Salamander Antipredator Defenses: A Field Exercise to Engage Students in Ecosystem Dynamics

The addition of field experimentation to the theory of behavioral biology and ecosystem science creates a significant critical thinking link for students at all levels. First-hand observations of the responses of salamanders in the field permit students to see how organisms behave in their natural habitat. This exercise introduces students to the study of animal behavior, specifically the antipredator responses of salamanders. The students form hypotheses regarding the behavior of salamanders in their natural environment and then record responses of individual salamanders, compile data, interpret data, and draw conclusions about the behavior of salamanders in response to natural stressors.