Why Salamanders Are the Hot New Eco-Warriors of North America

Although we may think we are alone in the fight against Climate change, more and more scientists are uncovering ways that Mother Nature is helping us out. You may have seen this post featuring some awesome eco-warrior animals, but there is a new addition to this list and scientists believe this tiny creature plays a huge role in mitigating the effects of Climate change.

How, you may ask? Well, it is a bit complex, so bear with me. Forest floors are covered with a layer of fallen leaves. These leaves act like tiny jars, storing the carbon they absorbed from the atmosphere while they were alive and trapping it in their cells after they die and fall to the ground. As insects snack on fallen leaves, all the stored carbon is released. Now, here is where the salamander comes in. Salamanders eat insects at a rapid rate, allowing leaves to stay intact on the forest floor and humify (turn into really dense soil), a process that effectively sequesters carbon.

So, in a way, all the salamanders of the North American forests need to do is keep snacking and eventually, they will eat their way to a healthier planet (sound familiar Green Monsters?). As you can see, these salamanders are a vital part of the forest ecosystem. Unfortunately, one of these highly important salamander species, the Hellbender is being threatened by habitat destruction. To learn more about this special species and what you can do to help save them, click here. After all, saving them can help save us!

Image Source: Bill Bouton/Wikipedia Commons