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Can You Tell a Stressed-Out Salamander By His Spots?

Aired May 02, 2002 - 05:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Can you tell a stressed-out salamander by his spots? Scientists say, maybe so, because there may be a link between spots, stress and where they live.

CNN's Ann Kellan explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANN KELLAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What does a golf course have to do with the spots on the Spotted Salamander? Researchers at Cornell University have - pardon the pun - spotted some changes in salamanders living near the college golf course, compared to ones that don't. And compared to salamanders that lived in the same area before the golf course was built, 60 years ago.

Spotted Salamanders are found in the Eastern United States and Canada. Typically the spots on the left and right side of its body match up, one for one. But the salamanders near the golf course are not symmetric. Spots on the left and right side don't match.

This is an indication that there is population stress at the golf course pond, compared to a pond that hasn't been disturbed. Researchers don't know the reason, but point to the runoff of fertilizers and chemicals used to maintain pristine greens as a possible stress factor. You can see where this is going, environmentalists complaining that golf courses are bad for wildlife. But here's a twist, some environmentalists are working with golf courses to take advantages of these huge green spaces. At least they are better than a strip mall.

Many toxic products are off the market says Ken Magnum (ph) who manages the grounds at the Atlantic Athletic Club Golf Course in Georgia. This course has become a haven for wildlife that is losing habitat to nearby developments.

KEN MAGNUM (ph), MANAGER, ATLANTIC ATHLETIC CLUB GOLF COURSE: We have bluebird boxes almost every hole. We've got doves, we've got geese. The Salamander stands a lot better chance on that golf course than it does if there's a subdivision there, or if there's a shopping center there.

UNKNOWN FEMALE: Something is happening to them. And this might be a great tool for trying to figure out which populations of amphibians are stressed before they actually go extinct. KELLAN: Researchers aren't singling out golf courses. They are hoping with this research that a species under stress will now be easier to spot. Ann Kellan, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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