Selected life history traits of the eastern red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus (Green), at a suburban residence in south central Pennsylvania

Abstract

Abstract Museum specimens of the red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus (Green), from a single suburban site in south central Pennsylvania were examined for patterns in life history traits at the latitude and habitat of the population. Seasonal activity was bimodal (April–November). Mating could occur during fall–spring, and 75.9% of all females produced eggs each year. Clutch size (mean = 8.7 eggs) covaried with female body size. Young appeared in the fall, and sexual maturity could be reached just after their second year of life. The frequency of unstriped individuals corroborated the association of this phenotype with warmer climates. The higher incidence of broken/regenerated tails among males and juveniles was suggestive of a lower susceptibility of females to inefficient predators. Overall, life history traits of this population were similar to those of southern populations. In turn, global climate change can be expected to maintain those trends, and even more so in urban heat islands.