Holland College Students assisting with the monitoring project.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this exercise is to study amphibians and reptiles within the Macphail property. Although amphibians and reptiles are important components of many ecosystems, they tend to be overlooked in land management considerations. Biologists have only become concerned about conditions of these animals and their habitats within the last ten years. Information on amphibian and reptile abundance and diversity helps determine the relative health of ecosystems. For example, abundance and diversity of amphibians and reptiles fluctuates directly with changes in composition and amount of microhabitats. These microhabitat changes often result from land management practices (Jones 1981).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The study of the Macphail property commenced on May 5 and continued until June 1, 1992. Due to a lack of time, the whole property could not be studied in detail. Therefore, the following four specific areas of the Macphail property were chosen to be studied in detail: 1) Pool area (mature white spruce stand surrounding pool); 2) bog (beside railway tracks); 3) open stream (running through clearcut); and 4) stream running through mature forest. This would allow each area to be surveyed on the same day.

A description of the four study areas are as follows:

1. Pool area. The pool area is mostly surrounded by white spruce (Picea glauca). Lower vegetation consists mostly of speckled alder (Alnus rugosa). Land surrounding the pool areas is swampy and wet. There is little in the line of fallen vegetation.
2. The bog area. The bog area had little canopy cover, less than ten percent. The bog was bordered by a railway line. The area was flat, the only slope being from the bog up to the railway. There were a few spruce trees linking the bog to the railway. The outer parameter of the bog consisted of dead white spruce and Eastern larch (Larix laricina).
3. The open stream area (regeneration). This is an areas where approximately 50 feet of mud flats border the stream on both sides. There is little cover on the roadside of the stream because of a clearcut over ten years ago. This side of the stream does, however, have a thick hedge of trees bordering the mud flat. The mud flat is created because this area is dammed up in the summer months and let go by Fish & Wildlife in the winter months. There are many piles of logs where the clearcut took place.
4. Stream running through mature forest. The sample area has about 90% canopy cover. There are many white spruce present. The undergrowth is mainly balsam fir (Abies balsamea).

Literature was gathered to determine what species exist or may occur on Prince Edward Island. Literature was also gathered (Appendix 1) to learn important components and attributes that would help determine amphibian and reptile abundance.

There are generally two ways to collect species information: direct and indirect. Direct sampling of amphibians and reptiles involves observation of animals occurring on a sample site. The direct search methods included walking the areas and turning rocks and vegetative debris. Dip nets were used to catch frogs for identification purposes. Indirect sampling involves obtaining species information on a sample site without observing the animal. The indirect methods used in this study included pit fall traps and a minnow trap.

During the first week of the study, five pit fall traps (Appendix 2) were placed on study areas #1, #3, and #4. Pit fall traps could not be used in the bog area (sample area #2) because the trap would fill up with water. A minnow trap using bread as a bait was used instead in this instance.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The first three days of the study was spent scanning the property to familiarize myself with likely herpetofaunal habitat, to distinguish breeding calls, and to find out what species were present on the property. During the first few days of the study, there were no herpetofauna found on the property. This information was not surprising since there was a lot of ice and
snow still in the woods during the first week. Logs, tree stumps and other vegetation were still frozen. It was not until May 12 that an American Toad (Bufo americans) and a Green Frog (Rana clamitans melanoto) were found in sample area #1. The toad was lying on stones bordering the pool area. The Green Frog was found lying on a rotten log in the marshy ares to the north of the pool. The log was completely covered in moss. The area canopy cover would be around 65 percent. Time of the sighting was 10:00 a.m.

Sample area #2 (bog area) contained three Spring Peepers (Hydlacrucifer crucifer) and one Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica). These were spotted while walking through the bog area. A dip net was used to catch the frog for identification. The minnow trap was baited with bread crumbs and set in the deepest part of the bog. This area was approximately three feet deep while bog depth on average measured about 1.5 feet. No species were caught in the trap.

No herpetofauna were found on sample areas #3 or #4. Dates, sample area and species sighted for all areas can be found in Table 1.

The four designated sample sights were checked between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The remainder of the afternoon was spent scanning the rest of the property. Appendix #3 shows salamander concentrations throughout the Macphail property.

No herpetofauna were found more than 100 yards away from a stream or bog with the exception of the American Toad. The highest concentration of salamanders was found within 60 yards of the
stream. Slope seemed to have some importance. Most Redback Salamanders tPlethodon cinereus) were found where a slope existed of between 35 degrees and 60 degrees. However, it is interesting to note that some Redback Salamanders were found where no slope existed along the stream. The same was true along the bog area where Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) were found. The slope in this area was created by railway tracks and was quite steep. Spotted Salamanders probably preferred this area because the areas surrounding the bog had downed vegetation and no slope. Water would cover the bottom part of a downed tree and if a salamander chose this area it would likely drown. What seemed unusual about this area is where the Spotted Salamanders were found - beneath a large amount of railway ties piled along the bank. These ties were covered in creosote but perhaps were old enough for the preservative to be benign. Some aspects of the ties did indeed seem quite attractive. The ties were quite old and contained long, wide cracks caused from the drying action of the sun. These cracks created excellent resting spots for the salamanders. The more cracks in the tie, the more salamanders that were found, as long as the tie was lying flat along the surface of the ground. Another attractive aspect of the sight in this area was the canopy cover running along the bank. A large group of healthy spruce trees remained around the ties. These trees created cover for the salamanders and helped create a shady moist habitat.

