Coeur d’Alene Salamander (Plethodon idahoensis): Literature Review and Demographics along the North Fork Clearwater River
Faculty Mentor Information
Michael Edgehouse
Abstract
The Coeur d’Alene salamander (Plethodon idahoensis) is the only lungless salamander (Plethodontidae) in Idaho. The majority of populations of P.idahoensis are found in Northern Idaho, particularly in the St. Joe and Clearwater river drainages. Individuals are dusky grey to black and maintain either a yellow or red mid-dorsal stripe. Preferred habitat for P. idahoensis is near seeps or springs, splash zones of water falls, or riparian zones with broken rocks. Previous studies have identified several local populations along the Clearwater river. However, many of these populations are believed to be extant since the 1980’s. The goal of our study was two-fold; 1) to identify populations of P.idahoensis along the North Fork of the Clearwater River, an area that has been underrepresented in the literature, and 2) to conduct a literature review of P.idahoensis and its sister species to establish testable hypothesis regarding the maintenance of two color morphs. Our data confirm disjunct populations along the North Fork of the Clearwater River as well as a relatively equal distribution of red and yellow color morphs. Future studies will need to focus collection efforts earlier in the year to better grasp population distributions and test color hypotheses.
Coeur d’Alene Salamander (Plethodon idahoensis): Literature Review and Demographics along the North Fork Clearwater River
The Coeur d’Alene salamander (Plethodon idahoensis) is the only lungless salamander (Plethodontidae) in Idaho. The majority of populations of P.idahoensis are found in Northern Idaho, particularly in the St. Joe and Clearwater river drainages. Individuals are dusky grey to black and maintain either a yellow or red mid-dorsal stripe. Preferred habitat for P. idahoensis is near seeps or springs, splash zones of water falls, or riparian zones with broken rocks. Previous studies have identified several local populations along the Clearwater river. However, many of these populations are believed to be extant since the 1980’s. The goal of our study was two-fold; 1) to identify populations of P.idahoensis along the North Fork of the Clearwater River, an area that has been underrepresented in the literature, and 2) to conduct a literature review of P.idahoensis and its sister species to establish testable hypothesis regarding the maintenance of two color morphs. Our data confirm disjunct populations along the North Fork of the Clearwater River as well as a relatively equal distribution of red and yellow color morphs. Future studies will need to focus collection efforts earlier in the year to better grasp population distributions and test color hypotheses.