Vernal Pool Amphibians

Frogs and toads

�Wood Frogs are obligate vernal pool breeders�American Toads, Spring Peepers, Chorus,

Leopard, and Gray Treefrogs are facultative�Have marked fidelity to natal pool�Only males vocalize, and only during breeding season

(both sexes have alarm calls)

�Wood Frogs are obligate vernal pool breeders�American Toads, Spring Peepers, Chorus,

Leopard, and Gray Treefrogs are facultative�Have marked fidelity to natal pool�Only males vocalize, and only during breeding season

(both sexes have alarm calls)

Ohio EPA ratings of ecological sensitivity of vernal pool amphibians

Salamanders

•Smallmouth 4•Unisexual hybrids 5•Jefferson 6•Eastern Newt 6•Spotted 8•Marbled 8•Tiger 9•Four-toed 10•Blue-spotted 10

Frogs and Toads

•American Toad 2•N. Spring Peeper 3•Western Chorus Frog 4•Northern Leopard Frog 4•Gray Treefrog 4•Wood Frog 7

Wood Frog Wood Frog –– RanaRana sylvaticasylvatica

Wood Frog pair in amplexusWood Frog pair in Wood Frog pair in amplexusamplexus

NewlyNewly--laid egg masslaid egg mass

�Explosive breeders in mid-late March�Females often lay eggs together in “rafts”�Eggs laid at water surface�Ohio’s champion frost-hardy amphibian�Disappearing in Ohio, possibly gone � in far NW part of state�Ohio EPA has repatriation program

Egg hatchState distribution maps from ohioamphiobians.com

Leopard Frog Leopard Frog –– RanaRana pipienspipiens••Only breed in Only breed in semipermanentsemipermanent poolspools••Late April breeding seasonLate April breeding season••Disappearing in OhioDisappearing in Ohio Gray Gray TreefrogTreefrog –– HylaHyla versicolorversicolor

••Champion color changerChampion color changer••Later breeders (mostly MayLater breeders (mostly May--June)June)••Breed in longBreed in long--lasting poolslasting pools

How many frogs?

Spring Peeper Spring Peeper –– PseudacrisPseudacris crucifercrucifer�Very small (1 inch) but very loud – sound amplified by gular pouch�Live in moist woods and climb a foot or so up into vegetation�Breed from early March to mid-April

“X” marks the species

Cluster of egg masses

Newly-laid eggs attached to stem

Giving it all he’s got!

Western Chorus Frog Western Chorus Frog –– PseudacrisPseudacris triseriatatriseriata

•About 1-1/4 inch long•Breeds from early March to mid-April•Call sounds like fingers raking a metal comb•Call amplified by gular pouch

••About 1About 1--1/4 inch long1/4 inch long••Breeds from early March to midBreeds from early March to mid--AprilApril••Call sounds like fingers raking a metal combCall sounds like fingers raking a metal comb••Call amplified by Call amplified by gulargular pouchpouch

adultEmbryos developing in egg mass

toads

Eggs laid in stringsEggs laid in strings

Egg massEgg mass

•To about 3 inches in length•Breeds in April to early May•Utilizes a wide variety of breeding habitats•One female can lay 12,000 eggs!

•To about 3 inches in length•Breeds in April to early May•Utilizes a wide variety of breeding habitats•One female can lay 12,000 eggs!

American Toad –Bufo (Anaxurus) americanus

Fowler’s Toad –Bufo (A.) fowleri

SalamandersSalamanders

General salamander information:

•Utilize various upland habitats•Usually temporary visitors to vernal pools•Larvae have external gills and quickly grow legs (front legs first)•Some use vernal pools for breeding, but can use other habitats•Silent breeders; use pheromones to attract females•Larvae must transform into adults before pool dries•Larvae are top vernal pool predators•All salamander species are entirely predatory and carnivorous

(Insects, worms, spiders, crustaceans, mollusks)•Preyed on by birds, raccoons, snakes

General salamander information:General salamander information:

••Utilize various upland habitatsUtilize various upland habitats••Usually temporary visitors to vernal poolsUsually temporary visitors to vernal pools••Larvae have external gills and quickly grow legs (front legs firLarvae have external gills and quickly grow legs (front legs first)st)••Some use vernal pools for breeding, but can use other habitatsSome use vernal pools for breeding, but can use other habitats••Silent breeders; use pheromones to attract femalesSilent breeders; use pheromones to attract females••Larvae must transform into adults before pool driesLarvae must transform into adults before pool dries••Larvae are top vernal pool predatorsLarvae are top vernal pool predators••All salamander species are entirely predatory and carnivorousAll salamander species are entirely predatory and carnivorous

