid lizard. Can. J. Zool. 82 (5): 817-822. Rutherford, P.L. and P.T. Gregory. 2003. Habitat use and movement patterns of northern alligator lizards Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea) and western skinks (Eumeces Photo by Pam Rutherford skiltonianus) in southeastern British Columbia. J. Herp. 37 (1): 98-106. Stewart, J.R. 1985. Growth and survivorship in a Other important behaviours or characteristics: In California population of Gerrhonotus coeruleus, British Columbia, Northern Alligator Lizards spend with comments on intraspecific variation in adult much of their time in the soil and leaf litter and are female size. Am. Midl. Nat. 113: 30-44. uncommon in the open. Individuals are most easily Vitt, L.J. 1973. Reproductive biology of the Anguid located in early spring during the breeding season. lizard (Gerrhonotus coeruleus principis). Gravid females are easily located in late summer on a Herpetologica 29: 176-184. cooler day. Unlike many reptiles they are less likely to bask in early morning and are most active in mid- The Canadian Herpetologist Vol. 2, No. 2 Fall 2012 Page 10 of 30 Common Five-lined Skink - Scinque pentaligne Reproduction: The Five-lined Skink is oviparous with a (Plestiodon fasciatus) polygamous mating system. Males seek and defend potential mates from intruders and can be aggressive By Carolyn N.L. Seburn1 and Briar J. Howes2 towards other males during the breeding season. Based on 1Canadian Wildlife Service, Gatineau, QC genetic data, multiple paternity has been documented in a 2Parks Canada, Gatineau, QC Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population. In Ontario, females [email protected],[email protected] breed the second spring after hatching. Males are sexually mature at that time but may not necessarily have mating Status/Protection in Canada and globally: Designated opportunities. The average clutch size is 9 eggs and Special Concern in Ontario, Endangered (Carolinian breeding is presumed to be annual. The reproductive life population) and Special Concern (Great Lakes/St. span is unknown but it is unlikely that many individuals in Lawrence population) in Canada. S3 in Ontario, N3 in the wild live beyond 5 years. Females excavate nest Canada, G5. chambers under cover or within logs or stumps. Nest sites must have sun exposure and be large enough to resist Distribution: The Canadian distribution is limited to two desiccation. More than one female may nest in the same disjunct series of populations in Ontario: 1) area or even in the same nest. Females brood the eggs southwestern Ontario (Carolinian population) and, 2) until they hatch or shortly thereafter, tending to them to central Ontario (Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population), maintain appropriate moisture and thermal levels and along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield from defending them against predators. Georgian Bay east to the St. Lawrence River. While the two series of populations belong to the same Phenology: In Ontario, emergence from hibernation takes evolutionary (mitochondrial DNA) lineage, they show place from mid to late April. Peak breeding is in late May considerable genetic divergence. Moreover, the or early June. Eggs are laid in July and hatch 3-5 weeks Carolinian and Great Lakes/St. Lawrence populations later. Males appear to aestivate in late summer and adults belong to different biogeographic regions and have tend to enter hibernation in late September. Hatchlings distinct habitat and microhabitat requirements. The may be active a few weeks later. species is the most widely distributed lizard in eastern North America, occurring in the eastern United States from Vermont to Minnesota, south to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. General Habitat Requirements: The species is found within the eastern deciduous forest region of North America. In Canada it is limited to open deciduous forests and forest clearings, and inhabits two very different types of habitat. The Carolinian population is found near Lakes Huron and Erie, where it uses vegetated sand dunes. The Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population is found along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, where it inhabits open rocky areas. Microhabitat Characteristics: The species is generally found in open areas that are early successional habitats. Five-lined Skink Basking usually occurs in protected situations such as Photo by Scott Gillingwater crevices, small openings under cover or on trees and shrubs. Hibernation requires access to soil or rock crevices below the frost line. Access to morning sunlight Feeding: Skinks are active foragers and feed on insects and surface water also appears to be important. This such as crickets, beetles, moths and flies as well as snails, species requires relatively large cover objects such as spiders and earthworms. They forage in leaf litter and in moderately decayed logs, boards and large rocks, for trees and shrubs. Adults may be cannibalistic on eggs or hiding and nesting. In the Carolinian population, hatchlings. individuals use woody debris as shelter. In the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population, individuals are often Predators: Known predators include shrews, weasels, associated with cover rock located on open rock outcrops snakes, hawks and cats but it is likely that any generalist

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Convenor and Board Member – David Green,. Redpath Joe Crowley, David Galbraith, Tom Herman, Kris. Kendell, Tana . exposure to chemicals: fertilizer in the former, immunity- internationally recognized expert in amphibian genetics.
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