Assessment of Potential Indicator Species for Monitoring ...

2d. Migration behaviour is well documented?
Timing of migration to breeding sites by metamorphosed adults, and later of
metamorphosed larvae from water to land, are triggered by suitable temperature
and moisture thresholds. These conditions will of course vary considerably from
one season to the next but also from one area of the Fraser Basin to another.
Migrations occur at night, during or after a rain (Orchard pers. comm. 1994).
2e. Information on historic abundance?
No.
3a. Can nests or animal be easily located?
Finding metamorphosed adults would be very difficult as they spend most of their
time underground except during the breeding season. They are the most highly
terrestrial of all the salamanders in B.C.. Larvae are in pools of water until
metamorphosis. Their size can range considerably depending on when the eggs
were laid, and on temperature and food availability. No neotenic stage.
3b. Can samples be easily collected?
Yes, (Orchard pers. comm. 1994).
4a. Captive rearing possible and well understood?
Yes, it is possible and has been done, but it is not well documented (Orchard pers.
comm.).
4b. Captive breeding possible and well understood?
Not documented.
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?
No.
5c. Have biological effects for this species been studied?
No.
PACIFIC GIANT SALAMANDER Dicamptodon ensatus
1a. Present in the Fraser Basin year-round?
Yes.
1b. Broad distribution?
No, the species is confined to the Chilliwack River drainage system (Orchard
1984).
25