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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Neglected Taxonomy Of Rare Desert Fishes: Congruent Evidence For Two Species Of Leatherside Chub, Jerald B. Johnson, Thomas E. Dowling, Mark C. Belk Dec 2004

Neglected Taxonomy Of Rare Desert Fishes: Congruent Evidence For Two Species Of Leatherside Chub, Jerald B. Johnson, Thomas E. Dowling, Mark C. Belk

Faculty Publications

Conservation biologists rely heavily on taxonomy to set the scope for biological monitoring and recovery planning of rare or threatened species. Yet, taxonomic boundaries are seldom evaluated as falsifiable hypotheses that can be statistically tested. Here, we examine species boundaries in leatherside chub (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), an imperiled desert fish native to the Bonneville Basin and upper Snake River drainages of western North America. Recent molecular data hint that this fish could be composed of two distinct taxa that are geographically separated into northern and southern species. To formally test this hypothesis, we evaluated leatherside chub using several different categories of …


Testing Species Boundaries In An Ancient Species Complex With Deep Phylogeographic History: Genus Xantusia (Squamata: Xantusiidae), Keith A. Crandall, Elizabeth A. Sinclair, Robert L. Bezy, Kathryn Bolles, Jose L. Camarillo, Jack W. Sites Sep 2004

Testing Species Boundaries In An Ancient Species Complex With Deep Phylogeographic History: Genus Xantusia (Squamata: Xantusiidae), Keith A. Crandall, Elizabeth A. Sinclair, Robert L. Bezy, Kathryn Bolles, Jose L. Camarillo, Jack W. Sites

Faculty Publications

Identification of species in natural populations has recently received increased attention with a number of investigators proposing rigorous methods for species delimitation. Morphologically conservative species (or species complexes) with deep phylogenetic histories (and limited gene flow) are likely to pose particular problems when attempting to delimit species, yet this is crucial to comparative studies of the geography of speciation. We apply two methods of species delimitation to an ancient group of lizards (genus Xantusia) that occur throughout southwestern North America. Mitochondrial cytochrome b and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 4 gene sequences were generated from samples taken throughout the geographic …


Genetic Diversity Of Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) And Its Wild Relatives Based On The Analysis Of Hypervariable Regions Of The Genome, Marcio De Carvalho Moretzsohn, Mark S. Hopkins, Sharon E. Mitchell, Stephen Kresovich, Jose Francisco Montenegro Valls, Marcio Elias Ferreira Jul 2004

Genetic Diversity Of Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) And Its Wild Relatives Based On The Analysis Of Hypervariable Regions Of The Genome, Marcio De Carvalho Moretzsohn, Mark S. Hopkins, Sharon E. Mitchell, Stephen Kresovich, Jose Francisco Montenegro Valls, Marcio Elias Ferreira

Faculty Publications

Background: The genus Arachis is native to a region that includes Central Brazil and neighboring countries. Little is known about the genetic variability of the Brazilian cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea, genome AABB) germplasm collection at the DNA level. The understanding of the genetic diversity of cultivated and wild species of peanut (Arachis spp.) is essential to develop strategies of collection, conservation and use of the germplasm in variety development. The identity of the ancestor progenitor species of cultivated peanut has also been of great interest. Several species have been suggested as putative AA and BB genome donors …


Zapus Princeps, E. Blake Hart, Mark C. Belk, Eralee Jordan, Malinda W. Gonzalez Jul 2004

Zapus Princeps, E. Blake Hart, Mark C. Belk, Eralee Jordan, Malinda W. Gonzalez

Faculty Publications

Zapus princeps Allen, 1893:71. Type locality “Florida, La Plata Co., Colorado.”
Zapus pacificus Merriam, 1897:104. Type locality “Prospect, Rogue River Valley, Jackson Co., Oregon.”
Zapus saltator Allen, 1899:3. Type locality “Telegraph Creek, British Columbia.”


