Presentation Abstract
Student's Name: Lauren Birney '24
Co-registrant Names:
Type of Presentation: Poster
Presentation Title: "Effects of Soil Moisture and Soil Temperature on Plethodon cinereus Abundance"
Abstract:
Climate change is causing changes in temperature and weather patterns that can affect ecosystems. This project investigated the abundance of Plethodon cinereus in two different forest areas to see if there was a difference in salamander abundance related to soil moisture and soil temperature levels. Both forests were mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, two of the study areas were formerly cultivated, two were formerly pastured. It was hypothesized that areas with higher soil moisture and soil temperature levels would have a higher salamander abundance. Coverboards were used to provide consistent cover in all areas. At each coverboard, salamanders were counted and identified along with data collection of soil moisture, soil temperature and light levels. The forest areas in formerly cultivated areas had higher soil moisture levels overall along with higher salamander abundance. Soil moisture and salamander abundance were lower in the formerly pastured areas. The soil temperature levels across the forest areas were around the same and it didn’t seem to influence salamander abundance. Salamander abundance did differ based on the soil moisture levels at transect locations. These data were only collected in the fall, data in the summer may have been more interesting.
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