Life Sciences Commons^™

Survival, Breeding Frequency, And Migratory Orientation In The Jefferson Salamander, Ambystoma Jeffersonianum, Stephen P. De Lisle, Kristine L. Grayson

Biology Faculty Publications

Accurate estimates of demographic parameters, such as survival and breeding frequency, are necessary for the conservation and management of animal populations. Additionally, life-history data are required for gaining an empirical understanding of the ecology of natural populations. We monitored a population of Jefferson Salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) breeding in a permanent mountain-top pond at the southern limit of this species’ geographic range in Virginia over four years. We used closed multistate mark-recapture models with Pollock's robust design to estimate the demographic parameters of this population. Additionally, we used point-of-capture data to compare the orientation of migrations into and out …