Discovery of Striped Newts (Notophthalmus perstriatus) in Flagler County, Florida

We discovered 2 or 3 metapopulations of the imperiled Notophthalmus perstriatus (Striped Newt) using 15 wetlands on Princess Place Preserve and the adjacent Pellicer Creek Conservation Area in Flagler County, FL. Some of these wetlands are too ephemeral for successful reproduction most years, but a 5.1-ha dome swamp, 2.9-ha basin marsh, and 4 smaller wetlands contain paedomorphic populations that probably have annual recruitment. Most wetlands are in or near open-canopied or recently restored sandhill habitat with suitable conditions for terrestrial life stages. Since the state and county purchased these properties circa 1995, clear-cutting of Pinus clausa (Sand Pine), prescribed burning, and thinning of P. elliottii (Slash Pine) and Quercus spp. (oaks) have improved upland habitat for the Striped Newt.