EFFECTS OF FLOODING ON SALAMANDERS IN THE 
HORSESHOE LAKE STATE CONSERVATION AREA

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
 

Abstract

Aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems can be linked together by water moving through the landscape. Groundwater recharges wetlands, streams, and ponds after traveling through aquifers located under various terrestrial habitats. Rivers and streams can leave their courses to flood adjacent terrestrial floodplains. Management and conservation of such linked ecosystems is aided by identifying biotic elements that could serve as indicators of environmental integrity. Amphibians, because of their permeable skin, unprotected embryos, and coupled aquatic and terrestrial life history stages, represent such biotic elements. This project seeks to determine the effects of flooding in 1993 and 1995 on distribution and abundance of four species of salamanders in a forested preserve in southern Illinois. At this writing, the activity season of these animals is just beginning and very few animals have been located. In this report, the study site, sampling transects, and microhabitat variables are described. Much more data on salamander abundance and microhabitat preferences will be gathered over the next several weeks. Future research directions focusing on interactions of groundwater, flooding, and anthropogenic contaminants are also described.