Bradley Foster:Sonora Tiger Salamander
Sonora Tiger Salamander
(Ambystoma tigrinum stebbinsi)
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http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/sonoran_tiger_salamander.shtml
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http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/sonoran_tiger_salamander.shtml
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Description and Ecology of Organism
The Sonora tiger salamander is one of three subspecies of tiger salamanders found in Arizona. It is believed to be an endemic species and not the result of barred and Arizona tiger salamanders that were introduced by humans. They have been found in 53 ponds in the San Rafael Valley in Arizona. Young Sonora tiger salamanders will develop as either gilled aquatic adults called branchiates or as gill-less terrestrial adults known as metamorphosed Sonora tiger salamanders. Branchiate adults measure 65-165 mm and metamorphosed adults measure 45-150 mm. Breeding can begin as early as January and eggs can be found as late as May. Branchiate Sonora tiger salamanders breed in their ponds and terrestrial Sonora tiger salamanders return to the ponds to breed. Female salamanders will lay 200 to 2000 eggs which take 2-4 weeks to hatch. When larvae reach the minimum size to metamorphose they will either do so or develop as branchiates. In ponds that dry all larvae that are large enough will metamorphose while in ponds that don’t dry only about 17% that are large enough will metamorphose. Those that metamorphose have the ability to populate other ponds.
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http://aziba.org/?page_id=550
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Listing Date and Type of Listing
January 6, 1997: Federally listed as endangered with no critical habitat designated
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https://tucsonherpsociety.org/inhabitants/barred-tiger-salamander/
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Cause of Listing and Main Threats to its Continued Existence (as stated in recovery plan)
1. Sonora tiger salamanders have a restricted distribution and a limited number of breeding habitats, making them vulnerable to stochastic events, such as flooding or drought.
2. Most cienegas and standing water habitat presumably used historically by Sonora tiger salamanders for breeding have disappeared, and so today, salamanders in SRV are found almost exclusively in human-constructed cattle ponds or tanks that are small and often very dynamic habitats.
3. Many of the salamander’s breeding ponds have been invaded by non-native fish and/or bullfrogs, which prey on salamanders and their larvae. Several salamander populations have been extirpated by fish introductions.
4. Sonora tiger salamanders are subject to frequent die-offs as a result of disease caused by an iridovirus that kills almost all salamanders and larvae in the pond at the time.
5. Low genetic heterozygosity for the subspecies might result in reduced fitness.
6. Barred tiger salamanders (A. t. mavortium) have apparently been introduced to the SRV and might interbreed with Sonora tiger salamanders, swamping out characteristics that differentiate the two subspecies.
7. Collecting Sonora tiger salamanders for bait or translocation by anglers might reduce population sizes, spread disease, and disperse non-native tiger salamanders.
Description of Recovery Plan (as summarized in recovery plan)
1. Protect and enhance salamander habitat
2. Control non-native predators (crayfish, fish and bullfrogs)
3. Control introduction, transport, and collection of tiger salamanders in San Rafael Valley
4. Develop and implement approaches to minimize frequency of die-offs
5. Monitor salamander population and their habitat
6. Conservation related research
7. Public Education
8. Practice adaptive management in which recovery tasks are revised by USFWS in coordination with the Participation Team as pertinent new information becomes available
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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304348363_Notes_on_the_Distribution_of_Tiger_Salamanders_Presumed_Ambystoma_mavortium_stebbinsi_in_Sonora_Mexico
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What Can You Do?
The Sonora Tiger Salamander is only found in a relatively small area that most people won’t be in and isn’t well known enough to have organizations that you can donate to in order to help it. If you happen to find yourself in their environment just let them be and don’t introduce fish, crawfish or bullfrogs into it.
Other Resources
http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/sonoran_tiger_salamander.shtml
http://eol.org/pages/1287432/details
Sources
Collins, James P, and Jonathan Snyder. “Sonora Tiger Salamander Recovery Plan.” Oct. 2002, pp. 1–78.
“Sonoran Tiger Salamander.” Arizona Game and FIsh Department - Managing Today for Wildlife Tomorrow: Azgfd.gov, www.azgfd.gov/w_c/es/sonoran_tiger_salamander.shtml.
It is crazy to think that they can either adapt to be more aquatic or terrestrial and that is changes their appearance and biology.
ReplyDeleteGreat article!
~Brody Gill
My first thought was ew, but these little guys deserve as much attention as any other creature on Earth. It is actually pretty sad that there isn't enough recognition for the Tiger Salamander to have any organizations that accept donations, but leaving them be seems to be the next best thing that we can do to help their chances of survival.
ReplyDelete-Isabelle Farrell
These little guys are so cool! The adaptability they display throughout their life cycle is amazing! Seems to me that the best thing to do to ensure their survival is to completely remove all human conflict. These little guys can adapt to survive to anything.
ReplyDeleteGreat job!
-Cole Fukai
Interesting species of salamander and definitely unique. Although they do not get much attention, it's also interesting that one way to help is to simply leave them alone. Hopefully people living in the areas where these salamanders live will be able to learn about this endangered species and understand the simple steps it would take to save them.
ReplyDelete-Samantha Friesen
I think it's really cool how the salamanders can either have gills or not have gills when they become an adult. It's sad that they are subject to frequent die-offs. And it is weird how they haven't changed geographically. Nice job on the blog!
ReplyDelete-Josh Gillespie
I found it really interesting that this species of salamander can develop as either terrestrial or aquatic. It is also sad, though, that as humans we have introduced non-native species into their environment, endangering these salamanders. Great job on your blog!
ReplyDelete-Rebekah Fesmire
I personally have never heard of these creatures and I really think that public education would be an essential step in helping this species. By letting the public know they would become more aware of their own actions and what could be hurting this species. I really enjoyed your blog!
ReplyDelete-Katie Halstead