Graham and I went up to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Blount Co., TN, to look for ambystomatids in Gum Swamp. Weather was cold because of the passage of a major front the night before. Temps were in upper 40s when we first arrived around 1:30 pm but fell to the upper 30s by 4:30 pm and snow showers were in the air. The Valley and Ridge around Knoxville received a considerable amount of rain last night (1.5 - 2.5") but the mountains apparently were spared. Gum Swamp was very dry and in serious need of rain. We found a few Ambystoma opacum clutches, two with attending females and two without. Here are the totals:
Ambystoma opacum (Marbled Salamander) 2 adult females and 4 clutches
Ambystoma talpoideum (Mole Salamander) dead adult under a log
Plethodon serratus (Southern Redback Salamander) 3
Notophthalmus v. viridescens (Redspotted Newt) 1
Other wildlife:
Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) 30+ (Hunters should be allowed into Cades Cove for at least one week during the year)
Meleagris gallopavo (Wild Turkey) 13
Some pics:
Notophthalmus v. viridescens (Redspotted Newt) eft
Ambystoma opacum (Marbled Salamander) female w/ eggs
Ambystoma opacum eggs
Plethodon serratus (Southern Redback Salamander)
White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer eating lichen