natural areas inventory - Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

play a role in increasing the food web availability of such toxins. This species is entirely aquatic and isvulnerable to pollution, as well as accidental harvest by ice fisherman.MOLE SALAMANDERSMole salamanders are named as a group because of their burrowing terrestrial nature and adults with welldeveloped lungs (Petranka 1998).Blue­spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)Global Rank: Very common; demonstrablysecure under present conditions.Provincial Rank:Apparently Secure—Uncommonbut not rare;Niagara NAI:Localized ( 9 sites confirmed in6 of 12 Niagara RM townships)Map # 18 and 20R.TervoThe Blue-spotted salamander is an attractive blue-black colour with characteristic blue and white fleckson its sides (Behler and King 1998). In Niagara it is found under logs, and leaf litter in moist forestedareas with vernal pools and no predatory fish. They were found in the slough forests and swamps of FortErie, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, Wainfleet, West Lincoln and Haldimand.. Search effort was poor inWest Lincoln and North of the escarpment toward Lake Ontario; however several new sites wereconfirmed in Fort Erie, Wainfleet and Niagara Falls. They have an aquatic larval phase and a terrestrialadult phase. They are nocturnal and congregate in spring in forested vernal pools to breed. They arenormally asociated with loose sandy or loamy soils (Petranka 1998). This species has declined withdeforestation and agricultural or urban development (Petranka 1998). They do not breed successfully inacidic conditions suggesting acid rain could limit their distribution in northern Ontario (Petranka 1998).Threats to this species include wetland filling and draining, introduction of fish to breeding ponds,pollutants, such as insecticides and herbicides, and loss of adult habitat (Lipps 2005). They are oftenkilled on roads during spring migration.They are therefore sensitive to fertilizer, herbicide and pesticiderunoff and would not be found in forests with tightly compacted soils or those which are trampled bycattle or high pedestrian traffic areas (Ontario Vernal Pool Association). Their presence would indicate ahigh quality forest floor ecosystem. They are listed as a species on conservation concern in mostnortheastern United States (New Jersey, New Hampshire, Connecticuit, Ohio and Vermont).Natural Heritage Areas Inventory, 2010 12-20