Salamanders show forest recovery after logging
Posted by staff / January 22, 2014 amphibiansforest ecosystemsforest habitatsFOREST RECOVERYRay SemlitschsalamanderSalamanders
Woodland salamanders are small, lungless amphibians that live in moist, forest habitats throughout the US and the world. Salamanders often serve as vital links in forest food chains—their population size and recovery from major disturbances can help predict the health of forest ecosystems.
“One of our primary interests is in conservation of amphibians and the habitats that they utilize,” says Ray Semlitsch, professor of biological sciences at the University of Missouri. “We are trying to understand how land use, and particularly forest management, affects the survival of amphibians on the landscape. We also determined that salamander recovery—or the amount of time it takes for salamanders to repopulate a cut forest area—can help forest managers determine appropriate logging schedules.”
Full story at Futurity.
Photo credit: Grant Connette at Wayah Bald, NC
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