Article Review:

How to Monitor the Environment Using Salamanders

(April 21, 2012)

                The article I am reviewing states that in Dover, Delaware, scientists use the red-back salamander (Plethodon cinereus) to indicate the air quality of surrounding environments.  Because the plethodontids refrain from traveling very far, they are a great localized indicator. 

The scientists working on the project set boards in a grid in the middle of the forest as a way to keep validity.  It is low maintenance and cheap experiment that could unlock valuable information about the environment.

On one routine check, the reporter went with the scientists to check on the salamanders.  Out of the eight female salamanders, none were pregnant as they were thought to have been.  One of the scientists, Dr. Valenti, wasn’t sure why but thought that low precipitation in the area was to blame.  Rain fall in the months leading up to the check-up had been low and that might be why the females hadn’t started laying eggs.

The article was an interesting read but very short and inconclusive.  I believe the research being done could help scientist discover future patterns in air quality but more funding is needed (the article says they are low on funds).  There were no biases and no pictures.  Here is a red-back salamander:    

 Article: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/apr/21/tiny-salamander-used-to-monitor-environment/