By Doug Berube, Senior Field Biologist
Waiting for the Salamander Migration at The Dawes Arboretum? So are the Salamanders! They spend the winter in tunnels in a period of suspended development, called diapause, waiting for warmer and rainy conditions to start the breeding season. As the temperature rises, the reproductive process starts in the mole salamanders and when conditions are right, they start their migration to their vernal pool. They are explosive breeders, meaning they reproduce at a very fast rate, and the breeding is complete within a few days. When the breeding is complete the salamanders migrate back to their hibernation site until next breeding season. Mole salamanders are not the only amphibians that migrate to these vernal pools for breeding. The salamanders are joined by wood frogs, spring peppers and chorus frogs. The vernal pools in the spring are filled with amphibians that are all explosive breeders which turns these pools into a frenzy.
Join us for a chance to experience this unique phenomenon! Email rlfisher@dawesarb.org to receive an email when conditions are right and registration is open.