Abstract
Abstract We examined the influence of cover item type (rock, down wood, leaf litter) on capture, size (snout-vent length) and weight of two plethodontid salamander species, Desmognathus ochrophaeus Cope (Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander) and Plethodon cinereus (Green) (red-backed salamander), common in riparian forests of northwestern Pennsylvania. We wanted to determine if cover item use differed seasonally and/or by geomorphic surface within stream valleys and if cover item type and/or geomorphic surface influenced size and weight of salamanders. We also tested the hypothesis that larger salamanders are associated with larger cover items. Captures of D. ochrophaeus and P. cinereus differed significantly by season and were inversely related: captures of D. ochrophaeus peaked in the spring and midsummer; captures of P. cinereus peaked in the fall. Capture rates did not differ by geomorphic surface. Cover item use was similar for D. ochrophaeus and P. cinereus with most captures associated with rock or ...
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