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Do salamanders/newts traver to breeding sites in streams?

sde

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Hi all,

So I read in a book that salamanders/newts will travel to their breeding ponds/marshes/sites in a stream. So basically they hop in a stream and ride it all the way down to the breeding grounds.

Is this true? I think it was written in a book that was written in the 80's so I don't know how trustable it is.
If so, what species do this and approximately what is the percentage of the individuals that do?
Because if this is true, I want to set up some traps ( net and funnel traps ).

And also, will they travel in streams even if the streams don't go all the way to the breeding site?

Thanks! -Seth
 

Jennewt

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It seems possible to me that any trap that actually traps the animal would drown it.

What is the title/author of the book? The reputation of the book and author matters more than when it was published. Things weren't all in the dark ages in the 80s:rolleyes:
 

otolith

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I've heard of this with Taricha species mostly, I doubt very much they "ride the current" to the site of where they hatched. I see a lot of T. rivularis purposefully walk along stream banks, and have observed groups of T. torosa migrating to the same pond for the better part of 20 years. I don't doubt their homing instincts at all but I think once they get to the body of water they intend to breed in it basically stops there.

I don't think setting up funnel traps or nets in streams will give you any usable data and will most likely just harm whatever gets caught in them.
 

sde

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Woops! Messed up the title.

Ok, I wont trap any then. Thanks for your thoughts on that, I would hate to hurt them!

So I am not positive that this is the book I read it in, though I am pretty sure. I could go back and check, but I don't know where I read it in the book :eek:
I think it was "Amphibians and Reptiles Of The Pacific Northwest, by Ronald A. Nussbaum, Edmund D. Brodie Jr. and Robert M. Storm.

OK, thanks for the info otolith! -Seth
 
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