Globally, 32% of amphibian species are threatened with extinction (GAA/IUCN). As global temperatures rise, the predicted increase in evaporation rates (IPCC 2007) may further threaten already declining salamander populations. Lungless salamanders (plethodontids) are particularly at risk to climate change because they require moist skin for respiratory gas exchange. To address the effect of climate change on salamanders, this creative inquiry course will investigate the relationship between hydric and thermal environments and plethodontid salamanders. Hydric and thermal environments are inextricably linked; calculating the effects of one condition requires detailed knowledge of the other. Thus, the effect of these environments on organisms must be studied simultaneously to make ecologically relevant conclusions. Students will have the opportunity to explore the relationship between the hydrothermal environment and salamanders using various techniques in the field and laboratory. These experiments can then be used to understand the effects of climate change on amphibian populations by improving predictive models that incorporate physiology.
Through this creative inquiry program, I wish to engage undergraduate students in the study of physiological ecology in the field and laboratory by exploring hydrothermal relationships, organismal performance, and computational modeling techniques. Research opportunities will include, but are not limited to:
1) Investigating the variation of dehydration and rehydration rates of several species of salamanders from the field.
2) Developing experiments to measure the sensitivity of performance to the hydrothermal environment in the laboratory.
3) Performing field investigations to determine the environmental conditions conducive for activity of various species of salamanders.
4) Construct computational models based upon performance and environmental data to predict changes in species distributions in response to climate change.
Through this creative inquiry program, I wish to engage undergraduate students in the study of physiological ecology in the field and laboratory by exploring hydrothermal relationships, organismal performance, and computational modeling techniques. Research opportunities will include, but are not limited to:
1) Investigating the variation of dehydration and rehydration rates of several species of salamanders from the field.
2) Developing experiments to measure the sensitivity of performance to the hydrothermal environment in the laboratory.
3) Performing field investigations to determine the environmental conditions conducive for activity of various species of salamanders.
4) Construct computational models based upon performance and environmental data to predict changes in species distributions in response to climate change.