Participation Type
Poster
Session Title
Session 3.09 Poster Session
Presentation #1 Title
Determining the Effect of Liming on Gyrinophilis porphyriticus Occupancy Using Single Species Single Season Occupancy Modeling
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Acidification of different ecological environments is affecting species around the globe. As a result, different management strategies have been implemented to deal with acidification of ecosystems as a result of acid rain and acid mine drainage. Liming is one management strategy that, with the addition of limestone, attempts to reverse the effects of acidification. While liming increases the pH of many acidic environments, studies involving the effects of liming on different species have shown mixed results. In this study, we aim to examine the effects of liming on Northern Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilis porphyriticus) occupancy. From June 10th to September 1st 2013, we used multiple methods (i.e., leaf litterbags, visual encounter surveys, and an area constrained flip and search method) to sample spring salamanders within 11 streams in the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia.We sampled three transects per stream, i.e., one above and two below the lime site. Because this species inhabits rock crevices that become filled with lime, we expected liming to have a negative effect on spring salamander occupancy. Using single season, single species occupancy modeling, we found that spring salamander occupancy was negatively associated with limed sites. In addition, detection probability was positively associated with canopy cover and negatively associated with stream depth, sand cover, and embeddedness. Examining spring salamander occupancy as a function of liming has the potential to inform natural resource managers to possible negative effects on salamander communities.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Elise Edwards is a graduate student at Marshall University with an interest in Herpetology.
Determining the Effect of Liming on Gyrinophilis porphyriticus Occupancy Using Single Species Single Season Occupancy Modeling
MSC Lobby
Acidification of different ecological environments is affecting species around the globe. As a result, different management strategies have been implemented to deal with acidification of ecosystems as a result of acid rain and acid mine drainage. Liming is one management strategy that, with the addition of limestone, attempts to reverse the effects of acidification. While liming increases the pH of many acidic environments, studies involving the effects of liming on different species have shown mixed results. In this study, we aim to examine the effects of liming on Northern Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilis porphyriticus) occupancy. From June 10th to September 1st 2013, we used multiple methods (i.e., leaf litterbags, visual encounter surveys, and an area constrained flip and search method) to sample spring salamanders within 11 streams in the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia.We sampled three transects per stream, i.e., one above and two below the lime site. Because this species inhabits rock crevices that become filled with lime, we expected liming to have a negative effect on spring salamander occupancy. Using single season, single species occupancy modeling, we found that spring salamander occupancy was negatively associated with limed sites. In addition, detection probability was positively associated with canopy cover and negatively associated with stream depth, sand cover, and embeddedness. Examining spring salamander occupancy as a function of liming has the potential to inform natural resource managers to possible negative effects on salamander communities.
