The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michigan: A Quaternary and Recent Faunal Adventure

Preface

ichigan, an ecologically transitional border state with Canada, is blessed with seventysix natural communities (Michigan Natural Features Inventory 2007) that together support a diverse assemblage of animals and plants, including fifty-four species of amphibians and reptiles. Because Michigan consists of two peninsulas that project into large freshwater seas and because it was completely covered by a massive ice sheet a relatively short time ago, scientists, students, and other enthusiasts have many questions about the dispersal and biology of the Michigan herpetofauna—the amphibians and reptiles. For example, eight out of seventeen papers once presented at the zoology section of an annual meeting of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters were about Michigan amphibians or reptiles. All is not happy banter when Michigan herpetologists get together, as we all fidget and fret about the diminishing populations of amphibians and reptiles in the state.The most frightening thing is that not only are the officially threatened and endangered species of concern but also the many species that were very common throughout large portions of the state as recently as the early 1980s.They too are becoming rare and exist only as fragmented populations. That said, it is surprising that Michigan does not have a post–WorldWar II detailed monograph on the amphibians and reptiles of the state (a “state herpetology ”) like those of other states in the region—for example, The Natural History of Reptiles of Wisconsin (Vogt 1981), The Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois (P.W. Smith 1961), Amphibians and Reptiles of Indiana (Minton 2001), and The Reptiles of Ohio (Conant 1951).The latest work of this kind on Michigan alone was assembled in 1928 and covered forty-four of the fifty-four species presently known in the state (Ruthven et al. 1928). This book is intended not only to rectify this situation but to go a step further than any available “state herpetology” in the United States by including detailed Quaternary (Pleistocene and Holocene) accounts that include both “natural” and archaeological site records. Thus, this analysis of the Michigan herpetofauna uniquely bridges the gap between neo- and paleoherpetology . It emphasizes that modern herpetofaunas are a reflection of Pleistocene and Holocene events and that this is especially true in Michigan, where the entire modern assemblage was forced to reinvade the area after the last withdrawal of the ice. Part 1 starts with a discussion of Michigan as an amphibian and reptile habitat.This section begins with an account of the geological history of Michigan, covering basic bedrock geology and Pleistocene glacial history. Next, Michigan’s climatic and vegetational history are discussed.Various Michigan regional divisions are detailed with attention to biotic provinces, vertebrate paleontological regions, and Michigan regional landscape ecosystems. Next, characteristic recent amphibian and reptile habitats in the state are described, including forest, grassland, lake and pond, bog and swamp, and river and stream. A special section looks at urban habitats. Following this is a discussion of the history of early and modern herpetological studies in Michigan, including institutions related to the protection, study, and maintenance of amphibians and reptiles in the state. Finally, procedures used in the identification of both modern and fossil amphibians are explained. The heart of the book, part 2, consists of recent species accounts. In these recent accounts, Michigan’s fifty-four amphibian and reptile species are presented with their scientific and common names, identification, general distribution, Michigan distribution (with a range map), geographic variation, habitat and habits, xv M Preface reproduction and growth, diet, predation and defense, interaction with humans, behavioral characteristics, population health, and general remarks. Part 3 is a discussion and summary of the Michigan herpetofauna in Quaternary and recent historical times. Topics include a reexamination of the Pleistocene in Michigan and the amazing survival of amphibians and reptiles during these stressful times, patterns of herpetological reoccupation of postglacial Michigan by amphibians and reptiles, and finally a summary of Michigan amphibians and reptiles in the Holocene (including archaeological sites) and modern times. In this part, the species accounts include Pleistocene, Holocene, and archaeological records. Accounts of Michigan amphibian and reptile species of the two epochs include the sites, material, and remarks. Accounts related to archaeological finds include sites, chronological age, and remarks. This collection of information should be heartily welcomed by herpetologists, especially those in North America and the Midwest.The book should also be of great interest to vertebrate paleontologists, zoologists, ecologists, and general biologists. Finally, I’m certain the book will be embraced by anyone who loves...