8 

 western red cedar ( Thuja plicata ) and western hemlock ( Tsuqa 

 heterophyl la ) overstories (Groves 1988) at all aspects. 



Ninety percent of 99 Idaho sites where habitat data have been 

 collected were in areas of greater than 25% canopy cover and only 

 two (both seeps) were in an area with 10% cover or less. Forest 

 cover may be more important near stream sites than seep sites. 

 Average cover at streamside sites (83% + 15%) was significantly 

 greater (Mann-Whitney U, P = 0.005) than at seep locations (57% + 

 5%) , although only seven stream sites were measured. Minimum 

 canopy cover measured at stream sites was 42%. Terrain at sites 

 was typically steep, with average slopes of 62% (range 10 - 90%) 

 (Groves 1988, Wilson 1991). 



Known populations occur in association with sharply fractured 

 rock formations (used for underground refugia) from 488 m (1,600 

 ft) to 1,524 m (5,000 ft) in elevation. This fractured rock is 

 often found in the Belt Rock formation but can also occur in 

 talus and in other geologic types (Wilson and Simon 1987; Groves 

 and Cassirer 1989) . The species is found in conjunction with 

 both persistent and inteirmittent surface water. Thus, it is 

 possible to locate salamanders at a wet site in the spring, yet 

 be unable to find any animals at the same site later in the 

 summer when the site is dry on the surface. 

 Conseirvation genetics 



Genetic evidence indicates there is little, if any exchange 

 between widely separated (> 100 km; 62 mi) Coeur d'Alene 

 salamander populations (Wallace 1986) . However, the extent of 