A Patch Hath Smaller Patches: Delineating Ecological Neighborhoods For Parasites, Derek Zelmer, John R. Seed Jul 2004

A Patch Hath Smaller Patches: Delineating Ecological Neighborhoods For Parasites, Derek Zelmer, John R. Seed

Faculty Publications

Use of the host individual as a boundary for parasite populations and communities provides an unambiguous spatial unit that is useful for pattern description, but this framework precludes consideration of the host landscape and within-host population dynamics. Recognizing host individuals as spatially and temporally complex landscapes requires modified concepts of parasite populations and communities. An outline of the currently accepted hierarchies of parasite populations and communities is provided on the basis of ecological neighborhoods that are delineated by discrete habitat patches or functional dynamics (or both), as opposed to host individuals. This parasite-based framework accommodates consideration of both within- and …


Constraints On Adaptive Evolution: The Functional Trade-Off Between Reproduction And Fast-Start Swimming Performance In The Trinidadian Guppy (Poecilia Reticulata), Cameron K. Ghalambor, David N. Reznick, Jeffrey A. Walker Phd Jul 2004

Constraints On Adaptive Evolution: The Functional Trade-Off Between Reproduction And Fast-Start Swimming Performance In The Trinidadian Guppy (Poecilia Reticulata), Cameron K. Ghalambor, David N. Reznick, Jeffrey A. Walker Phd

Faculty Publications

The empirical study of natural selection reveals that adaptations often involve trade-offs between competing functions. Because natural selection acts on whole organisms rather than isolated traits, adaptive evolution may be constrained by the interaction between traits that are functionally integrated. Yet, few attempts have been made to characterize how and when such constraints are manifested or whether they limit the adaptive divergence of populations. Here we examine the consequences of adaptive life-history evolution on locomotor performance in the live-bearing guppy. In response to increased predation from piscivorous fish, Trinidadian guppies evolve an increased allocation of resources toward reproduction. These populations …


The Impact Of Species Concept On Biodiversity Studies, Keith A. Crandall, Paul-Michael Agapow, Olaf R. P. Bininda-Emonds, John L. Gittleman, Georgina M. Mace, Jonathon C. Marshall, Andy Purvis Jun 2004

The Impact Of Species Concept On Biodiversity Studies, Keith A. Crandall, Paul-Michael Agapow, Olaf R. P. Bininda-Emonds, John L. Gittleman, Georgina M. Mace, Jonathon C. Marshall, Andy Purvis

Faculty Publications

Species are defined using a variety of different operational techniques. While discussion of the various methodologies has previously been restricted mostly to taxonomists, the demarcation of species is also crucial for conservation biology. Unfortunately, different methods of diagnosing species can arrive at different entities. Most prominently, it is widely thought that use of a phylogenetic species concept may lead to recognition of a far greater number of much less inclusive units. As a result, studies of the same group of organisms can produce not only different species identities but also different species range and number of individuals. To assess the …


Individual Cell Growth Rates Of Marine Bacteria, Measured By Bromodeoxyuridine Incorporation, Koji Hamasaki, Richard A. Long, Farooq Azam May 2004

Individual Cell Growth Rates Of Marine Bacteria, Measured By Bromodeoxyuridine Incorporation, Koji Hamasaki, Richard A. Long, Farooq Azam

Faculty Publications

We tested the application of 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU), a thymidine analogue that becomes incorporated into DNA during growth, to measure growth rates of individual marine bacteria cells. Immunocytochemical detection of BrdU incorporation into bacterial DNA has the potential for single-cell-based growth measurement. Optimized procedure for immunocytochemistry was applicable to 14 marine heterotrophic bacterial isolates belonging to g-proteobacteria, α-proteobacteria, Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides (CFB) group and Gram-positive bacteria. The relationship between cell-specific fluorescence intensity and specific growth rate was linearly correlated among CFB group isolates, which indicated a potential of the method for quantitative measurement. Analysis of the detection limit indicated …


Dynamics Of Pectoral Fin Rowing In A Fish With An Extreme Rowing Stroke: The Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus Aculeatus), Jeffrey A. Walker Phd May 2004

Dynamics Of Pectoral Fin Rowing In A Fish With An Extreme Rowing Stroke: The Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus Aculeatus), Jeffrey A. Walker Phd

