Jefferson Salamander Monitoring

Jefferson salamander (Ambysoma jeffersonianum) is a large, secretive mole salamander that is designated as "Nationally Threatened" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Within Canada, this species is normally associated with the Carolinian forests along the Niagara Escarpment and in the Haldimand and Norfolk Regions.

The habitat requirements of Jefferson salamander are vernal, fishless breeding ponds adjacent to mature forest. In the adult stage, Jefferson salamanders are terrestrial. After warm spring rains, the species migrates to small ponds to breed and then returns to the forest. Because of this dependence on temporary ponds and mature forest in their lifecycle, they are vulnerable to habitat destruction and fluctuations in water levels.

The identification of Jefferson salamander is problematic because of its association with morphologically similar, often polyploid, female "nuclear hybrids". In fact, genetic testing is required to identify the females.

A study was conducted in 1991 by Dr. Jim Bogart from the University of Guelph to identify the location and habitat requirements of Jefferson salamanders along the Escarpment.

In 2003, the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association, in partnership with the ONE MP and the University of Guelph, initiated a project to revisit the 1991 sites and investigate other potential habitat to identify where Jefferson Salamanders occur along the Escarpment.

Sixteen vernal pools were searched for egg masses or larvae over the course of 2003-04.

In one area on private property within the Region of Halton, the migration of salamanders was monitored using pit fall traps. A small fence was built and containers installed in the ground. Salamanders will make their way towards the pond and follow the line of the fence until they fall into the pit trap.

Project support:

Funding for this project was provided by Oracle Corporation Canada Inc. and the Sir Joseph Flavelle Foundation.