Salamander environment

Nebeker, A.V., G.S. Schuytema, and S.L. Ott. 1994. Effects of cadmium on limb regeneration in the northwestern salamander Ambystoma gracile. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 27 318-322. 

Home, M.T. and W.A. Dunson. 1995. Toxicity of metals and low pH to embryos and larvae of the Jefferson salamander, Ambystoma jeffersonianum. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 29 110-114. 

Johnson MS et al., Fate and biochemical effects of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene exposure to tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum), Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf., 46, 186, 2000. 

Johnson MS et al., Toxicological responses of red-backed salamanders Plethodon cinereus) to subchronic soil exposures of 2,4-dinitrotoluene. Environ. Pollut. 147, 604, 2007. 

Johnson MS et al., Toxicologic and histologic response of the terrestrial salamander Plethodon cinereus to soil exposures of l,3,5-trinitrohexahydro-l,3,5-triazine, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 47, 496, 2004. 

In this terrestrial salamander system, chemical signals are broadcast in the environment by reproductively active females and are detected by the males as they tap... 

Based on the strong avoidance and relatively uniform activity in response to all treatments, we conclude that the chemical cue in a garter snake rinse continues to elicit an avoidance response in red-backed salamanders for up to 48-hours in the laboratory, which is in agreement with previous studies by Sullivan et al., (2002). While our results do not support the microbial degradation hypothesis, further research is necessary before we can conclude that microbes are inconsequential to the cue. Other sources of microorganisms, such as the forest floor and soil that harbor a rich and diverse microbial community (Waksman, 1952), should be examined. Also, the hypotonic environment of the distilled water used to collect the snake rinse could have potentially caused cell lysis, destroying any bacteria in the rinse. 

In general, the same techniques are used to collect stimuli for tests of pheromones used in reproduction as for tests of territorial pheromones. It is possible that in many cases the same pheromones may serve both functions advertisement to potential competitors and to potential mates. Although the collection techniques are similar for both types of pheromones, many studies of sexual advertisement pheromones have focused on aquatic animals (primarily newts) and the techniques described above for terrestrial salamanders have been modified for use in aquatic environments. For example, test animals might be exposed to water from a chamber that had contained another salamander (Dawley 1984b) or from sponges soaked with secretions from other salamanders (Twitty 1955). 

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