Amphibians and Reptiles

Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)

Photo/G. S. Casper

Amphibians have high potential as indicators of changes in the environmental quality because of their biologic sensitivity and a life cycle that involves both aquatic and terrestrial habitats for many species. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is home to several species of amphibians. Their diversity is influenced by available habitat, island size, and colonization events. With the exclusion of Gull and Eagle, which are too small for suitable habitat, the islands support 6 species of salamanders, 8-10 species of frogs, 4 species of snakes, 2 species of turtles, and 1 toad.

 

Wood frog (Rana sylvatica)

Photo/G. S. Casper

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been coordinating statewide frog and toad surveys since 1984. In cooperation with the DNR's monitoring program, the Lakeshore audio frog and toad surveys were begun in 1990 to determine long-term statewide population trends. As a protected area, Apostle Islands may also serve as a control against which population trends could be compared with intensely managed areas. Acoustic monitoring since 2014 tracks specific frogs on permanent and semipermanent wetlands* at 10 sites and helps show the health of the ecosystem by tracking species phenology, occupancy, and abundance.

 

Northern Ringneck snake

Photo/H. Hyzer

Apostle Islands provide prime habitat for amphibians that includes mixed hardwood and boreal forests, bog, lagoons and streams. Typical species of the mixed hardwood forest found in the park include the Spotted Salamander and Gray Treefrog, Northern Red-bellied and Northern Ringneck snakes. Wood Frogs, Blue-spotted salamanders, and Red-backed salamanders are found in the moister forest, while Mink Frogs and Northern Leopard Frogs inhabit pond and lake edges. Some of the hardy amphibians and reptiles that survive in a variety of habitat types within National Lakeshore are Northern Spring Peeper, American Toad, Painted Turtle, and Common Garter Snake. Common Mudpuppies are restricted to Lake Superior and its river mouths. Some species, like Central Newt and Mink Frog, are only found on islands with lagoons. The distribution of Eastern Red-backed Salamander is particularly interesting in being absent from many islands with suitable habitat.

 

*Wetland habitats:

Marshes

Location: shores of rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, and coastlines
Vegetation: soft-stemmed plants such as cattails and arrowhead
Water: up to 7’, may dry up by the end of summer

Swamps

Location: along rivers, streams, and lakes
Vegetation: woody-stemmed plants such as shrubs and trees
Water: shallow, often floods in spring but may dry up by the end of summer

Bogs

Location: northern climates, often in deep depressions with no drainage
Vegetation: layers of peat, evergreen trees and shrubs. A surface carpet of sphagnum moss. Insect eating plants.
Water: stagnant and acidic, sometimes covers with a floating mat of moss. Open water may be very deep.

Fens

Location: northern climates, usually in low-lying areas with some drainage
Vegetation: layers of peat, sedges, grasses, and low shrubs. Insect eating plants
Water: slow-moving, shallow surface water that may dry up by the end of summer

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

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Species attribute definitions

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