Spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 6

Population Size And Trend

The spring salamander is considered to be rare in Canada (Cook 1970 and 1977; Leclair 1985; Vial and Saylor 1993; Bider and Matte 1994). Usually few individuals are found in a suitable habitat, out-numbered by two-lined salamanders, Eurycea bislineata (Bonin 1991; Resetarits 1995). Very occasionally, larger numbers can be found, from five to twenty individuals per 25 m of stream (pers. obs.). This situation is similar in the northern part of the United States (Brandon 1967c; Burton and Likens 1975). In New York state, Bishop (1941) found it to be abundant locally. The species is uncommon to rare in New England, except in Vermont and in the northwestern part of Berkshire county in Massachusetts, where it is common (DeGraaf and Rudis 1983). Nevertheless, R. Wyman (in: Vial and Saylor 1993) considered the species sensitive only in Massachusetts.

We can distinguish two populations in Canada, one located in the Appalachians and the other in the Adirondacks. These two populations are separated by the Richelieu River - Lake Champlain - Hudson River system. Brandon (1966) distinguished morphologically the Adirondack and Appalachian populations in New England based on number of vertebrae and ventral coloration. The ranges of the Adirondack and the Appalachian populations in Canada are, respectively, 200 km² and 30,000 km². Globally, this represents about 5% of the total species range in North America (Ovaska 1995).

The size of the Canadian population is not known. From an ecological study conducted in the Québec portion of the Adirondacks, Bonin (1991a) estimated that 14 km of suitable stream habitats would be inhabited by the species. Although salamander densities were unknown, it was estimated that a diurnal search over that area would yield about 846 adults. Some portions of these habitats may support higher densities but their extent is unknown. In Virginia, larval density of ca. 5 to 10 /m² are reported for headwater streams where predatory fish are absent (Resetarits 1995).

Population trends are not documented in Canada. In 1993, fifteen old localities were surveyed to verify the persistence of populations (Bonin 1994). The species was found in only five sites because of the imprecision of initial localities (4 sites), the presumed low abundance of the species (5 sites) and the destruction of the habitat (1 site in a ski center). 

Gyrinophilus porphyriticus populations have declined in New Jersey (Cromartie 1982) and Mississippi, probably due to habitat modification (Ashton 1976). The species is also threatened in Massachusetts and Connecticut (DeGraaf and Rudis 1983).

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