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Factors Influencing The Spatial Distribution And Natural History Of Desmognathus Ochrophaeus In West Virginia, Linda D. Ordiway

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Desmognathus ochrophaeus, the mountain dusky salamander, is a medium-sized Desmognathine, which inhabits moist woodlands. It is a slender species with a well rounded, slim and tapering tail (Bishop 1967), and 14 costal grooves (Green and Pauley 1987). The average total length is between 70 mm and 100 mm with the tail accounting for approximately half this length (Conant and Collins, 1991). The visual appearance of this salamander is highly variable (figure 1). Most individuals have a distinct light middorsal band with straight edges and darker sides. The colors of the band may vary from yellow, orange, or red to dark …

Density, Length Frequency Distribution, Growth Rate, And Condition Of The Freshwater Mussel, ̲A̲N̲Od̲O̲N̲T̲A ̲I̲M̲B̲E̲C̲I̲L̲L̲I̲S Say 1829, In Six Ponds At The Clifton F. Mcclintic Public Hunting And Fishing Area, Mason County, West Virginia, Jeff L. Harmon

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Populations of the freshwater mussel Anodonta imbecillis Say 1829, were sampled from six ponds at the Clifton F. McClintic Public Hunting and Fishing Area in Mason County West Virginia from April 1986 to May 1987. One of the six ponds, pond 12, is contaminated with byproducts from the manufacture of TNT which occurred at the site during World War II. Population density, length frequency distribution, growth rates and condition indices were examined for each population to establish baseline data for the species and to determine what effects the contaminants might be having on these organisms.

Population densities ranged from 4.8 …