Advanced statistical methods used in study increase previous
population estimates
In the 1970s, ecologists published results from one of the
first whole-forest ecosystem studies ever conducted in Hubbard Brook, New
Hampshire. In the paper, scientists reported that salamanders represent one of
the largest sources of biomass, or food, of all vertebrates in the forest
landscape. Now, using new sampling and statistical techniques not available
during the past study, researchers at the University of Missouri have estimated
that the population of salamanders in forested regions of the Missouri Ozarks
are 2-4 times higher than originally thought, and in other regions of the
eastern U.S. may be on average 10 times higher. Scientists believe that
acknowledging salamanders as one of the main food sources in forest ecosystems
could help drive conservation efforts and forest management.