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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #199047
Title: INFLUENCE OF HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS ON DETECTED SITE OCCUPANCY OF THE NEW MEXICO ENDEMIC SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS SALAMANDER, ANEIDES HARDII

Author
item HAAN, STEPHANIE - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item DESMOND, MARTHA - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item GOULD, WILLIAM - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV
item Ward Jr, James

Submitted to: Journal of Herpetology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/29/2006
Publication Date: 4/1/2007
Citation: Haan, S.S., Desmond, M.J., Gould, W.R., Ward Jr, J.P. 2007. Influence of habitat characteristics on detected site occupancy of the New Mexico endemic Sacramento Mountains salamander, Ameides hardii. Journal of Herpetology. 41:1-8.

Interpretive Summary: This study provided information on habitat relationships for a rare and endemic species, the Sacramento Mountain salamander, in southern New Mexico, USA. By modeling associations between this salamander species and variables that describe forest conditions, this study provided baseline information for assessing future forest thinning effects on a focal wildlife species. The study was conducted at sites and in preparation of experimental forest manipulation designed to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire. The study found that soil temperature and moisture were the best predictors of salamandar presence at a site. This finding alerts biologists that must assess future impacts of forest alteration to variables that should be consider in designing related projects and identifies parameters that should be targeted in developing mitigation measures.

Technical Abstract: The Sacramento Mountains Salamander (Aneides hardii) is a state-listed threatened species endemic to three mountain ranges in south central New Mexico. Information about the ecological requirements of this species is inadequate for managers to make informed conservation decisions, yet changes in management practices are needed throughout the species range because of poor forest health. During summer 2004, we examined patterns of A. hardii distribution in relation to several abiotic and biotic parameters on 36 plots, each of which was 9.6-ha in area and located in mixed conifer forest. We evaluated 18 a priori logistic regression models using Akaike’s Information Criterion corrected for small-sample bias (AICc). The model with the highest ranking (= lowest AICc value) included soil moisture and soil temperature as predictive variables, and the second highest ranked model (AICc = 0.05) included only soil temperature. Soil temperature was lower, and soil moisture was higher on plots where salamanders were detected. The relative importance of canopy cover and log volume was low in this study likely because the study plots had similar disturbance history. We recommend managers focus on practices that ensure salamander microhabitats remain cool and moist in conservation areas.