A great aspect of the Highlands Field Site program is getting to go outside and apply all that we've learned in the classroom into the real world. We've begun identifying which plants are safe to eat and spotting birds in the sky whilst attempting to pinpoint its species. However, all students seem to have taken a keen liking to.... SALAMANDERS! This past week, students had the opportunity to spend a few days at the Purchase Knob Research center in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. During this excursion, students participated in an ongoing salamander research project that takes place there.
This research projects main focus is to provide an educational opportunity to people of all ages while still gaining important data on the salamander populations in the park. Many people of different ages and backgrounds who come to Purchase Knob are given the chance to participate in this great learning opportunity. Researchers have set up four different transects with 10 wooden cookies (cut pieces of trees) in each transect. The cookies are 5m apart from one another spread out in a line covering different terrains. They begin close to a water source and end in a deep wooded area in an effort to attract different salamander species.
IE students, thrilled to take part in what is now dubbed the Salamander Meander, broke off into teams to examine each transects cookies in hopes of finding salamanders. The group I was apart of was assigned to transect C. After a disappointing first cookie with no salamanders, anticipation was high as we approached cookie number 2. As the cookie was slowly lifted from the ground, two Ocoee Salamanders shot out from underneath! We quickly grabbed them, bagged them, and began yelling out "We got them! We got 2! Come see!".
Who knew catching some slippery amphibians would elicit such a response?
We collected our necessary data points and throughout the transect, found one more salamander all the way in the wooded terrain. Our final catch of the day was a pregnant female Southern Grey Cheeked Salamander whose supposed male mate was not to far in another transect.
The total groups Salamander catch of the day was 9 ranging from Ocoee, to Grey Cheeked, and even Blue Ridge 2 Lined. It was an amazing learning experience as well as a most enjoyable way to spend an afternoon meander. If you find yourself in the Smoky Mountains, head over to Purchase Knob, where you too can experience a Great Smoky Salamander Meander. - GK
Comentarios