Faculty Publications

The dynamics of pectoral fin rowing in the threespine stickleback are investigated by measuring the instantaneous force balance on freely swimming fish throughout the stroke cycle and comparing the measured forces with fin motions and an unsteady, blade-element model of pectoral fin propulsion. Both measured and modeled forces suggest that attached vortex and circulatory forces and not inertial (added mass) forces dominate the force balance. Peak forces occur at midstrokes. There is no evidence for large force peaks at the stroke transitions due to either rapid fin rotation (supination) or rapid fin closure against the body. The energetics of pectoral …


Particle Removal Rates By The Mud Shrimp Upogebia Pugettensis, Its Burrow, And A Commensal Clam: Effects On Estuarine Phytoplankton Abundance, Blaine D. Griffen, Theodore H. Dewitt, Chris Langdon Mar 2004

Particle Removal Rates By The Mud Shrimp Upogebia Pugettensis, Its Burrow, And A Commensal Clam: Effects On Estuarine Phytoplankton Abundance, Blaine D. Griffen, Theodore H. Dewitt, Chris Langdon

Faculty Publications

The burrowing shrimp Upogebia pugettensis is an abundant intertidal invertebrate of Pacific Northwest, USA bays and estuaries where it lives commensally with the bivalve Cryptomya californica. Suspension-feeding activities by the shrimp and by its commensal clam, as well as particle settlement within the burrow, represent 3 different components that could remove phytoplankton from water drawn into shrimp burrows. These 3 components together comprise what we call the ‘U. pugettensis shrimp-burrow complex’. In laboratory experiments, we measured particle removal by each of these components. Our results indicated that U. pugettensis itself is responsible for filtering the majority of phytoplankton removed …


Spatial Heterogeneity Of Crenarchaeal Assemblages Within Mesophilic Soil Ecosystems As Revealed By Pcr-Single-Stranded Conformation Polymorphism Profiling, Marek K. Sliwinski Mar 2004

Spatial Heterogeneity Of Crenarchaeal Assemblages Within Mesophilic Soil Ecosystems As Revealed By Pcr-Single-Stranded Conformation Polymorphism Profiling, Marek K. Sliwinski

Faculty Publications

Microbial ecologists have discovered novel rRNA genes (rDNA) in mesophilic soil habitats worldwide, including sequences that affiliate phylogenetically within the division Crenarchaeota (domain Archaea). To characterize the spatial distribution of crenarchaeal assemblages in mesophilic soil habitats, we profiled amplified crenarchaeal 16S rDNA sequences from diverse soil ecosystems by using PCR-single-stranded-conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis. PCR-SSCP profiles provide a measure of relative microbial diversity in terms of richness (number of different phylotypes as estimated from the number of unique PCR-SSCP peaks) and evenness (abundance of each phylotype as estimated from the relative area under a peak). Crenarchaeal assemblages inhabiting prairie, forest, …


Seasonal Use Of Bridges By Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bat, Corynorhinus Rafinesquii, In Southern Mississippi, Austin W. Trousdale, David C. Beckett Mar 2004

Seasonal Use Of Bridges By Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bat, Corynorhinus Rafinesquii, In Southern Mississippi, Austin W. Trousdale, David C. Beckett

Faculty Publications

We conducted surveys of concrete bridges in southern Mississippi from 2000–2002 to determine the phenological pattern of use by Rafinesque's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus rafinesquii. The earliest dates on which we located maternity colonies were 9 March 2000, 20 April 2001, and 15 May 2002. Maternity colonies increased in size and abundance as spring progressed. Pups were born in mid- to late May (first observed 12 May 2000, 15 May 2001, 27 May 2002) and nursed through midsummer (lactating females last captured 14 July 2000, 25 July 2001, 16 July 2002). Colony size and percentage of bridges occupied by bats declined …


Evidence Of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Nestling Displacement By Southern Flying Squirrels., Brent Burt, James R. Mccormick, Richard N. Conner, Daniel Saenz Jan 2004

Evidence Of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Nestling Displacement By Southern Flying Squirrels., Brent Burt, James R. Mccormick, Richard N. Conner, Daniel Saenz

Faculty Publications

Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are unique among woodpeckers in that they excavate their roost and nest cavities entirely within living pines. Studies show that there is a propensity for squirrels to use unenlarged cavities, none have shown evidence of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers being killed by southern flying squirrels. However, we report an instance of two nestlings found dead at the base of the nest tree and 3 flying squirrels inside the nest cavity.


