Assessment of Potential Indicator Species for Monitoring ...

2b. Habitat selection is well documented?
Metamorphosed adults are not often seen. They seem to prefer dense forest
margins and pond banks but probably spend most of their time hidden underground
beneath leaf litter or rotten logs. Larvae and neotenic adults (larvae which have
developed sexually without transforming) are found in permanent lakes or ponds
and slow-moving streams generally with soft bottoms (Orchard 1984).
2c. Breeding biology is well understood?
Metamorphosed adults migrate to ponds or lakes in early spring to breed. They
require permanent or semi-permanent water. Breeding sites are usually devoid of
fish which would feed on the eggs and larvae. Egg masses are laid around
submerged twigs or stems and are very large - the size of a baseball. Eggs hatch in
about three months. Empty jelly masses can still be seen in late summer. Larvae
take a year to reach metamorphose if they do at all.
2d. Migration behaviour is well documented?
Metamorphosed adults migrate from dense forest habitat to nearby water to breed
between March and June. Larvae take a year to reach metamorphosis after which
they leave the water. Juveniles leave the water between March and October
(Orchard 1984).
2e. Information on historic abundance?
No.
3a. Can nests or animal be easily located?
Locating egg masses, larvae and neotenes should be quite easy (Orchard pers.
comm. 1994).
3b. Can samples be easily collected?
Yes (Orchard pers. comm.1994).
4a. Captive rearing possible and well understood?
Yes (Geen et al. 1986, reviewed in Harfenist et al. 1989).
4b. Captive breeding possible and well understood?
Insufficient information
5a. Is there historic information on contaminant burdens in the Fraser Basin?
No.
5b. Has this species been used in contaminant studies in other regions?
Yes (Geen et al. 1986, reviewed in Harfenist et al.1989).
5c. Have biological effects for this species been studied?
Yes (Geen et al.1986 reviewed in Harfenist et al.1989).
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