Research

Interspecific interactions between wood frogs and spotted salamanders

The ecological interactions between wood frogs and salamanders have been studied from the view of predatory adult salamanders preying upon wood frog tadpoles. For example, previous studies have investigated how the presence of predatory newts affects wood frog development. However, wood frog tadpoles also affect growth and development of salamander larvae as a predator of salamander eggs and competitor of salamander larvae. We use wood frog and spotted salamander as model species to investigate their interaction during embryonic and larval stages of spotted salamanders.

Effects of road salt pollution on an aquatic community

Road deicing salts (mostly NaCl) are widely applied to roads and highways in the United States during winter time. Studies found that run-off of salt-laden water from roads enter wetlands and ponds and imposes negative impacts on the aquatic ecosystems. Amphibians are vulnerable to salt contamination because of their permeable skin, whereas aquatic invertebrates, some of which provide food for larval amphibians, are also susceptible to salt contamination. We create aquatic mesocosms to test effects of salt pollution on aquatic communities that contain amphibians and invertebrate prey and predators.

Giant Salamander Research (click for more information)

Family Cryptobranchidae contains three species of giant salamanders, Chinese giant salamander, Japanese giant salamander, and Hellbender in eatern Uniated States. Our research focuses on conservation and life history of hellbenders and Japanese giant salamanders.