Biological Diversity of Reptiles and Amphibians

in Big Survey Wildlife Management Area

(2003.  Catesbeiana 23(1): 3-13)

Jason Daniel Gibson

Division of Arts and Sciences

Danville Community College

Danville Virginia  24541

Introduction

Big Survey Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is one of Virginia’s newest management areas owned and operated by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). It was officially dedicated on 18 October 2001.  This 3,359 ha (8,300 acre) tract of land is located in Wythe County 2 km south of the town of Wytheville and is bordered to the north by Interstate 81. It is comprised of two tracts of land, which include portions of Sand Mountain, Lick Mountain, Stuart Mountain, and Swecker Mountain.  Crystal Springs Watershed, a 749 ha (1,852 acre) parcel of land owned by the town of Wytheville, is located in the center of the WMA. Big Survey WMA is in the Ridge and Valley physiographic province and is composed mostly of sandstone and quartzite, which form well-drained, dry soils.  Elevation reaches 1,134 m (3,720 ft) on Sand Mountain.  Five small streams drain the property to the New River. A diversity of aquatic habitats exists on this property including a high elevation vernal pool, a man-made pond, headwaters of five streams, springs, and steep ravines. There are many terrestrial habitats as well including upland oak-hickory forest, open land with many drought resistant native grasses, rhododendron heaths, and sandstone outcrops.

Limited surveys have been conducted in this area by the VDGIF and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (Division of Natural Heritage)(S. M. Roble, pers. comm.).  No comprehensive reptile and amphibian surveys have been conducted on this property.  The Virginia Herpetological Society (VHS) annually conducts a survey in some part of

Virginia.  This site was chosen because of its diversity of habitats, the virtual lack of previous surveys, and its potential to yield new county records.  Below is a report of the 2002 spring survey.     

Study Sites

Personnel from VDGIF selected five sites and one man-made trout pond for members of the VHS to survey.  A listing and description of each site follows.

Site A: Dungeon Branch (starting at Trivett property)

The portion of Dungeon Branch surveyed consists of a small stream     (<1 meter wide and 1 m deep).  A gentle topographic slope creates rapidly flowing water interrupted at times by deeper slower moving pools.  One portion of the stream consists of a pool approximately 30 m wide. This site contains many varied aquatic habitats.

Site B: Stuart Mountain

The Stuart Mountain site has a typical deciduous complement with a fair amount of hemlock interspersed throughout.  One side of this mountain consists of a sloping valley bisected by a meandering stream; the other side of the mountain is steep and rugged with a faster flowing stream.  Many mosses and ferns are found in the moister areas of this site. 

Site C: Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods survey site consists of a ridge of large limestone outcrops and boulders bisected by a powerline right-of-way.  Nearby are a few streams with a wet woodland floor.

Site D: Big Survey Trout Pond

A man-made pond located on the property of Big Walker Game and Fish Club.

Site E: Venrick Run

This site consists of Venrick Run, rhododendron riparian heath, a dammed pool, and a powerline right-of-way paralleling portions of the stream.

Site F: Lick Mountain SE side, Headwaters of Dungeon Branch

Two distinct habitats are found at this site.  One is a high elevation     (914 m; 3,000 ft) vernal pool that was completely full (1 m deep) and surrounded by an oak-hickory forest.  The second site consisted of Mill Creek and the headwaters of Dungeon Branch.  Both of these streams flow through a mature oak-hickory forest. Many decayed logs, large chunks of bark, and rock outcrops were found at this site.

Materials and Methods

Sampling was conducted on 18-19 May 2002.  Four teams of 4-8 people sampled sites selected by Betsy Stinson, Bill Bassinger, and Mike Mabe (VDGIF personnel).  Sites were selected to cover a wide range of habitats and land area within the WMA. Terrestrial animals were sampled by overturning rocks, cobble, logs, leaf litter, and bark.  Male anurans were detected by listening for vocalizations. Aquatic animals were found by overturning rocks in streams and by dipnetting. Visual identifications were made in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats.  Each specimen found was recorded, photographed (if needed), observed for unusual behavior, and inspected for mutations. Microhabitat was documented for each encounter. Larval specimens were taken to the lab and reared if identification was not possible in the field.   

Results

During the survey 17 species of amphibians (12 salamanders, 5 anurans) and 6 species of reptiles (2 turtles, 1 lizard, 3 snakes) were observed.  Five species that were not recorded from Wythe County by Tobey (1985), Mitchell (1994), or Mitchell and Reay (1999) are denoted by an asterisk below. One species, Ambystoma opacum (marbled salamander), represents a notable western range extension, the closest vouchered record being documented from western Pittsylvania County (Mitchell and Reay 1999). An annotated checklist of the species found during this survey follows.  Letters in brackets refer to sampling locations listed above and shown on the map (Fig. 1).  Table 1 summarizes the species found at each location.

Figure 1.  Map of study sites in Big Survey Wildlife Management Area.

