Journal ArticleDOI
Life History of the Hellbender, Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis, in a West Virginia Stream
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In this article, the authors conducted a mark-recapture study within a 216 × 18 m stream section in east-central West Virginia using diurnal and nocturnal survey methods.Abstract:
Though locally abundant throughout the high mountains of West Virginia, intensive studies on the natural history and population structure of the hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, have not been conducted in the state. From 1998–2000 we conducted a mark-recapture study within a 216 × 18 m stream section in east-central West Virginia using diurnal and nocturnal survey methods. Ninety-nine captures of 44 individuals were recorded. Density estimates ranged from 0.8–1.2 individuals/100 m2. The sex ratio was 1.2:1. Sexual dimorphism was apparent, as females were longer and heavier than males. However, the longest males were underweight compared to their predicted mass. This population was highly skewed toward large adults, and larvae and juveniles were not encountered. The mean inter-capture distance was 35.8 m and 95% MCP home range estimates averaged 198 m2. Water depth where hellbenders were captured ranged from 16–56 cm and individuals were never captured in heavily silted areas. Hellbender ...read more
Citations
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Life history and spatial traits predict extinction risk due to climate change
Richard G. Pearson,Richard G. Pearson,Jessica C. Stanton,Kevin T. Shoemaker,Matthew E. Aiello-Lammens,Peter J. Ersts,Ned Horning,Damien A. Fordham,Christopher J. Raxworthy,Hae Yeong Ryu,Jason McNees,H. Resit Akçakaya +11 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed a simulation approach based on generic life history types to show that extinction risk due to climate change can be predicted using a mixture of spatial and demographic variables that can be measured in the present day without the need for complex forecasting models.
Journal ArticleDOI
An eDNA approach to detect eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) using samples of water
TL;DR: The efficacy of eDNA sampling to detect populations of an amphibian of conservation concern, the eastern hellbender, indirectly from their aquatic environments is evaluated and may represent a cost-effective means by which to establish broad-scale patterns of occupancy for hellbenders.
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Innate immunity and stress physiology of eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) from two stream reaches with differing habitat quality
TL;DR: A positive relationship between restraint time and BKA was found, suggesting that the bactericidal ability of hellbenders may improve following acute stress, and there was a tendency for hellbender with skin abnormalities to have higher BKA compared to individuals with normal integument, an observation consistent with patterns observed in other animals actively responding to pathogens.
Journal ArticleDOI
Population Status of the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in Indiana
TL;DR: This study documents the continued decline of the Eastern Hellbender over the past 25 years in the last known remaining population in southern Indiana, which consists almost exclusively of large, older-age class individuals that show limited signs of reproduction.
Journal ArticleDOI
Population Status of Hellbender Salamanders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) in the Allegheny River Drainage of New York State
TL;DR: Although demographic issues such as reproduction and recruitment may be contributing to Hellbender declines in the Allegheny drainage, these do not appear to have changed drastically from the 1980s and other possible causes include factors such as land use changes, introduced species, or some other environmental issue.
References
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Journal Article
Statistical inference from capture data on closed animal populations
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Capture-Recapture and Removal Methods for Sampling Closed Populations.
Journal ArticleDOI
Measurement of non-circular home range
R.I. Jennrich,F.B. Turner +1 more
TL;DR: The determinant method, based on the determinant of the covariance matrix of the capture points, is introduced and it is shown that this method, under specified assumptions, is free from both forms of bias.
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Population declines of a long-lived salamander: a 20+-year study of hellbenders, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
TL;DR: This study incorporated all three factors (long duration, multiple populations, age structure data) into the study of the conservation status of a long-lived aquatic salamander, the hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, finding that the decline had clearly begun by the 1980s and there was a significant decrease in body condition.