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24 April 1998

Dear Mr. Barber:

re: Jefferson Salamander in Ontario

Thanks very much for the detailed information on Jefferson Salamander in the Cawthra Bush. This is a significant record of a rare species and will be added to our database of "element occurrence" records for rare Ontario plants, animals, and vegetation communities.

Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) currently has no official provincial (MNR) or national (COSEWIC) status designation, however most provincial experts acknowledge that it is a rare species in Ontario. A COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) status report is currently in preparation on this species by Leslie Rye (a graduate student of James Bogart's at the University of Guelph). Jefferson Salamander is considered a "provincially significant reptile and amphibian species" according to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System Southern Manual (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; March 1993, revised May 1994; Appendix 13, page 158). The Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) ranks Jefferson Salamander S2 in the province, meaning it is "very rare". I enclose a copy of the NHIC amphibian and reptile list and the list from the wetland evaluation manual.

I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely - Michael J. Oldham, Botanist/Herpetologist

APPENDIX 13 - PROVINCIALLY SIGNIFICANT REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN SPECIES

List provided by Mike Oldham, MNR District Ecologist, Aylmer, based on Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary data May, 1992.

Jefferson Salamander*.......................................Ambystoma jeffersonianum Smallmouth Salamander...............................................Ambystoma texanum
Eastern Tiger Salamander...............................Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum Northern Dusky Salamander ...........................Desmognathus fuscus fuscus
Northern Spring Salamander...........Gyrinophilus porphyriticusporphyriticus
Fowler's Toad............................................................Bufo woodhousii fowleri Wood Turtle.......................................................................Clemmys insculpta Spotted Turtle.......................................................................Clemmys guttata Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle.............................Trionyx spiniferus spiniferus Butler's Garter Snake.......................................................Thamnophis butleri Queen Snake.................................................................Regina septemvittata Eastern Hognose Snake...............................................Heterodon platirhinos Eastern Fox Snake..................................,.....................Elaphe vulpina gloydi
Black Rat Snake.....................................................Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta
Eastern Massassaga Rattlesnake..................Sistrurus catenatus catenatus

* Note that among the Ambystoma complex (blue spotted salamander), only the Jefferson Salamander (A. jeffersonianum) is provincially significant. Genetic analysis is required for species confirmation.

 Page 158

NATURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES OF ONTARIO: AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES

September 1996 - Compiled by Michael J. Oldham, Botanist/Herpetologist, NHIC

INTRODUCTION

The Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, as part of its mission to preserve the biological diversity of Ontario, maintains a systematic inventory of all known locations of rare species and natural communities. The following list of the amphibians and reptiles of Ontario contains 58 taxa, 28 amphibians (14 salamanders and 14 frogs and toads) and 30 reptiles (I I turtles, 1 lizard and 18 snakes). All amphibian and reptile species native to Ontario which are officially recognized by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) are included on this list. This list supersedes earlier versions (Oldham 1994a, 1994b). Additional information and images of Ontario amphibians and reptiles can be viewed on an internet web page at http://fcor2.glfc.forestry.ca/english/res/herp/herp/herp.html

The NHIC is actively gathering information on ("tracking") rare species in Ontario. We are interested in new or updated information on occurrences of any boldfaced species appearing on this list. Species tracked by the NHIC are generally known from fewer than 100 locations in the province. A "Rare Species Field Reporting Form" has been provided at the end of the document for reporting sightings to the NHIC.

This list has benefitted from the technical review of Craig Campbell, Francis R. Cook, Bob Johnson, Ross MacCulloch, Frederick W. Schueler, and Wayne F. Weller.

 Page 1 - Please note the list with the columns has not been listed, yet.

LIST FORMAT

Information in this list is contained in 8 columns: scientific name, common name, global rank (GRANK), provincial rank (SRANK), COSEWIC status, MNR status, whether or not the species is tracked by the NHIC, and notes. To aid in the interpretation of the list, a brief explanation of each column follows:

Column 1. Scientific Name

Species are listed in taxonomic order following Cook (1984). Scientific names follow Collins (1990). Where the scientific names used by Cook (1984) differ significantly from those of Collins (1990), Cook's names are provided in the Notes column.

Column 2. Common Name

Common names follow Collins (1990). Where the common names used by Cook (1984) differ significantly from those of Collins (1990), Cook's common names are provided in the Notes column. Column 3. Global Rank (GRANK)

Global ranks are assigned by a consensus of the network of natural heritage programs (conservation data centres), scientific experts, and The Nature Conservancy to designate a rarity rank based on the range-wide status of a species or variety. The most important factors considered in assigning global (and provincial) ranks are the total number of known, extant sites world-wide (or in Ontario), and the degree to which they are potentially or actively threatened with destruction. Other criteria include the number of known populations considered to be securely protected, the size of the various populations, and the ability of the taxon to persist at its known sites. The taxonomic distinctness of each taxon has also been considered. Hybrids and taxonomically dubious species and subspecies have not been included. Global ranks for this list were provided by The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia in August 1996.

G1
Extremely rare; usually 5 or fewer occurrences in the overall range or very few remaining individuals; or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extinction.

G2
Very rare; usually between 5 and 20 occurrences in the overall range or with many individuals in fewer occurrences; or because of some factor(s) making it vulnerable to extinction.

