20061592 Ver 1_Emails_20070309

Re: egg mass
Subject: Re: egg mass
From: Ed Schwartzman <[e-mail]>
Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 10:12:22 -0500
To: Cyndi Karoly <[e-mail]>
Sorry about the pictures. I pulled them from a Google image search, so try that to
confirm. From your description of "big gel", it sounds like spotted salamanders. If
spotteds are in the area, it's possible that other species are there including 4-toed
and mole salamander and may be worth contacting WRC. Alternatively, Ginny and Alicia
know how to look for 4-toed salamanders and may be able to identify the mole
salamander if they were to encounter it. You might want to send them out there.
Ed
Cyndi Karoly wrote:
I didn't get the pictures. Each egg appeared round, with the mass englosed in a
big gel. There were masses both in the storm pond (it has a lot of sediment and
mature black willows well into the center of it) and in the stream near the outlet
of the pipe from the pond. I've seen many of what I was told were salamander
masses in mafic depressions in Charlotte, and these reminded me of them. It was
in Vance County, near Henderson, in a cutover field. I can get you more details
if you believe it's worth pursuing. I took the very smallest egg mass and have it
in a bag at home in the fridge. This is a violation site, and the developer is
contesting our stream call.
Ed Schwartzman wrote:
Hey Cyndi,
Where were you and what did the egg masses look like? They may likely be
spotted salamander eggs, which occasionally breed in streams. Often times
amphibians lay eggs in ephemeral habitats so it's not a decisive perennial
indicator. Large tadpoles (likely green frogs or bullfrogs) do require longer
duration water bodies, so that's a good sign. Regardless of the DWQ
classification, spotted salamander habitat and ephemeral amphibian habitats are
of concern to both NHP and WRC which has listed spotteds as a priority (focus)
species.
Below are some pics that may help.
Spotted salamander -oval-shaped, eggs enclosed in gelatinous membrane
Wood frog (in mts) - round with no enclosing membrane
Cyndi Karoly wrote:
Yes, absolutely. Hey, I found a bunch of egg masses in an intermittent
stream yesterday (actually, it scored 19 but it probably has a constant
supply of water from a storm pond at the headwaters). I found 10 big
tadpoles nearby. Is it safe to assume the eggs are frogs, or could they be
salamanders? How could I tell the difference. We sure miss having you
around here.
Ed Schwartzman wrote:
Thanks, Cyndi,
I appreciate you getting back to me. If you don't mind I'm going to
suggest you as a contact (if you're not already) and then you can forward
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Re: egg mass
the info on to whomever you see fit. I heard that NPDES folks and the
Classification and Standards people were in on this, but I thought that
you guys in the 401 Section should be in the loop too.
Take care,
Ed
Cyndi Karoly wrote:
I'd be pleased to forward info about your meeting to folks in the
branch - possibly to attend myself if I don't get yanked elsewhere.
We'll have a couple of key DWQ reps present, no matter what.
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