Salamander stress spotted

Changes in symmetry could signal species in trouble

On the left, normal spotted salamanders have spots that are about the same size and that match up one for one. On the right, stressed animals have spots that are irregular in size and symmetry.

ITHACA, New York (CNN) -- Some salamanders in New York are stressed out -- and they're letting the world know about it through their spots.

"Salamanders and amphibians in general are used as sort of sentinels, they're good indicators of environmental conditions," says biologist Kelly Zamudio of Cornell University.

"They have very permeable skin, so when they're in the water, everything that's in the water with them is going straight into their body. They don't have any protection from the environment the way we do."

Zamudio, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, compared the spotted salamanders found near a pond at the university's Robert Trent Jones Golf Course with salamanders at other locations.

Normal, healthy spotted salamanders, found from southern Canada throughout the southeastern United States, have spots that are similar in size, and that match up one for one on the left and right sides of their backs.

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But many of the animals found at the golf course had irregular spots; sometimes the spots were different sizes, or there were more on one side than the other.

"This is an indication that there is population stress at the golf course pond compared to a pond that hasn't been disturbed," she says.

The Cornell researchers also compared the current salamander residents at the golf course pond with specimens that have been preserved at the biology lab for about 60 years. Those older specimens, that lived before the golf course was built, also had symmetrical spots.

Abnormal spots don't necessarily mean an animal is unhealthy, says Zamudio. But it does indicate that there's something in the environment that's causing a disruption in some developmental stage.

More environmentally friendly approach

Because many golf courses use a variety of fertilizers and pesticides to keep greens looking pristine, those are possible culprits for the changes in the salamanders' appearance.

But the trend in golf course management is to be more environmentally friendly.

Biologist Kelly Zamudio says changes in salamander spots may act as a warning sign that something in the environment is disrupting them during their development.

"At our particular golf course apparently some of the nasty chemicals used in the past are no longer being used," Zamudio says.

Back in 1987, environmentalist Ron Dodson decided to take a new approach in dealing with golf course managers. Instead of demonizing them for using toxic chemicals and too much water, his group, Audubon International, decided instead to work with them to make these huge green spaces as comfortable as possible for the wildlife within them.

"It starts with landscaping," says Dodson. "Inappropriate plants, non-native plants, the wrong turf grass requires too many fungicides and insecticides."

And, he says, overwatering can lead to contaminated runoff, algae blooms, and other complications for wildlife and plants.

Early warning system

Playing nice has paid off. Dodson says his group has had a major impact on how new golf courses are designed and managed. Audubon International now works with about 2,500 golf courses; 300 of them have been designated "cooperative sanctuaries."

And he says, the links can be used to help educate the 27 million people in the United States who golf. If they see habitat protection and good conservation methods on a course, perhaps they'll translate that to their homes.

Biologists measure a spotted salamander as part of a study of stress on the species.

"We have bluebird houses on almost every hole, we've got ducks, we've got geese; we put out food for the deer here," says Ken Mangum, director of golf courses and grounds at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

He says things have changed a lot since he sprayed very potent chemicals on greens, wearing just shorts and no shoes. Today the creek banks are not sprayed at all. Grasses grow wild there, reducing runoff and erosion.

"The salamander stands a lot better chance on that golf course than if there's a subdivision or a shopping center there," says Mangum.

Biologist Zamudio says the changing spots can act as an early warning system, both for the spotted salamander and other animals.

"Something is happening to them. This might be a great tool for trying to figure out which populations of amphibians are stressed before they actually go extinct."