Effects of tail-clipping on survivorship and growth of larval salamanders

Rebecca Polich; Christopher A. Searcy; H. Bradley Shaffer

doi:10.1002/jwmg.596

Effects of tail-clipping on survivorship and growth of larval salamanders

Rebecca Polich, Christopher A. Searcy, H. Bradley Shaffer

University of Missouri-St. Louis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Tissue samples used for genetic analyses are increasingly necessary for proper management of rare or endangered species, yet growing evidence suggests that traditional methods used to sample or mark amphibians have detrimental fitness effects. We used a semi-natural mesocosm experiment to determine the effect of larval tail-clipping on growth and survival of the endangered California tiger salamander. Even with relatively extreme levels of tail loss, we found no effect on survival, mass, or snout-vent length. We recommend larval tail-clipping as a low-impact method for collecting tissue samples from pond-breeding amphibians.

Original language	American English
Journal	Wildlife Mangement
Volume	77
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.596
State	Published - Sep 2013

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Biology

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title = "Effects of tail-clipping on survivorship and growth of larval salamanders",

abstract = " Tissue samples used for genetic analyses are increasingly necessary for proper management of rare or endangered species, yet growing evidence suggests that traditional methods used to sample or mark amphibians have detrimental fitness effects. We used a semi-natural mesocosm experiment to determine the effect of larval tail-clipping on growth and survival of the endangered California tiger salamander. Even with relatively extreme levels of tail loss, we found no effect on survival, mass, or snout-vent length. We recommend larval tail-clipping as a low-impact method for collecting tissue samples from pond-breeding amphibians. ",

author = "Rebecca Polich and Searcy, {Christopher A.} and Shaffer, {H. Bradley}",

year = "2013",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1002/jwmg.596",

language = "American English",

volume = "77",

journal = "Wildlife Mangement",

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T1 - Effects of tail-clipping on survivorship and growth of larval salamanders

AU - Polich, Rebecca

AU - Searcy, Christopher A.

AU - Shaffer, H. Bradley

PY - 2013/9

Y1 - 2013/9

N2 - Tissue samples used for genetic analyses are increasingly necessary for proper management of rare or endangered species, yet growing evidence suggests that traditional methods used to sample or mark amphibians have detrimental fitness effects. We used a semi-natural mesocosm experiment to determine the effect of larval tail-clipping on growth and survival of the endangered California tiger salamander. Even with relatively extreme levels of tail loss, we found no effect on survival, mass, or snout-vent length. We recommend larval tail-clipping as a low-impact method for collecting tissue samples from pond-breeding amphibians.

AB - Tissue samples used for genetic analyses are increasingly necessary for proper management of rare or endangered species, yet growing evidence suggests that traditional methods used to sample or mark amphibians have detrimental fitness effects. We used a semi-natural mesocosm experiment to determine the effect of larval tail-clipping on growth and survival of the endangered California tiger salamander. Even with relatively extreme levels of tail loss, we found no effect on survival, mass, or snout-vent length. We recommend larval tail-clipping as a low-impact method for collecting tissue samples from pond-breeding amphibians.

UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.596

U2 - 10.1002/jwmg.596

DO - 10.1002/jwmg.596

M3 - Article

VL - 77

JO - Wildlife Mangement

JF - Wildlife Mangement

ER -

Effects of tail-clipping on survivorship and growth of larval salamanders

Abstract

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