streamside where soil is saturated with water. Clutch size has been known to vary geographically and can be as large as forty-five, or as few as eight. Females remain with their eggs for an incubation period of six to ten weeks (45 to 60 days) in order to protect them from desiccation and predation . The larvae are predominantly aquatic and approximately 1.5 cm in length upon hatching. The larvae then metamorphose into semi-terrestrial adults, with juvenile salamanders being 2.8 to 4.4 cm in length. Their biphasic life cycle includes an aquatic state of seven to 16 months, followed by a semi-terrestrial adult stage. The northern dusky salamander attains sexual maturity at approximately three to four years of age. Life expectancy is 10 to 15 years. Feeding The northern dusky salamander is considered to be feeding generalist, with its diet based on food availability. Stream salamanders are known to be significant predators. This is namely because they are dominant vertebrates within headwater riparian forest ecosystems, with a biomass greater than that reported for fish, birds or small mammals. The species is carnivorous and consumes a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. Larvae feed predominantly on aquatic invertebrates (such as copepods, other crustaceans and insect larvae), as well as mites, whereas the adult diet consists of 60 to 85% of terrestrial invertebrates, including arthropods (such as crustaceans, spiders, mites, flies and fly larvae, ants, beetles and beetle larvae, centipedes, moths and mayflies), snails, slugs and earthworms. When prey is in excess, the northern dusky salamander does typically have a preference for the larger and fleshier terrestrial invertebrates, such as earthworms. The aquatic portion of the adult's diet is habitat specific and commensurate with the seasonal abundance and diversity of invertebrates. Conservation Population and trends Current data does not allow an accurate estimate of population size or trends. That said, the total adult population size of the northern dusky salamander is known to exceed 100,000 individuals. There are numerous stable populations throughout the range. The species is widespread in Quebec and New Brunswick but local densities are usually low. In Ontario, the species is rare with a population size estimated at fewer than 250 individuals. Threats and limiting factors The northern dusky salamander is extremely vulnerable to desiccation and therefore reliant on clean headwater streams. Resultantly, contamination of ground water or waterways through pollution from urban areas, industry, or agriculture, can be