▲Barton Springs Salamander▲
(Eurycea Sosorum)
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eurycea_sosorum_FWS_20406.jpg)
▲Description & Ecology▲
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Barton Springs Salamander is a unique species that is part of a family called Plethodontidae, which means “Lungless Salamanders”. Having a peculiar body type the Barton Springs Salamander has a slim physique, lanky limbs, a narrow head and one of its most outstanding features its external lungs. What makes this species of salamander even more interesting is unlike humans the Barton Spring Salamander picks up oxygen due to the current of the water, picking up oxygen as the water passes through, thus the reason for its external lungs. Now this species is found in different spring outlets found throughout Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, hiding underwater around different types of aquatic vegetation such as aquatic vascular plants, vegetative debris, and underwater algae. One thing about this species of salamander that separates it from the others is its life cycle, the Barton Springs Salamander will live from birth to death in water being an aquatic type species. These salamanders tend to feed on any small crustaceans within the water that would include species such as brine shrimp. Not much is known about the breeding times of the Barton Springs Salamander, as they have been known to breed year round, with a female producing as much 15 offspring per session. When it comes to the size and lifespan these salamanders are pretty average growing up to 2.5 to 3 inches in adulthood living up to 10 years.
▲Geographic and Population Changes▲
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Over the years the Barton Springs Salamander has a seen a steady decline in its population size. During the 1970’s it was said that the Barton Springs Salamander was abundant and easy to find within the different springs containing hundreds, but more and more urbanization of the land around started to happen, so did the decline of the species. On May 30, 1997, this species was officially deemed endangered and efforts were made to conserve. With the already existing population of Barton Spring Salamander was small, to begin with, the species being endemic to only four of the springs in Zilker Park, Barton Springs, Eliza Springs, Upper Barton Springs, and Sunken Garden, making this species highly susceptible to population change. The Barton Springs Salamander has a very sensitive habitat, relying highly on the quality and quantity of the water requiring them to live in certain temperatures of water from 70 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the urbanization of the area and groundwater deterioration from different facilities, the species was hit hard by the fluctuation of water temperatures from the runoff of the urbanized areas. Also altering the different vegetation that provided the Barton Springs Salamander habitat and breeding capabilities.
▲Cause of Listing and Main Threats Today▲
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The Barton Springs Salamander is a species that fits most of the criteria for an at-risk species, they are the specialist that have limited range, small population, a sensitive habitat, and other specific needs. Establishing that, the urbanization of land has caused the listing of this species as endangered. Urbanization has caused many problems, with one being damaging the quality of water that the species is in taking. With the construction of urban areas, the runoff from it contains many pollutants such as sediment, which clogs the external lungs of the Barton Springs Salamander, essentially killing them. Also, things such as stormwater from urban areas dilute the quality of water, making it harder for the species to extract oxygen from the water. One incident that had a major impact on the species the Oct. 1994 flood, which brought an influx of pollutants that made the water more toxic to the species. Since the species has been established as endangered there have been efforts to prevent these problems. Yet there still exist many threats today that harm the existence of the species, which are the pesticides that are flowing in the springs causing different reproductive problems and groundwater issues. Now the groundwater issue is due to the fact that since there are more people coming in these areas they are using the groundwater within the area to supply, causing less water quantity to the Barton Springs which the Barton Spring Salamander lives in creating lower water levels.
▲Recovery Plan▲
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Since May 30, 1997, the listing of the Barton Springs Salamander as endangered, there have been efforts to reestablish the species through a recovery plan that was. This recovery plan includes a multitude of steps that include monitoring, redesigning, and public help. This first step of the recovery plan is to attain land for the habitat of the species and this was done with the help of the local populace to vote for a bond that would buy the land. Next would be creating a way for water quality management and this would require the local population and design new areas where the runoff of water would be managed properly. Also with runoffs responding to spills that have hazardous material in a better way where it would not seep off into the springs and habitat of the Salamanders. This would also include new urbanization design and creating certain building regulations that would prevent sewage or other pollutants from polluting the springs. The recovery plan addresses the runoff problem, but also includes limiting the use of groundwater allowing for the water levels to maintain. Regulating the pumping of groundwater and reducing the amount of groundwater pumping usage, is one of the methods the recovery plan uses. Since the species is small in population and is susceptible to natural occurrences, the recovery plan establishes a breeding and captivity program that would help sustain the population if anything were to happen. The Water Protection department controls this program where they constantly survey the population with monthly monitoring keeping a steady eye. Having over one hundred Austin Blind and Barton Spring Salamander in captivity for breeding and other researching purposes.
▲What Can You Do ?▲
There are several ways to help the Barton Springs Salamander for those who are not within the Austin, Texas community you can reduce the amount pesticides used through this link
Reducing Pesticides.
Now for those who live in communities near Barton Springs there are several ways to help:
- Conserving the amount of water use when no in drought seasons
- Dispose of used chemicals properly such as going to designated areas where chemical disposal drop offs are allowed and if you need more information call this number (512) 416-8998 which is the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
- Do not pull any plants out of the springs because they are used as habitat by Barton Springs Salamander and other species
▲Resources:▲
▲References:▲
- Eurycea sosorum . (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/summary/8392/0
- Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum). (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/bartonspringssalamander/
- Can't Live Without 'Em: Barton Springs Salamander. (2015, December 22). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from http://www.defendersblog.org/2011/09/cant-live-without-em-barton-springs-salamander/
- Final Barton Springs Salamander Recovery Plan with Austin Blind Salamander Adendum [PDF]. (2005, August 18). Austin, Texas: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
- Endangered. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://bartonspringssalamander1.weebly.com/endangered.html
First off, I think you did great job at talking about each topic in depth. Also, I liked the pictures you used and think you formatted your project effectively. I found it interesting that this specie gets oxygen from the current of water due to their external lungs. We must try to stop urbanizing so much and to try to make the water they are in more clear. From now on I plan on taking any harmful chemicals I use to safe chemical drop off locations to ensure that I am helping save this specie. Nice work!
ReplyDelete-Beau Zacharia
It seems like a common threat to a lot of species that others decided to research is urbanization also. It is very devastating that urbanization is damaging the quality of water that the species lives in their whole lives. It illustrates how crucial water management and city planning is when designing new residential homes and other urban areas to reduce damaging chemical runoff as much as possible. I strongly believe that the more people are aware of this issue, a change can be made to help a species like the Barton Spring Salamander. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete-Ikumi Yano
These are such funny looking creatures - they look like they are smiling all the time! Their breathing setup is wild - I never would have known that! It's hard to see another species effected by human urbanization and development, especially because these salamanders have a limited range, but making people aware of their predicament is the first step and I think your blog does a great job!
ReplyDeleteLena Vogler
I liked how you chose such a unique species for this assignment! You had great visuals and strong layout throughout your blog! I liked how you provided a direct link to the reducing pesticides page. People need to become more aware about the harmful effects from chemicals and how to properly dispose of them. Overall, great work!
ReplyDelete-Jackson Werbelow
Your blog was very easy to follow and contained a lot of important information that was well organized! The salamander is such a unique species that I think is often forgotten about. I had no idea that pesticides played such a role in their life, I totally limited them to affecting plants and food we eat. Awesome blog, very interesting!
ReplyDelete- Natalie Weis