No herpetofauna were found in the area running from the Uigg Road to the pool areas along the Macphail Road, although there were some frog eggs in small pools of water on the mud flats along the stream. This area experienced a clearcut and is presently in a stage of regeneration. The reason no salamanders were recorded was probably due to the fact that there was not enough canopy cover in the area to protect the salamanders moist skin from the sun.

The area around the small stream running off the Kinross Road joining the main stream along the Macphail Road contained no herpetofaunal. There are many large mature hemlocks and white pines in this area. This combination of mature hemlock and white pine growing along the main stream along the Macphail Road proved to be the most attractive home range to the Redback Salamanders. Everything seemed similar to the mature hemlock and pine stand (slope, mature large trees, canopy cover, lots of vegetative debris laying along the ground). The reason why no salamanders were found along this stream is that the water likely had a high pH. Large amounts of silt and clay from farmers fields along the Kinross Road can be seen along the bottom of the stream. Chemicals and fertilizers may leach out of the clay, affecting the stream.

The first nocturnal search of the sample sites took place May 13. The bog area (sample #2) was very productive. The breeding calls of the Spring Peeper and the wood frog were very loud and could be heard for quite a distance. Frogs collected using the dip net included six Spring Peepers and two Wood Frogs in less than 1.5 hours. It is estimated that one hundred Spring Peepers were in the area due to the noise level but they were very difficult to spot. Many Wood Frogs could also be heard calling but would dive under the water when the flashlight was shone on them. No salamanders were spotted in the sample sight. No species were recorded in the
other three sample sights at nights nor were any heard calling. Nocturnal surveys were carried out on three evenings.

American Toad

The American Toad was first seen on May 12. This species was recorded in three of the four sample areas. The only sample sight the American Toad was not found in was sample areas #3 (open stream clearcut). The American Toad was not found in this area because it offered the least amount of shade. The American Toad, like frogs, remain in areas where they can keep their skin moist.

The American Toad was also commonly seen throughout the property in areas other than designated sample sites. The American Toad can be considered abundant throughout the property.

Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica)

The first sighting of the Wood Frog took place on May 13. A total of seven sightings were recorded altogether. These sightings were all recorded in sample area #2 (bog railway). The sightings all took place in the evening hours between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Many other Wood Frogs could be heard calling but were not seen because they would dive under when the light was shone on them. For every Wood Grog recorded, roughly ten individuals were heard. The Wood Frog can be considered abundant throughout the bog but uncommon throughout the rest of the property.

Spring Peeper

Spring Peepers were first seen May 12 during the daytime. A total of twenty-six Spring Peepers were recorded. Of these, twenty-one were recorded at night using a flashlight to spot them.

All Spring Peeper activity was recorded on sample area #2 (bog area). No other sample sight recorded any information or proof of the Spring Peeper. The Spring Peeper can be considered abundant throughout the bog (sample #2) but rare throughout the rest of the property. For every Spring Peeper sighted, roughly 30 to 50 could be heard calling.

Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)

No Leopard Frogs were recorded on the property.

Green Frog (Rana clamitans melanoto)

The Green Frog was sighted on two of the four sample sites. It occurred four times on sample #1 (pool area) and was recorded once in sample area #4 (stream running through mature forest). This frog can be considered common along the brook and streams throughout the Macphail property.

Redbacked Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

The Redbacked Salamander was recorded 30 times. A11 recordings of the Redbacked Salamander took place in sample area #4 (stream running through mature forest). No sightings were recorded in other sample areas. Redbacked SaIamanders could not be recorded throughout the rest of the property because the time the survey was conducted all salamanders would enter areas close to water to breed.

During this time of the year (May), Redbacked Salamanders can be found under logs, bark, stones, etc., wherever there is a good amount of tree cover to produce shade along the stream following
the Macphail Road. Redbacked Salamanders can be considered very abundant.

Spotted Salamander

A total of 32 Spotted Salamanders were recorded in sample area #2 (bog area). These species were not recorded anywhere else on the property. Spotted Salamanders exist in good numbers in the bog area during the month of May but it is unknown how or where it disperses after the breeding season.

Blue-spotted Salamander

Only one account of this species was recorded. The Bluespotted Salamander was found in the minnow trap in sample area #2 tbog) and can be considered rare throughout the property.

Newts (Salamandridae)

No newts were recorded on the Macphail property during the study, although the Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) has been recorded through other studies on Prince Edward Island. Only one minnow trap was used during the study. More sampling devices might have revealed the presence of the Redspotted Newt.

Reptiles (snakes)

Snakes known to inhabit P.E.I. through other studies include: Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis); Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata); and the Smooth Green Snake (opheodrys vernalis). No snakes were recorded through this study. They may not have surfaced from the hebernoculum. Another reason why no snakes were recorded may have been due to the shortness of the study.

CONCLUSION

The stream area running from the Kinross Road to the main stream along the Macphail Road should have tests done to see if in fact the farmers fields are contaminating the water. No herpetofauna were recorded in this area during the survey, which was unusual, considering all habitat requirements seemed to be present.

Water testing could be done along the bog areas to see if the railway ties and garbage (bags of salt) piled along the tracks are affecting the water. The bog area is very productive, so this testing is not essential.

A further study could be carried out during the summer months to see where these amphibians disperse throughout the Macphail property after the breeding season.