(Insects, worms, spiders, crustaceans, mollusks)(Insects, worms, spiders, crustaceans, mollusks)••Preyed on by birds, raccoons, snakesPreyed on by birds, raccoons, snakes

salamander larvae prey…

…and predators

protists

crustaceans

mayfly larvae

fly larvae

mosquito larvae

dragonfly larva water scorpion beetle larvae

paramecia

rotifers

euglena

fairy shrimp

isopodsamphipodscopepods

cladocerans

ostracods

insects

Aquatic adult

Facultative Species –Eastern Spotted Newt

larva

amplexusEft stage

•Prefer permanent to semipermanent pools•Breeds in April•Terrestrial eft stage lasts several years•Can leave pool during dry periods•Male has tubercles on legs to grasp female•Skin is highly toxic

Notophthalmus viridescens

National distribution maps from ARMI atlas (USGS)

biology.astate.edubiology.astate.edu

Four-toed Salamander – Hemidactylium scutatum

�Species of special concern in Ohio�Needs undisturbed forests�Mostly found with sphagnum moss; �eggs laid in moss and larvae drop

into water when hatched�2-3 inches long, slender, with shield-type

markings on back and salt-and-pepper belly

Female brooding eggs in sphagnumFemale brooding eggs in sphagnum Sphagnum moss

obligate species: Ambystomids (mole salamanders)��Live underground or under cover most of the yearLive underground or under cover most of the year��Will emerge on wet nights to forage for food on forest floorWill emerge on wet nights to forage for food on forest floor��Sustained temperatures above ~75 degrees are fatalSustained temperatures above ~75 degrees are fatal��Life span of ~12 (Smallmouth) to ~25 (Tiger) yearsLife span of ~12 (Smallmouth) to ~25 (Tiger) years��Woodland habitat usually moist; Jefferson prefers higher woodsWoodland habitat usually moist; Jefferson prefers higher woods��Several species may share the same pondSeveral species may share the same pond

Eastern Tiger Salamander Eastern Tiger Salamander ––AmbystomaAmbystoma tigrinumtigrinum tigrinumtigrinum••Needs mature forestsNeeds mature forests••Largest of Largest of ambystomidsambystomids –– to about 9 inchesto about 9 inches••Largely extirpated from northern OhioLargely extirpated from northern Ohio

fwie.fw.vt.edufwie.fw.vt.edu

�Animals emerge from underground during warm late winter/early spring rain events�Smallmouth emerge first – even in warm January spells, but more usually in early March�Spotteds are latest – often early April�Migrate up to several hundred yards to ponds; males arrive a few days before females�Males produce a pheromone that excites female breeding response�Vents swell during breeding – the males’ more than the females’�Animals pair off at night, the male nudging pheromones into female’s skin with his snout�Male deposits up to several dozen spermatophores on pond substrate (leaves, twigs)�Fertilization is internal; sperm extremely sensitive to water chemistry

�Animals emerge from underground during warm late winter/early spring rain events�Smallmouth emerge first – even in warm January spells, but more usually in early March�Spotteds are latest – often early April�Migrate up to several hundred yards to ponds; males arrive a few days before females�Males produce a pheromone that excites female breeding response�Vents swell during breeding – the males’ more than the females’�Animals pair off at night, the male nudging pheromones into female’s skin with his snout�Male deposits up to several dozen spermatophores on pond substrate (leaves, twigs)�Fertilization is internal; sperm extremely sensitive to water chemistry

spermatophores

Female vent

Male vent

�About 6 inches in length, female > male�April breeding season (but weather dependent)�Egg masses firm, gelatinous, globular, about 4 inches in diameter�Innner translucent egg sac enveloped in clear (sometimes milky) matrix�Masses sometimes greenish (öophilic algus)�Widely distributed throughout Ohio, but becoming less common

Spotted Salamander –Ambystoma maculatumSpotted Salamander –Ambystoma maculatum

Marbled Salamander – Ambystoma opacumMarbled Salamander – Ambystoma opacum�Only autumn-breeding ambystomid�Female excavates nest depression in dry pool, then�Broods eggs until rains have substantially filled pool�Larvae hatch in late fall and become predatory on other ambystomid larvae