G3
Rare to uncommon; usually between 20 and 100 occurrences; may have fewer occurrences, but with a large number of individuals in some populations; may be susceptible to large-scale disturbances.

 Page 3

G4
Common; usually more than 100 occurrences; usually not susceptible to immediate threats.

G5
Very common; demonstrably secure under present conditions.

T
Denotes that the rank applies to a subspecies.

Column 4. Provincial Rank (SRANK)

Provincial (or Subnational) ranks are used by the Natural Heritage Information Centre to set protection priorities for rare species and natural communities. These ranks are not legal designations. Provincial amphibian and reptile ranks were assigned largely on the basis of recent records assembled by the Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary project (Weller and Oldham 1988). The most important factors considered in assigning provincial ranks are the total number of known, extant sites in Ontario, and the degree to which they are potentially or actively threatened with destruction. Other criteria include the number of known populations considered to be securely protected, the size of the various populations, and the ability of the taxon to persist at its known sites. The NHIC evaluates provincial ranks on a continual basis, and produces updated lists at least annually. The provincial ranks appearing in this list benefitted from the review comments of Craig Campbell, Francis R. Cook, Ross MacCulloch, Bob Johnson, Frederick W. Schueler, and Wayne F. Weller. The. NHIC welcomes information which will assist in assigning accurate provincial ranks.

S1
Extremely rare in Ontario; usually 5 or fewer occurrences in the province or very few remaining individuals; often especially vulnerable to extirpation.

S2
Very rare in Ontario; usually between 5 and 20 occurrences in the province or with many individuals in fewer occurrences; often susceptible to extirpation.

S3
Rare to uncommon in Ontario; usually between 20 and 100 occurrences in the province; may have fewer occurrences, but with a large number of individuals in some populations; may be susceptible to large-scale disturbances.

S4
Common in Ontario; usually more than 100 occurrences; usually not susceptible to immediate threats.

S5
Very common in Ontario; demonstrably secure under present conditions.

SX
Apparently extirpated from Ontario, with little likelihood of rediscovery. Typically not seen in the province for many decades, despite searches at known historic sites.

 Page 4

SE Exotic
Not believed to be a native component of Ontario's fauna.

SR
Reported for Ontario, but without persuasive documentation which would provide a basis for either accepting or rejecting the report.

Column 5. COSEWIC Status

National status assigned by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, following the most recent COSEWIC list (1996).

END
Endangered. Any indigenous species of fauna or flora threatened with imminent extinction or extirpation throughout all or a significant portion of its Canadian Range.

THR
Threatened. Any indigenous species of fauna or flora that is likely to become endangered in Canada if the factors affecting its vulnerability do not become reversed.

VUL
Vulnerable. Any indigenous species of fauna or flora that is particularly at risk because of low or declining numbers, occurrence at the fringe of its range or in restricted areas, or for some other reason, but is not a threatened species.

 Column 6. MNR Status

Status assigned by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, following Bowman (1993). Endangered species (END) are protected under the province's Endangered Species Act. Species considered "Rare" in Bowman (1993) are now considered "Vulnerable" (I.E. Bowman, pers. comm.).

END
Endangered. Any indigenous species of fauna or flora that, on the basis of the best available scientific evidence, is indicated to be threatened with immediate extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its Ontario range.

THR
Threatened. Any indigenous species of fauna or flora that, on the basis of the best available scientific evidence, is indicated to be experiencing a definite non-cyclical decline throughout all or a major portion of its Ontario range, and that is likely to become an endangered species if the factors responsible for the decline continue unabated.

VUL
Vulnerable. Any indigenous species of fauna or flora that is represented in Ontario by small but relatively stable populations, and/or that occurs sporadically, or in a very restricted area of Ontario, or at the fringe of its range, and that should be monitored periodically for evidence of a possible decline.

 Page 7

Column 7. Track

Boldfaced species with YES in this field are actively tracked (i.e. information is gathered on these species) by the NHIC. A "Rare Species Field Reporting Form" has been provided at the end of the document for reporting sightings to the NHIC.

Column 8. Notes

Comments on the distribution and status in Ontario. Where scientific or common names used in this list differ from those of Cook (1984), names used by Cook are provided here.

LITERATURE CITED

Bowman, 1. 1993. An Agenda for Change: Species at Risk in Ontario. Report of the Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species Task Force. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto. 75 pp.

Collins, J.T., editor. 1990. Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Third Edition. Herpetological Circular No. 19, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 41 pp.

Cook, F.R. 1984. Introduction to Canadian Amphibians and Reptiles. National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario. 200 pp.

Oldham, M.J. 1994a. Natural Heritage Resources of Ontario: Amphibians. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Peterborough, Ontario. 10 pp.

Oldham, M.J.- 1994b. Natural Heritage Resources of Ontario: Reptiles. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Peterborough, Ontario. 10 pp.

Weller, W.F. and M.J. Oldham, editors. 1988. Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary 1986. Ontario Field Herpetologists, Cambridge. 221 pp.

Michael J. Oldham - Natural Heritage Information Centre - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources - Box 7000, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8M5
phone 705-755-2160 fax 705-755-2168
email oldhammi@epo.gov.on.ca

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