                                       Annotated Checklist

Amphibians

*1.  Ambystoma jeffersonianum (Jefferson salamander) - [F]

Two larvae were captured in a vernal pond on Lick Mountain.  These specimens were reared in a laboratory to allow for the development of adult color patterns.  Tobey (1985) plotted one locality in Wythe County for this species but Mitchell and Reay (1999) did not record it in this county. A specimen has been deposited in the Virginia Museum of Natural History.   

2.  Ambystoma maculatum (Spotted salamander) – [A, F]

Many larvae were dipnetted in vernal pools.

*3.  Ambystoma opacum (Marbled salamander) – [F]

One larva captured in a vernal pool on Lick Mountain was reared in the laboratory and found to have the Ambystoma opacum color pattern.  This specimen has been deposited in the Virginia Museum of Natural History and represents a new county record.  The lack of previous records of this species from this area is most likely due to limited sampling.

4.  Desmognathus fuscus (Northern dusky salamander) – [A, E]

A total of ten adult specimens were found under rocks along streams.  One salamander was observed eating a worm.

5.  Desmognathus monticola (Seal salamander) – [A, E, F]

Nineteen adult and six juvenile seal salamanders were found during this survey.  They were found along streams under rock cobble.

6.  Desmognathus ochrophaeus (Alleghany mountain dusky salamander) – [A, B, F]

Three adults and four juveniles were found along streams under rocks and logs. 

7.  Eurycea cirrigera (Southern two-lined salamander) – [A, E]

A total of six adult two-lined salamanders were found along streamside habitats under rocks and logs.

8.  Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens (Red-spotted newt) – [D, F]

One newt was dipnetted in a vernal pool and another was dipnetted in a pond.

9.  Plethodon cinereus (Red-backed salamander) – [A, B, E, F]

A total of thirty red-backed salamanders were collected during our survey.  They were found under bark, logs, rocks, and leaf litter.  One adult was missing its tail.  Another adult was observed with eggs.

10.  Plethodon cylindraceus (White-spotted slimy salamander) – [A, B, C, E, F]

This species was found in the most locations of any salamander species.  A total of eleven adults and two juveniles were found under logs, rocks, and in rock crevices.

11.  Plethodon richmondi (Ravine salamander) – [F]

Four adults were found under logs and one adult was found under a rock.  All sites were adjacent to a small stream. 

12.  Pseudotriton ruber (Red salamander) – [E]

One red salamander was found under a rock on the edge of a powerline right-of-way.  This site was adjacent to a spring and a stream.

13.  Bufo americanus americanus (American toad) – [A, C, E]

Two adult toads were found under rocks and some tadpoles were found dead in an old mine pond at site A.

*14.  Pseudacris crucifer crucifer (Northern spring peeper) – [A, B, D]

Three spring peepers were heard calling during this survey.

15.  Rana clamitans melanota (Northern green frog) – [A]

One male was observed calling beside a stream.

16.  Rana palustris (Pickerel frog) – [D]

Several adults were found along the edge of a trout pond.

*17.  Rana sylvaticus (Wood frog) – [A, F]

Many tadpoles were dipnetted in a vernal pool at site F.  A few specimens were collected and reared to metamorphosis.  One adult measuring 70 mm SVL was found beside a stream. 

Reptiles

*18.  Chelydra serpentina serpentina (Eastern snapping turtle) – [A, F]

A total of three snapping turtles, two adults and one juvenile (33 mm carapace length), were found.  Microhabitats included a pool and swampy area.

19.  Terrapene carolina carolina (Eastern box turtle) – [A]

One live box turtle (140 mm plastron length) and one dried shell were found. 

20.  Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus (Northern fence lizard) – [C]

Fence lizards were the only lizards found during this survey.  One gravid female was found under a log.

21.  Carphophis amoenus amoenus (Eastern wormsnake) – [C]

Two adults and one juvenile were found under rocks.

22.  Diadophis punctatus edwardsii (Northern ring-necked snake) –

[A, B, C, F]

This was the most abundant snake found during the survey.  Ten adults were located under logs and tree bark.  Three were measured and found to have total lengths of 200 mm, 260 mm, and 260 mm.

23.  Nerodia sipedon sipedon (Northern watersnake) – [E]

One juvenile watersnake was found under a log beside a stream.

Discussion

The first day of the survey was extremely cold (high temperature 10^o C), cloudy, and rainy. The second day of the survey was warmer (high temperature 15^o C) without rain, and sunny towards the end of the survey time period. These weather conditions are probably responsible for the few observations of reptiles. Of three turtles reported in Mitchell (1994) and Mitchell and Reay (1999) for the region, we found one. One other species, Chelydra serpentina, was not previously reported for Wythe County.  Only one lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) has been vouchered for Wythe County. This species was found, but only one specimen was observed in two days of survey effort.  Eumeces fasciatus and Eumeces laticeps are found in nearby counties and could possibly be added to the herpetofauna of Big Survey in future surveys with warmer weather.  It is even possible that Cnemidophorus sexlineatus, which prefers sandy soils, could inhabit this WMA.  Snakes were poorly represented in our survey.  Of eight species recorded in the region by Mitchell and Reay (1999), we only found three. One other species, Thamnophis sirtalis, was observed on 23 July 1998 along Mill Creek (between survey areas A and C) by     S. M. Roble and C. S. Hobson (S. M. Roble, pers. comm.).  Linzey and Clifford (1981), Tobey (1985), and Mitchell (1994) recorded Agkistrodon contortrix and Crotalus horridus from Wythe County, but neither is reported  by  Mitchell  and  Reay  (1999). Park  managers  have  observed

Crotalus horridus on WMA roads. Future surveys may discover a population of Pituophis melanoleucus living in the unique habitat found in the Big Survey property.

