Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 1

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COSEWIC
Assessment Summary

Assessment Summary – April 2007 (Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Population)

Common name:
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander

Scientific name:
Desmognathus ochrophaeus

Status:
Threatened

Reason for designation:
This is a small and secretive salamander, with aquatic larvae, that inhabits forested brooks, cascades, springs, or seeps where there is abundant cover in the form of crevices between stones, leaf litter, or logs. This species has a very small range of less than 100 km2 in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence faunal province in a single locality at the northernmost edge of the Adirondack Mountains. At this locality, the salamanders occupy some 8 to 10 streams and seeps with a total area of occupancy of under 10 km2. All of these streams emanate from a single water source. The locality is isolated from any other population of the same species; the nearest other locality is about 90 km away in New York State. Its minute range makes this salamander highly susceptible to stochastic events, and the species would easily become endangered if major changes to its habitat were to take place. The major threats to this salamander in Great Lakes/St. Lawrence faunal province are any that could affect the water table and dry out seeps and springs in its habitat, degrade groundwater flow and quality or deplete groundwater reserves. Logging at the single water source could destroy terrestrial habitat by increasing siltation in streams and altering hydrological regimes.

Occurrence:
Quebec

Status history:
Designated Special Concern in April 1998. Status re-examined and designated Threatened in November 2001. In April 2007, renamed to Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Great Lakes /St. Lawrence population) and designated Threatened.Last assessment based on an update status report.

 

Assessment Summary – April 2007 (Carolinian Population)

Common name:
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander

Scientific name:
Desmognathus ochrophaeus

Status:
Endangered

Reason for designation:
This is a small and secretive salamander, with aquatic larvae, that inhabits forested brooks, cascades, springs, or seeps where there is abundant cover in the form of crevices between stones, leaf litter, or logs. This species' entire range in the Carolinian faunal province consists of a single, cascading stream in the Niagara Gorge, occupying no more than about 0.005 km2. The locality is isolated from any other population of the same species, the nearest being about 22 km away in New York State. Surveys to date have located and identified some 22 individuals and indicate a total adult population that is probably fewer than 100 individuals. Its minute range makes this salamander highly susceptible to stochastic events and the species would easily and rapidly become extirpated if any change to its habitat were to take place. The major threats to this salamander in the Carolinian faunal province are any activities that could affect the water table and dry out the spring that supplies its habitat, degrade groundwater flow and quality or deplete groundwater reserves.

Occurrence:
Ontario

Status history:
This newly recognized population not previously assessed by COSEWIC was designated Endangered in April 2007. Last assessment based on an update status report.

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