Temperature- and Density-dependent Effects on Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) Growth, Life History and Trophic Cascades
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Wildlife and Conservation Biology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Howard Whiteman
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Amphibians serve as excellent bioindicators of ecosystem health, enabling them to act as early-warning sentinels of climate change. Polyphenic amphibians, including many salamander species, are particularly useful models for understanding the ecological effects of global change because morph production is environmentally-induced. Facultative paedomorphosis is a process by which individuals can either metamorphose into terrestrial adults or mature into fully aquatic adults based on environmental cues experienced as larvae. Since paedomorphs facilitate important trophic interactions, climate-induced changes in paedomorph production should directly affect predation of invertebrate assemblages and thus prey for future salamander populations. Previous studies have shown that a slight increase in temperature decreases salamander body condition, but the mechanism driving this trend is not yet understood. I am experimentally testing the effect of a warmed environment on mole salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum), including the resulting predator-prey interaction between salamanders and invertebrates and subsequent carryover effects on the next generation of salamanders. Using 36 mesocosms, I am manipulating temperature (ambient versus +1℃) and density (zero, low, high) to assess their interactive effects on salamander body condition. To compare treatments I am measuring snout-vent length, mass and sexual maturity of salamanders. By manipulating temperature and density simultaneously, which naturally interact to create variation in paedomorph production and paedomorph health, I am assessing how climate warming may act in density-dependent fashion to fuel these feedbacks, and therefore affect the surrounding ecosystem. Predicting the effects of climate change is necessary so conservation efforts can be created before irreversible damage is done to these ecosystems.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Temperature- and Density-dependent Effects on Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) Growth, Life History and Trophic Cascades
Amphibians serve as excellent bioindicators of ecosystem health, enabling them to act as early-warning sentinels of climate change. Polyphenic amphibians, including many salamander species, are particularly useful models for understanding the ecological effects of global change because morph production is environmentally-induced. Facultative paedomorphosis is a process by which individuals can either metamorphose into terrestrial adults or mature into fully aquatic adults based on environmental cues experienced as larvae. Since paedomorphs facilitate important trophic interactions, climate-induced changes in paedomorph production should directly affect predation of invertebrate assemblages and thus prey for future salamander populations. Previous studies have shown that a slight increase in temperature decreases salamander body condition, but the mechanism driving this trend is not yet understood. I am experimentally testing the effect of a warmed environment on mole salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum), including the resulting predator-prey interaction between salamanders and invertebrates and subsequent carryover effects on the next generation of salamanders. Using 36 mesocosms, I am manipulating temperature (ambient versus +1℃) and density (zero, low, high) to assess their interactive effects on salamander body condition. To compare treatments I am measuring snout-vent length, mass and sexual maturity of salamanders. By manipulating temperature and density simultaneously, which naturally interact to create variation in paedomorph production and paedomorph health, I am assessing how climate warming may act in density-dependent fashion to fuel these feedbacks, and therefore affect the surrounding ecosystem. Predicting the effects of climate change is necessary so conservation efforts can be created before irreversible damage is done to these ecosystems.