Accurate assessment of species distribution is a critical component in conservation planning. We utilized a multi-method approach to assessing the distribution of Cryptobranchus alleganiensis (Hellbender) and the habitat the species occupies in the New York portion of the Susquehanna River watershed, including a ground-validated species-distribution model (SDM), visual assessment of rock cover, rock-lifting surveys, and eDNA sampling. Suitable rock cover was sparsely distributed, and Hellbender distribution was limited to a small subset of the study area. Hellbenders were detected at 9 of 22 historic sites, suggesting considerable decline. Only a single individual was captured, but eDNA identified Hellbender presence at 13 of 51 sites. We suggest that a multi-method approach integrating SDM and eDNA is more effective for monitoring low-density populations than traditional field methods alone.
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4 June 2024
Distribution of Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) and Their Habitat in New York's Susquehanna River Watershed
Robin L. Foster,
Chris P.S. Larsen,
Amy M. McMillan
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Northeastern Naturalist
Vol. 31 • No. 2
June 2024
Vol. 31 • No. 2
June 2024