Plethodontid salamanders lack lungs and breath through their glandular skin and the roof of their mouth which must remain moist for respiration; they are vulnerable to desiccation and soil contaminants. Plethodontids can reach high densities in many forest habitats and play an important role in ecosystem food webs and detrital dynamics. Annual monitoring occurs during September-October with 12 plots visited a minimum of four times at intervals of at least 1 week apart. Target ecosystems are mature hemlock forests and deciduous-dominated mixed forests. Field measurements include a count of salamanders under each cover object.