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Abstract
The two species of mole salamander that occur in the Ithaca, New York, region (
Ambystoma maculatum and
A. jeffersonianum) breed in temporary ponds that are formed by accumulation of melted snow and spring rains. Water in many of these pools during the breeding season is acid; pH values as low as 3.5 have been measured. In laboratory experiments
A. maculatum tolerated pHs from 6-10 and had greatest hatching success at pH 7-9.
Ambystoma jeffersonianum tolerated pH 4-8 and was most successful at pH 5-6. Mortality rose abruptly beyond the tolerance limits. The pH optimum shifted upward with increasing temperature for
A. jeffersonianum) and downward for
A. maculatum. Judging from our laboratory studies, the acidity measured in breeding ponds should cause mortality in
A. maculatum and permit normal development in
A. jeffersonianum) In a four-year study of a large acidic vernal pond, 938 adult
A. maculatum produced 486 metamorphosed juveniles (0.52 juvenile/adult), while 686 adult
A. jeffersonianum) produced 2157 juveniles(3.14 juveniles/adult). Because the effects of acid precipitation on the salamanders' breeding ponds are cumulative from year to year, profound changes in the salamander populations can be anticipated.
Parent Publication
Citation
Pough, F. Harvey; Wilson, Richard E. 1976. Acid precipitation and reproductive success of
Ambystoma salamanders. In: Dochinger, L. S.; Seliga, T. A., eds. Proceedings of the first international symposium on acid precipitation and the forest ecosystem; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-23. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 531-544
