Bridging data gaps: Evidence‐based population assessment for an endemic amphibian of conservation concern

Abstract Understanding the ecological niches and needs of a species, and how specific threats may affect their survival, are necessary to effectively conserve a species or a larger community. The Southern Appalachians in the United States are home to a plethora of endemic salamander species, including Weller's salamander ( Plethodon welleri ). Like many other endemic species in this region, Weller's salamander is chronically understudied, resulting in a limited understanding of the population occurrences and ecological requirements. The objective of our study was to develop foundational knowledge for Weller's salamander by investigating patterns in occupancy and abundance and identifying primary habitat characteristics. We used an occupancy modeling framework to assess a variety of static and variable habitat parameters and identified trends in habitat needs and seasonal activity shifts. Additionally, we used N‐mixture models to conservatively estimate the number of Weller's salamanders at each plot and determine which parameters influenced the number of salamanders present. We found that the environmental factors associated with desiccation risk were most strongly correlated with detection of Weller's salamanders across seasons, resulting in detection probabilities of 0.364 (spring), 0.430 (summer), and 0.518 (fall). Plot occupancy and abundance were influenced primarily by terrain and elevational characteristics, coupled with seasonal changes resulting in occupancy estimates of 0.603 (spring), 0.278 (summer), and 0.466 (fall), and density estimates of 2.382/50 m 2 (spring), 2.370/50 m 2 (summer), and 10.629/50 m 2 (fall). We observed seasonal changes in activity patterns across the surveyed elevational gradient, with salamanders being active at lower elevations during transitional seasons (spring and fall) and active at higher elevation sites during the warmer summer months. Our study provides evidence that Weller's salamander is not a habitat specialist of high‐elevation spruce‐fir forests, as originally described, but rather can be found in a variety of forest types along a greater elevation gradient. The findings from this study will help guide future research into Weller's salamander and could help guide efforts to conserve and manage this species in the future.