Microhabitat Associations for the Threatened Cheat Mountain Salamander in Relation to Early-Stage Red Spruce Restoration Areas

Abstract

Abstract The Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative was formed to promote restoration of red spruce Picea rubens forests in Central Appalachia. One goal of the initiative is to increase availability and enhance quality of habitat for wildlife, including the threatened Cheat Mountain salamander Plethodon nettingi. The purpose of this research was to compare microhabitat characteristics between an occupied Cheat Mountain salamander site and early-stage spruce restoration sites, and between four occupied sites and proximal nondetection sites. We found that soil pH was higher and soil moisture was lower at spruce restoration sites compared with the occupied site, and that light intensity, subcanopy air temperature, and ground-level air temperature were higher in spruce restoration sites with reduced canopy cover. We found that soil moisture was higher at occupied sites compared with proximal nondetection sites, but soil pH was not significantly different. Our study suggests that Cheat Mountain salamanders are associated with low soil pH and high soil moisture, and thus spruce restoration could enhance habitat quality for this species in the long-term.