by Lunden Simpson
The Siberian Salamander (Salamandrella keyserlingii) is able to survive for years under the permafrost of the Arctic Circle at temperatures as low as -45°C. In California, the Desert Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps major aridus) is able to survive the middle of the summer in one of the hottest, driest environments on earth. But between these extremes, salamanders are able to thrive across the globe in a variety of different environments, at a variety of elevations.
They can be found on mountains in dry woodlands, rainforests, and wetlands, but why are they able to do this? What makes the salamander so widespread and variable? The best way that this may be revealed, is through the study of physiological ecology.
Physiological ecology covers a wide variety of topics within the field of biology; some of the things that are looked at include, behavioral adaptation, sensory perception, reproduction and growth, as well as biochemistry. All of these areas of study allow scientists a way to look at the different methods that animals use when interacting with their environments.
This is a very important idea, especially in the modern world, with the global climate facing major changes. By looking at the ways that animals function within specific habitats, it is possible to observe the different influences that changing environments have on behavior. For the most part, species of salamanders are well adapted to specific environments, and require specific conditions to function optimally. The Siberian Salamander for one, exists best in cool, wet climates, and is able to change its biochemistry and replace the water in its blood and cells with an antifreeze-like substance, that protects its organs and tissues during freezes. The Desert Slender Salamander prefers warmer climates, and is able to adapt its behavior by moving out of direct sunlight and resting in moist areas during the hottest times of the year.
These are just two examples of changes that salamanders may make in response to their environment. With hundreds of different species of salamanders on the earth, the reaction possibilities are just as numerous. By studying the different species of salamanders and their reactions, it is possible to compare the results, and come up with some predictions about the ways that a species may react to future changes in climate. Because there are so many different salamander species and because they are relatively abundant and easy to study, these animals give scientists a broad base from which they can make predictions about the future.
The Siberian Salamander (Salamandrella keyserlingii) is able to survive for years under the permafrost of the Arctic Circle at temperatures as low as -45°C. In California, the Desert Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps major aridus) is able to survive the middle of the summer in one of the hottest, driest environments on earth. But between these extremes, salamanders are able to thrive across the globe in a variety of different environments, at a variety of elevations.
They can be found on mountains in dry woodlands, rainforests, and wetlands, but why are they able to do this? What makes the salamander so widespread and variable? The best way that this may be revealed, is through the study of physiological ecology.
Physiological ecology covers a wide variety of topics within the field of biology; some of the things that are looked at include, behavioral adaptation, sensory perception, reproduction and growth, as well as biochemistry. All of these areas of study allow scientists a way to look at the different methods that animals use when interacting with their environments.
This is a very important idea, especially in the modern world, with the global climate facing major changes. By looking at the ways that animals function within specific habitats, it is possible to observe the different influences that changing environments have on behavior. For the most part, species of salamanders are well adapted to specific environments, and require specific conditions to function optimally. The Siberian Salamander for one, exists best in cool, wet climates, and is able to change its biochemistry and replace the water in its blood and cells with an antifreeze-like substance, that protects its organs and tissues during freezes. The Desert Slender Salamander prefers warmer climates, and is able to adapt its behavior by moving out of direct sunlight and resting in moist areas during the hottest times of the year.
These are just two examples of changes that salamanders may make in response to their environment. With hundreds of different species of salamanders on the earth, the reaction possibilities are just as numerous. By studying the different species of salamanders and their reactions, it is possible to compare the results, and come up with some predictions about the ways that a species may react to future changes in climate. Because there are so many different salamander species and because they are relatively abundant and easy to study, these animals give scientists a broad base from which they can make predictions about the future.