DISTRIBUTION OF VANDYKE SALAMANDER (PLETHODON-VANDYKEI VANDENBURGH)

Literature and field surveys were conducted to document occurrence of Van Dyke's Salamander (Plethodon vandyke) in Washington State. A map c omparing the salamander's distribution with climatic and geologic vari ables was constructed to reveal potentially inhabited regions. At leas t 80 localities for the species are presently known. These occupy regi ons with >150 cm average annual precipitation, and have an upper altit udinal limit coinciding with the boundary between temperate mesophytic and subalpine forests. Disjunct population centers in the Willapa Hil ls, on the Olympic Peninsula, and in the southern Cascade Ranges are s eparated by glacial and alluvial deposits which appear to limit the sa lamander's regional distribution.