The diversity of salamanders was well represented during this survey.  Mitchell and Reay (1999) recorded 15 species of salamanders from Wythe County, 10 of which were found during our survey. Two others, (Ambystoma jeffersonianum and Ambystoma opacum) documented on the WMA were not reported for the county by Mitchell and Reay (1999), but Tobey (1985) did report A. jeffersonianum. Ambystoma opacum was reported by Tobey (1985) from Montgomery County, one county to the northeast of Wythe County, but Mitchell and Reay (1999) do not include this record.  This salamander is most likely found in other parts of this region and further intensive surveys of vernal pools should expand its known range. Notophthalmus viridescens, which was found in this survey, was not reported from Wythe County by Mitchell and Reay (1999) but is documented in VDGIF (2002). The observation of Desmognathus ochrophaeus in Big Survey WMA extends its known range to the southeast.

Five species of anurans were documented in the region by Mitchell and Reay (1999). Our study also found five species, but two of these, Pseudacris crucifer and Rana sylvaticus, were not recorded by Mitchell and Reay (1999). Both of these records help fill in distributional gaps.  Although our study did not find Pseudacris feriarum, Tobey (1985) plotted two localities for this anuran in Wythe County.  This species is not represented in Mitchell and Reay (1999) or VDGIF (2002).

The two-day survey conducted by the VHS is not adequate to fully document the herpetofauna that exists in Big Survey WMA. Future surveys could be conducted in the early spring and early summer to increase observations of early breeding species of amphibians and thermophilic reptiles. More areas, including more varied microhabitats, can also be included in future survey efforts.   

The uniqueness and size of Big Survey WMA make it an important habitat to manage and preserve.  It has a wide variety of herpetofauna, mammals, and  is an important  breeding  ground for  woodland  birds and

neotropical migrants. By creating this WMA, a large portion of four mountains is being protected from active mining and logging.  Managers of this land will need to identify the best practices that will allow for the habitats to remain in perpetuity.  Logging management, control of ATVs, and documenting the biodiversity of this WMA seem to be the most pressing issues for managers in the near future.

Acknowledgments

The following VHS members and volunteers participated in this survey:  Bill Bassinger, Mitch Bowling, David Dawson, David L. Dawson, Noah Dawson, Jason Gibson, Robert Harris, Mike Mabe, Shelly Miller, Mike Pinder, Jennifer Pullen, John Rafter, Paul Sattler, Betsy Stinson, Gordon Wilson, Brooke Wilson, Mallory Wilson, Dane Wilson, Greg Woodie, Barry Family, Tom Watson, Tom Akre, Mr. Robison, Mr. Blackburn, Kathy and McKeever Henley, John White, Jennifer White, Amy White, and Charise White.  We apologize for any name inadvertently left off this list. We would like to thank Bill Bassinger, Mike Mabe, and Betsy Stinson for their assistance in selecting survey sites, contacting landowners, and providing useful historical and management information.  Special thanks to the landowners that allowed the VHS to park on their land and access the WMA via their property and to Big Walker Game and Fish Club for the use of their facilites.  We would also like to thank Steve Roble, Jared Peatman, and Kathy Renyer for reviewing earlier drafts of this manuscript.

Literature Cited

Linzey, D. W., and M. J. Clifford.  1981 (1995 printing).  Snakes of Virginia.  University of Virginia Press, Charlottesville, VA.  173 pp.

Mitchell, J.C.  1994.  Reptiles of Virginia.  Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.  352 pp.

Mitchell, J.C., and K.K. Reay.  1999.  Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Virginia.  Special Publication Number 1, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Richmond, VA. 122 pp.

Tobey, F.J. 1985.  Virginia’s Amphibians and Reptiles, a Distributional Survey.  Virginia Herpetological Society, Purcellville, VA.  114 pp.

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF).  2002.  Collections Database.  Fish and Wildlife Information System.  Richmond, Virginia.  http://vafwis.org/perl/vafwis.pl/vafwis

Table 1.  Summary of the herpetofauna observed during the 2002 VHS Spring Survey. A = Dungeon Branch starting at Trivett property;             B = Stuart Mountain; C = Garden of the Gods; D = Big Survey trout pond; E = Venrick Run; F = Lick Mountain SE side, headwaters of Dungeon Branch;  R&H = observations made by Steve Roble and Chris Hobson (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage) on 22-23 July 1998.  X = species observed.