Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

The Use Of Emergent Rocks As Refugia For The Cheat Mountain Salamander, Plethodon Nettingi Green, Beth Anne Pauley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Plethodon nettinqi was listed as a threatened species in 1989 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Pauley, 1991). Its total range is within 5 counties in eastern West Virginia. There are fewer then 60 disjunct populations known and most populations are above 3,000 ft. and are associated with emergent rocks or narrow ravines with Rhododendron. It is hypothesized the P. netting! survived lumbering practices at the turn of the century by taking refuge beneath large emergent rocks and narrow ravines with Rhododendron. This study examined environmental factors associated with emergent rocks that might regulate the distribution of P. …