Meeting Abstract
67.2 Wednesday, Jan. 6 Natural and captive habitat conditions of Chinese giant salamanders DAVIS, J.*; JIANG, P.; WILLARD, S.; KOUBA, A.; Rhodes College, Memphis, TN; Memphis Zoo, TN; Memphis Zoo, TN; Mississippi State University; Memphis Zoo, TN davisj@rhodes.edu
The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is one of three extant species of in the family Cryptobranchidae. All three species are at risk; the Chinese giant salamander is perhaps the most imperiled due to habitat loss and over-harvesting for human consumption. Despite long-term harvesting of natural populations, captive breeding efforts, and government protection, little is known regarding habitat conditions required to sustain giant salamander populations. The purpose of this study was to determine key habitat conditions in natural streams and in captive breeding farms in the Qinling Mountains of China. We tested the hypothesis that environmental conditions at successful breeding farms are more similar to natural conditions compared to conditions at unsuccessful breeding farms. Since the species is strictly aquatic, several water quality indicators as well as light intensity at the water surface were measured at twelve natural sites and eight breeding farms. Analyses indicated that mean water temperature at successful farms (20.7 oC) did not differ from natural stream sites (19.8 oC) and notably, the mean water temperature at unsuccessful farms (23.9 oC) was significantly higher than both natural sites and successful farms (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found among sites for other conditions including: pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, turbidity, or light intensity. Among measured conditions, only water temperature was a significant predictor of breeding success. Improving conditions in unsuccessful breeding farms, through water quality management, may increase breeding success and contribute to reintroduction programs such that sustainable populations of this critically endangered species may be established in nature.