Female Marbled brooding eggsFemale Marbled brooding eggs

Blue-spotted Salamander – Ambystoma laterale••Northern in Northern in distribution;Ohiodistribution;Ohio endangered speciesendangered species••Found in Ohio only in one or a few locations in Toledo areaFound in Ohio only in one or a few locations in Toledo area••Often misidentified with Smallmouth, Jefferson, and spOften misidentified with Smallmouth, Jefferson, and sp’’s (see below)s (see below)

Smallmouth Salamander – Ambystoma texanum

••Very short snoutVery short snout••Lower jaw equals or protrudes beyond upperLower jaw equals or protrudes beyond upper••Toes relatively shortToes relatively short••Markings climb up onto backMarkings climb up onto back••LichenLichen--like flecks bluish when young, fading with agelike flecks bluish when young, fading with age••Earliest breeder of Earliest breeder of ambystomidsambystomids••Egg clusters looser than Spotted, ~several dozen/massEgg clusters looser than Spotted, ~several dozen/mass••Most common Most common ambystomidambystomid in our area (but see below)in our area (but see below)

Greg Lipps

Jefferson Salamander Jefferson Salamander –– AmbystomaAmbystoma jeffersonianumjeffersonianum

�Snout larger and toes longer than Smallmouth�Bluish flecking more restricted to sides�Egg cluster loose, ~cylindrical, ~200/mass�Present in NE Ohio, mostly on Allegheny Plateau �Absent on NW Ohio (southerly/Appalachian distribution)�Likes drier woods than other ambystomids

Who the heck am I, anyhow?Unnamed Unnamed ““spsp”” –– probably probably 2 Smallmouth, 1 Blue2 Smallmouth, 1 Blue--spottedspotted

Unisexual hybrid polyploids

�Have three or more sets of chromosomes�Populations are all-female�No fertilization of egg by sperm, but�Sperm necessary to initiate mitosis in egg�Egg clusters very small (~2-10 eggs)�Many genetic combinations�Reproduction and science poorly understood�Globally rare but no legal protection; disappearing fast!

KellysKellys Island Salamander:Island Salamander:1 tiger, 1 smallmouth, 1 tiger, 1 smallmouth, one Blueone Blue--spotted, 1 Jeffersonspotted, 1 Jefferson

TremblayTremblay’’s Salamander:s Salamander:1 Blue1 Blue--spotted, 2 Jeffersonspotted, 2 Jefferson

Greg Lipps

Silvery SalamanderSilvery Salamander2 Blue2 Blue--spotted, 1 Jeffersonspotted, 1 Jefferson

Comparison of some different eggsSmallmouth

sp

Spotted

“clutch” of Spotted eggs

Jefferson

Wood Frog “raft” of Wood Frog eggs

inner jelly

embryo

5-10 cm below surface attached to vegetation or on bottom

~1/3.4looseelongate, ovate2-5

30-50Chorus Frog

5-10 cm below surface attached to vegetation

1.1/2/5looseelongate, ovate2-5

~700 (-1000)Spring Peeper

At surface; in communal rafts

1.9/6.5FirmGlobular7.5-10.0 cm

500-1000Wood Frog

2.7/5.0Very looseIrregular1 – 8 (-19); variableUnisexual hybrids (sp’s)

2.0 – 2.1/3.5Very loose (like raw egg white)

Irregular, elongate4-6 (-30), but many masses

Smallmouth

below water surface(all vernal ambystomids)

2.0 -2.1/3.5SoftCylindrical2.5 D x 3.5 L

8-55; Ave. ~15; many

masses

Jefferson S.

females deposit masses together in a clutch

2.0 – 2.5/6-7Thick, firmGlobular60-200; few massesSpotted S.

otheregg size (mm) inner/outer

Mass textureMass shapeMass size (cm)

Eggs/massspecies

W. Chorus

S. Peeper

For more information:For more information: Visit www.ohioamphibians.comwww.fowl.org

Visit www.ohioamphibians.comwww.fowl.org

Thanks to Greg Lipps for permission to use his photosThanks to Greg Lipps for permission to use his photos

Happy Monitoring!Happy Monitoring!