Table 1 (of 4)

Plethodon: scores for white spots at different elevations
along Ball Creek road -- Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory
September 14, 2002

Altitude Score for white spots
(feet) 0 1 2 3
2250 - - 3 6
2550 - - 6 3
2700 - 6 4 -
2850 1 8 3 -
3150 2 6 2 -
3450 3 3 1 -

Explanations of scores . . .

0 -- no white spots anywhere (absence of pigment on undersides does not count as white spots!
1 -- few white spots along sides
2 -- white spots along sides from front to rear legs (small individuals can have a few spots on the back also)
3 -- white spots on sides and back

 

Table 2 (of 4)

Plethodon: scores for red on legs at different elevations
along Ball Creek road -- Coweeta Hydrological Laboratory
September 14, 2002

Altitude Score for red on legs
(feet) 0 1 2 3
2250 4 5 - -
2550 3 6 - -
2700 - 6 3 1
2850 - 1 7 5
3150 - 2 3 4
3450 - 3 1 3

Explanations of scores . . .

0 -- no red pigment on any leg
1 -- discontinuous spots of red on fore legs
2 -- continuous red along proximal parts of fore legs and some red on hind legs (more red on hind legs compensates for less on fore legs)
3 -- continuous red on proximal parts of all legs

 

Table 3 (of 4)

Plethodon:
scores for white spots in relation to scores for red on legs
(2550 - 2850 feet only)
September 14, 2002

Score for Score for white spots
red on legs 0 1 2 3
0 0 0 2 1
1 1 2 9 2
2 1 9 3 0
3 2 8 1 0

 

Table 4 (of 4)

Plethodon:
Hairston's index of hybridization (hybrid index)
at different elevations along Ball Creek road
September 14, 2002
(hybrid index = score for red on legs MINUS score for white spots)

Altitude Hybrid index (score for red MINUS score for white)
(feet) 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3
2250 - - - - 2 4 3
2550 - - - - 4 4 1
2700 - 1 3 2 4 - -
2850 1 5 4 2 1 - -
3150 1 3 5 2 - - -
3450 - 3 3 1 - - -

Note that the hybrid index varies from 3 to -3.
"Pure" jordani have a score of 3 (leg score = 3, spot score = 0).
"Pure" "glutinosus" have a score of -3 (leg score = 0, spot score = 3).

Other species . . .

Amphibia
Eurycea bislineata 5
Desmognathus quadrimaculatus 1 (a monster!)
Desmognathus monticola 8
Wood Frog Rana sylvatica 1

Mammals
Coyote Canis latrans 1 (ran down the middle of the road near Highlands)
cottontail Sylvilagus sp. 1 (probably the common Eastern Cottontail
     but possibly the New England Cottontail)

Notes: drizzle or rain all day and night!