August 5, 1975Copeia
Salamander Populations and Biomass in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire
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Implication
Field survey reveals substantial salamander density and biomass in a temperate forest ecosystem, highlighting their major energetic role compared to birds and mammals.
Key Points
- Quantify salamander population density, species composition, and biomass relative to other vertebrate groups in a temperate forest.
- Conducted ecological censuses and wet-weight biomass estimations for terrestrial and streamside salamander species within the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest.
- Compared calculated salamander biomass to regional estimates for forest birds during breeding season and resident small mammals.
- Salamander density reached approximately 2,950 individuals per hectare, representing 1,770 g/ha wet weight.
- Plethodon cinereus accounted for 93.5% of total biomass, while streamside species (Desmognathus fuscus, Eurycea bislineata, and Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) accounted for the remaining 6.5%.
- Total salamander biomass was approximately twice that of birds during peak breeding season and roughly equal to the biomass of small mammals.
Cite This Study
Burton et al. (1975) studied this question.