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Effects of red-backed salamanders on ecosystem functions
Daniel J Hocking1, Kimberly J Babbitt1
1Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America.
Plos One
|January 28, 2014
Summary
Red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) did not significantly impact forest ecosystem functions like decomposition or nutrient cycling in eastern US forests. Their role in terrestrial ecosystems appears context-dependent, requiring further study across diverse conditions.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Zoology
Background:
- Ecosystem services are vital for human societies, yet the specific contributions of various organisms to these functions are not fully understood.
- Predators influence ecosystem functions via trophic cascades and nutrient dynamics.
- Woodland salamanders (Plethodon spp.) are abundant vertebrate predators in eastern US forests, suggesting potential ecological impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) on key forest ecosystem functions.
- To assess the influence of salamander density on decomposition, nutrient cycling, and plant-insect interactions.
Main Methods:
- Conducted large-scale salamander removals (314-m(2) plots) and small-scale enclosures (2 m(2)) with manipulated salamander densities (0–4 m(-2)).
- Measured litter and wood decomposition rates, nitrogen mineralization and nitrification, acorn germination, and insect damage on red oak seedlings.
- Monitored abundance of intraguild predators, including carabid beetles, centipedes, and spiders.
Main Results:
- No significant effects of red-backed salamanders were observed on any measured ecosystem functions across both experimental setups.
- Salamander presence or density did not influence the abundance of intraguild predators.
- Findings contribute to conflicting evidence regarding amphibian impacts on terrestrial ecosystems.
Conclusions:
- Red-backed salamanders did not demonstrably affect the studied forest ecosystem functions or intraguild predator abundance in this experiment.
- The impact of terrestrial amphibians on ecosystem functions is likely context-dependent.
- Future research should explore amphibian effects under varied environmental conditions and forest types to clarify their ecological roles.
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