The plight of declining amphibians (such as frogs and toads) has received worldwide attention since 1989, but relatively little is known about population trends among salamander species – the silent and hidden amphibians.
Salamanders occur in great abundance within healthy forest ecosystems and may be useful for assessing the quality of forest ecosystems.
Salamanders breathe through their skins (some don’t even have lungs!) and may be sensitive biological monitors of environmental change.
Why Monitor Salamanders in Our Region?
Relatively little is known about the salamanders of our region (there are relatively few people here to report salamanders!).
Yet much forest extraction and management occurs in our region; this has a large potential impact on the salamander populations.