Within-Pond Oviposition Site Selection in Two Spring-Breeding Amphibians (Ambystoma maculatum and Rana sylvatica)

ABSTRACT

We examined within-pond oviposition site selection by two spring-breeding amphibians, the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and the wood frog (Rana sylvatica), in two small ponds in central Ohio. Both species deposited their eggs in a non-random pattern within the ponds, ovipositing closer to shore and in shallower water than would be expected by chance. Rana sylvatica eggs were laid in warmer sites that had lower dissolved oxygen levels than random sites. Ambystoma maculatum egg masses tended to be fairly isolated from other A. maculatum egg masses, whereas R. sylvatica egg masses were highly aggregated.