Fredericks, May, Environmental Program, King’s College, 133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711, mayfredericks@kings.edu; Kane, Emily, Environmental Program, King’s College, 133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711, emilykane@kings.edu; Osborne, Kayla, Environmental Program, King’s College, 133 N. River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711, kaylaosborne@kings.edu; Mangan, Tara, Environmental Program, King’s College, 133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711, taramangan@kings.edu; Mangan, Brian, Environmental Program, King’s College, 133 N. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711, brianmangan@kings.edu.
Artificial cover objects (ACOs) are a common method used in the study of terrestrial salamanders in forested habitats. In this study, we designed and deployed an experiment to investigate use of ACOs by Red-backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) that were given the choice of either smooth or grooved ventral surfaces. Our preliminary data show greater numbers of salamanders beneath grooved boards during the majority of the weekly samples. However, because our study plots are also home to the lead-back phase of this salamander, we have an opportunity to investigate possible differences between these morphs, and here our results diverge. Teasing apart these salamander phases indicated that during most weeks the red-phase salamanders beneath smooth ACOs outnumbered those beneath channeled boards, but that the opposite was true for the lead-back phase. Our study continues to determine if these results are maintained.
Plethodon cinereus, Red-backed Salamander, artificial cover objects