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Salamander Migration/ Road Crossing

By: Travis & Jessica Roney

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Salamander Migration and Road Crossing

Mission:

  • Save as many amphibians as possible from traffic fatalities
  • Identify species, count and document:
    • Living amphibians
    • Dead due to traffic

Vision: A world where less people drive down back roads on rainy nights

2023 Citizen Science Summit

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  1. Reduce the number of amphibian traffic fatalities during the peak migration period
  2. Inspire behavior change through public outreach and education
  3. Quantify impact of local traffic on amphibian populations
  4. Better characterize the migration window as a function of rainfall, temperature, and time of year*
  5. Serve as an annual census of Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary mole salamanders*

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Objectives

*Safety concerns often prevent consistent data collection (rain pairs well with storms)

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Volunteer Roles:

  • Leads – Document results, identify hazards for volunteers, handle radio communications with other teams
  • Shepherds – Assist in spotting, identifying, and escorting amphibians

Data Recording:

  • # of each species dead and alive
  • # of cars
  • Meta data (rainfall, temperature, # of volunteers, date and time range)

Methodology

2023 Citizen Science Summit

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Spring 2023 Migration (Spotted Salamanders)

Total Amphibian Fatality Rate: 46%

(31% Spotted Salamanders)

Total: 306

Total: 142

2023 Citizen Science Summit

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Fall 2023 Migration (Marbled Salamanders)

Total Amphibian Fatality Rate: 30%

(26% Marbled Salamanders)

Total: 288

Total: 85

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Scientific Challenge

Data Consistency

  • Accurate counts require consistent controlled transects
    • Often not possible due to inconsistent weather patterns and volunteer participation
    • Sometimes impossible due to safety concerns (e.g. The most promising night of the 2023 fall migration was canceled due to unsafe wind conditions)
    • Transects are often based on where we can do the most good rather than standard paths

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  • Repeat the study documented by Karyn Molines & Christopher Swarth from 1990s
  • Grow the base of lead volunteers to allow for greater number of total participants
  • Petition AA county to install salamander crossing signs on Wrighton, Pindell and Plumber
  • Reachout to get other parks to organize road crossing events of there own*

Future Goals

*Tremont Institute in the Smokey Mountains Nat. Park has already expressed interest in starting a program based on JBWS’s

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Volunteers

  • Jeanette Kazmierczak
  • Michael Wagman
  • Katy Clark
  • Wayne Bierbaum
  • Mike Quinlan
  • Lora Katz
  • Emily Conrad
  • Heather Sheffield
  • Stephanie Conant
  • Nell Williams
  • Ariel Trahan
  • Elena Takaki
  • Ed Carney
  • Sue Brockman
  • Julia Eddy
  • Jen Dietzen
  • Michelle Campbell
  • Allison Burnett
  • Lynette Fullerton
  • Mel Throckmorton
  • Eva Blockstein
  • Vicki Petersen
  • Teddy Fantano
  • Margret Bierbaum
  • Siobhan Percey
  • Todd Bethel
  • Kathy Wiss

MVP Fall 2023: Wayne Bierbaum

2023 Citizen Science Summit