Larval colonisation and recruitment in the Pacific giant salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) in British Columbia

Ferguson, H.M. (2000) Larval colonisation and recruitment in the Pacific giant salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) in British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 78(7), pp. 1238-1242. (doi: 10.1139/z00-054)

Abstract

Dicamptodon tenebrosus is a species at risk in Canada and little is known about its ability to recover from disturbance at any scale. I tested whether stream-dwelling larvae are capable of recolonising regions subjected to small disturbances (25- to 40-m artificially depleted reaches) within 1 year, and compared the contributions of larval dispersal and adult reproduction to repopulation of barren areas. Numerical recovery from depletions in these stream sections was predicted to take 6-42 months. Only 4-5% of larvae in reaches adjacent to the depleted zones became colonists in 13 months. Colonisation occurred both by upstream and downstream movements and by larvae of different sizes. Local reproduction appears to be a more effective means of repopulating an area than larval immigration. In one reproductive event, an adult female could provide an equal or greater number of colonists than is supplied by neighbouring stream sections holding 200+ larvae.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ferguson, Professor Heather
• Authors: Ferguson, H.M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• ISSN: 0008-4301