FECUNDITY, REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY, AND INFLUENCE OF PRECIPITATION ON CLUTCH SIZE IN THE WESTERN SLIMY SALAMANDER (PLETHODON ALBAGULA)

Abstract

We investigated the reproductive ecology of the western slimy salamander (Plethodon albagula) in an abandoned mine shaft in the Ouachita National Forest of south-central Arkansas. The mine habitat provided an opportunity to observe nesting behavior, quantify reproductive output, and evaluate the influence of precipitation on fecundity for a population of P. albagula that utilize this particular mine shaft to brood and defend egg clutches. We collected reproductive data on 372 clutches between 1982 and 2004. There was no relationship between the number of eggs per egg clutch versus egg size; snout–vent length, body mass, and tail length were not correlated with clutch size. Thirteen females were found to exhibit nest site fidelity, and 10 females exhibited nest securing. Neither nest site fidelity nor nest securing was found to influence reproductive output by females. The amount of precipitation one year prior to oviposition was correlated with the average number of eggs per clutch. It appears, therefore,...