Effect of Water Quality on Salamander Diversity within Local Streams

• Marta Cabellos

  Juniata College

  Author

• Dee Dee George

  Juniata College

  Author

• Lauren Hahn

  Juniata College

  Author

• Anthony Mazoff

  Juniata College

  Author

• Elisha Stenger

  Juniata College

  Author

Salamanders prefer very specific water conditions and thus are capable of being biological indicators. For our research we decided to sample Warm Spring and Cold Spring for the species of salamander along with the water quality of the springs. The northern dusky (Desmognathus fuscus), northern red (Pseudrotriton ruber), and the northern two-lined (Eurycea bislineata) were observed at both springs, while the spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) was only observed at Warm Spring. More studies should be conducted to understand why the spring salamander seems to prefer Cold Springs.

• PDF