The Impact of Environmental Factors on Arizona Tiger Salamander Larval Growth

Abstract

Amphibians have been hit particularly hard by the recent era of biodiversity loss (Collins 2009). Understanding the factors that influence their growth and development can help us understand their global decline as well as the dynamics of populations in widely different habitats. Growth rates have been observed to vary dramatically between low elevation (6000 ft) and high elevation (12,000 ft) habitats (Whiteman and Wissinger 2005). Larval growth rates have important implications for life fitness and reproductive success, influencing the morphology of sexually mature salamanders and the size and age at first reproduction (Whiteman 1994; Semlitsch et al.1988). Larval growth rates and physical characteristics are impacted by environmental factors like temperature, elevation, and pond hydroperiod (Wissenger et al. 2010; Semlitsch et al. 1988). This study will investigate the influence of environmental conditions on larval growth rates in Arizona tiger salamanders. Salamander larvae as well as sexually mature paedomorphic and metamorphic salamanders will be collected and measured from sites ranging in elevation. This data will be compared against multiple environmental variables such as elevation, water chemistry, solar input, and pond hydroperiod. Statistical analysis will reveal which variables or combination of variables have the greatest influence on larval growth rates and ultimately inform our understanding of salamander population dynamics between vastly different sampling sites.

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