Relationships Between Habitat And Snag Characteristics And The Reproductive Success Of The Brown-Headed Nuthatch (Sitta Pusilla) In Eastern Texas., L. Lynnette Dornak, Brent Burt, Dean W. Coble, Richard N. Conner Jan 2004

Relationships Between Habitat And Snag Characteristics And The Reproductive Success Of The Brown-Headed Nuthatch (Sitta Pusilla) In Eastern Texas., L. Lynnette Dornak, Brent Burt, Dean W. Coble, Richard N. Conner

Faculty Publications

Habitat use and reproductive success of the Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla Latham) were studied in East Texas during the 2001-2002 breeding seasons. We compared nest cavity selection at used and randomly selected non-used areas. Height of nest trees, midstory density, and percent leaf litter were negatively correlated with nest site selection. Brown-headed Nuthatches showed a strong preference for short snags; yet placed their nest cavity entrances near the top ofthe snags. While nuthatches may be selecting for habitats with little or no midstory density, percent of leaf litter in the nest sites is most likely the consequence of frequent burning. …


Sterol Carrier Protein-2 Directly Interacts With Caveolin-1 In Vitro And In Vivo, Minglong Zhou, Rebecca D. Parr, Anca D. Petrescu, H. Ross Payne, Barbara P. Atshaves, Ann B. Kier, Judith M. Ball, Friedhelm Schroeder Jan 2004

Sterol Carrier Protein-2 Directly Interacts With Caveolin-1 In Vitro And In Vivo, Minglong Zhou, Rebecca D. Parr, Anca D. Petrescu, H. Ross Payne, Barbara P. Atshaves, Ann B. Kier, Judith M. Ball, Friedhelm Schroeder

Faculty Publications

HDL-mediated reverse-cholesterol transport as well as phosphoinositide signaling are mediated through plasma membrane microdomains termed caveolae/lipid rafts. However, relatively little is known regarding mechanism(s) whereby these lipids traffic to or are targeted to caveolae/lipid rafts. Since sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) binds both cholesterol and phosphatidylinositol, the possibility that SCP-2 might interact with caveolin-1 and caveolae was examined. Double immunolabeling and laser scanning fluorescence microscopy showed that a small but significant portion of SCP-2 colocalized with caveolin-1 primarily at the plasma membrane of L-cells and more so within intracellular punctuate structures in hepatoma cells. In SCP-2 overexpressing L-cells, SCP-2 was detected …


The Agathidinae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Of Sakhalin And The Kuril Islands, Michael J. Sharkey, Daniel J. Bennett Jan 2004

The Agathidinae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Of Sakhalin And The Kuril Islands, Michael J. Sharkey, Daniel J. Bennett

Faculty Publications

Recent collecting on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, during joint U.S., Russian, and Japanese surveys known as the International Kuril and Sakhalin Island Projects, has resulted in range extensions for 10 species in the braconid subfamily Agathidinae and 17 new taxon records for islands in the Kuril chain, Sakhalin, and Moneron. In addition to a check list of the 19 species of Agathidinae presently known to occur on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, a generic key and updated keys to the species of Agathis Latreille, 1804, Bassus Fabricius, 1804, and Coccygidium Saussure, 1892 are provided for the region at large …


Euglandina Rosea (Férussac, 1821) Is Found On The Ground And In Trees In Florida, Elizabeth C. Davis, Kathryn E. Perez, Daniel J. Bennett Jan 2004

Euglandina Rosea (Férussac, 1821) Is Found On The Ground And In Trees In Florida, Elizabeth C. Davis, Kathryn E. Perez, Daniel J. Bennett

Faculty Publications

Euglandina rosea (Ferussac, 1821) is a carnivorous snail native to the southeastern United States, including Florida (Hubricht, 1985; Wolfe and Brooks, 1968). It is known as a ground-dwelling terrestrial snail that feeds on terrestrial gastropods (Burch, 1962; Pilsbry, 1946). Introduced to Hawaii in 1955, it is one of the worst cases of an intended biological control agent attacking non-target species (Cowie, 2001). Exclosures keep it away from consuming remaining endemic snails, including the endangered Achatinella species (Stone, 1999).


Radio Telemetry And Post-Emergent Habitat Selection Of Neonate Box Turtles (Emydidae: Terrapene Carolina) In Central Illinois, Patrick Forsythe, Beth A. Flitz, Stephen J. Mullin Jan 2004

Radio Telemetry And Post-Emergent Habitat Selection Of Neonate Box Turtles (Emydidae: Terrapene Carolina) In Central Illinois, Patrick Forsythe, Beth A. Flitz, Stephen J. Mullin

Faculty Publications

Although factors influencing turtle offspring prior to nest emergence have received considerable attention by researchers (Gutzke and Crews 1988; Janzen et al. 2000; Packard and Packard 1987), the activity of neonates following their emergence from the nest is poorly understood (but see Burger 1976; Butler and Graham 1995; Keller et al. 1997). Previous field research has produced valuable information on several aspects of neonate ecology for several species (Brewster and Brewster 1991; Butler and Sowell 1996; Janzen 1993). However, a thorough understanding of life history patterns for many species is absent, and some existing information is conflicting (e.g., Congdon et …


Snake (Colubridae: Thamnophis) Predatory Responses To Chemical Cues From Native And Introduced Prey Species, Stephen J. Mullin, Hélène Imbert, Jennifer M. Fish, Edward L. Ervin, Robert N. Fisher Jan 2004

Snake (Colubridae: Thamnophis) Predatory Responses To Chemical Cues From Native And Introduced Prey Species, Stephen J. Mullin, Hélène Imbert, Jennifer M. Fish, Edward L. Ervin, Robert N. Fisher

Faculty Publications

Several aquatic vertebrates have been introduced into freshwater systems in California over the past 100 years. Some populations of the two-striped garter snake (Thamnophis hammondii) have lived in sympatry with these species since their introduction; other populations have never encountered them. To assess the possible adaptation to a novel prey, we tested the predatory responses of T. hammondii from different populations to different chemosensory cues from native and introduced prey species. We presented chemical extracts from potential prey types and 2 control odors to individual snakes on cotton swabs and recorded the number of tongue flicks and attacks …


Influence Of Habitat And Number Of Nestlings On Partial Brood Loss In Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers, James R. Mccormick, Richard N. Conner, D. Brent Burt, Daniel Saenz Jan 2004

Influence Of Habitat And Number Of Nestlings On Partial Brood Loss In Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers, James R. Mccormick, Richard N. Conner, D. Brent Burt, Daniel Saenz

Faculty Publications

Partial brood loss in red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) was studied during 2 breeding seasons in eastern Texas. The timing of partial brood loss, group size, number of initial nestlings, number of birds fledged, and habitat characteristics of the group's cavity-tree cluster were examined for 37 woodpecker groups in loblolly- (Pinus taeda) shortleaf (P. echinata) pine habitat and 14 groups in longleaf (P palustris) pine habitat. Partial brood loss occurred slightly more in the loblolly-shortleaf pine habitat than in the longleaf pine habitat, largely because nests in loblolly-shortleaf habitat initially contained more nestlings. …


Multiple Domains Of The Co-Chaperone Hop Are Important For Hsp70 Binding, Gregory M. Nelson, Patricia E. Carrigan, Patricia J. Roberts, Jha'nae Stoffer, Daniel L. Riggs, David F. Smith Jan 2004

Multiple Domains Of The Co-Chaperone Hop Are Important For Hsp70 Binding, Gregory M. Nelson, Patricia E. Carrigan, Patricia J. Roberts, Jha'nae Stoffer, Daniel L. Riggs, David F. Smith

Faculty Publications

The Hop/Sti1 co-chaperone binds to both Hsp70 and Hsp90. Biochemical and co-crystallographic studies have suggested that the EEVD-containing C terminus of Hsp70 or Hsp90 binds specifically to one of the Hop tetratricopeptide repeat domains, TPR1 or TPR2a, respectively. Mutational analyses of Hsp70 and Hop were undertaken to better characterize interactions between the C terminus of Hsp70 and Hop domains. Surprisingly, truncation of EEVD plus as many as 34 additional amino acids from the Hsp70 C terminus did not reduce the ability of Hsp70 mutants to co-immunoprecipitate with Hop, although further truncation eliminated Hop binding. Hop point mutations targeting a carboxylate …


Comparison Of Crenarchaeal Consortia Inhabiting The Rhizosphere Of Diverse Terrestrial Plants With Those In Bulk Soil In Native Environments, Marek K. Sliwinski, Robert M. Goodman Jan 2004

Comparison Of Crenarchaeal Consortia Inhabiting The Rhizosphere Of Diverse Terrestrial Plants With Those In Bulk Soil In Native Environments, Marek K. Sliwinski, Robert M. Goodman

Faculty Publications

To explore whether the crenarchaeal consortium found in the rhizosphere is distinct from the assemblage of crenarchaeotes inhabiting bulk soil, PCR-single-stranded-conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) profiles were generated for 76 plant samples collected from native environments. Divergent terrestrial plant groups including bryophytes (mosses), lycopods (club mosses), pteridophytes (ferns), gymnosperms (conifers), and angiosperms (seed plants) were collected for this study. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between rhizosphere and bulk soil PCR-SSCP profiles (Hotelling paired T2 test, P < 0.0001), suggesting that a distinct crenarchaeal consortium is associated with plants. In general, phylotype richness increased in the rhizosphere compared to the corresponding bulk soil, although the range of this increase was variable. Examples of a major change in rhizosphere (versus bulk soil) PCR-SSCP profiles were detected for all plant groups, suggesting that crenarchaeotes form associations with phylogenetically diverse plants in native environments. In addition, examples of minor to no detectable difference were found for all terrestrial plant groups, suggesting that crenarchaeal associations with plants are mediated by environmental conditions.


Effect Of Diet On Bullfrog (Rana Catesbeiana) Tadpole Growth And Development, A. H. Michajliczenko, Geoffrey R. Smith, Jessica E. Rettig Jan 2004

Effect Of Diet On Bullfrog (Rana Catesbeiana) Tadpole Growth And Development, A. H. Michajliczenko, Geoffrey R. Smith, Jessica E. Rettig

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Summer Activity Of Small Snakes In Four Habitats In Northwestern Missouri, L. D. Johnson, Geoffrey R. Smith, Jessica E. Rettig Jan 2004

Summer Activity Of Small Snakes In Four Habitats In Northwestern Missouri, L. D. Johnson, Geoffrey R. Smith, Jessica E. Rettig

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Threatened Fishes Of The World: Iotichthys Phlegethontis Cope, 1874 (Cyprinidae), Joseph H. Hanks, Mark C. Belk Jan 2004

Threatened Fishes Of The World: Iotichthys Phlegethontis Cope, 1874 (Cyprinidae), Joseph H. Hanks, Mark C. Belk

Faculty Publications

Common name: least chub.


Long-Lived Worms And Aging, Yuan Luo Jan 2004

Long-Lived Worms And Aging, Yuan Luo

Faculty Publications

Several investigators have generated long-lived nematode worms (Caenorhabditis elegans) in the past decade by mutation of genes in the organism in order to study the genetics of aging and longevity. Dozens of longevity assurance genes (LAG) that dramatically increase the longevity of this organism have been identified. All long-lived mutants of C. elegans are also resistant to environmental stress, such as high temperature, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ultraviolet irradiation. Double mutations of some LAGS further extended life span up to 400%, providing more insight into cellular mechanisms that put limits on the life span of organisms. With …


Survey Of Salamanders In Mississippi Limestone Caves, John G. Himes, David C. Beckett, Austin W. Trousdale Jan 2004

Survey Of Salamanders In Mississippi Limestone Caves, John G. Himes, David C. Beckett, Austin W. Trousdale

Faculty Publications

During 2000-2002 we surveyed for salamanders in the larger limestone caves of Mississippi, all within the Vicksburg Group rock unit. We found four species: Plethodon mississippi was the most abundant, followed by Eurycea guttolineata, Eurycea cirrigera, and Desmognathus conanti. We did not find Pseudotriton montanus in any of the caves, and question the validity of an investigator's statement made nearly 45 years ago that, "it is one of the most numerous salamanders in Mississippi. limestone caves." The salamander fauna we found is similar to that of the only other comprehensive survey of salamanders in Mississippi caves, conducted almost thirty years …