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22 August 2024 A Re-Examination of Body Size Reduction in Plethodon yonahlossee Populations Due to Climate Change
Zachary T. Vegso, Jon M. Davenport
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Abstract

Climate change is rapidly altering the earth's natural systems. Some organisms, such as amphibians, are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of climate change. One documented response by certain taxa is a reduction in body size. Recent evidence has suggested a reduction in body size of several salamander species from the genus Plethodon, including one of the largest species, Plethodon yonahlossee. However, the sample size for P. yonahlossee was small (n = 36) relative to the other Plethodon species examined. Therefore, we re-examined the possibility of body size reductions in P. yonahlossee populations from North Carolina over time. We measured the snout-vent length and head morphology of 221 specimens collected from 1979–2020 in North Carolina. We were also able to account for museum shrinkage when data were available. Contrary to previous research, we did not find evidence for declines in SVL over time. We also found original SVL measurements made at or near the time of preservation were significantly larger than measurements made in 2019, indicating that museum shrinkage had taken place. Local climate data from the same collection period indicate no significant change in mean daily temperature or annual precipitation from this period. Overall, these results suggest a lack of environmental pressure to elicit shifts in body size for these populations.

Zachary T. Vegso and Jon M. Davenport "A Re-Examination of Body Size Reduction in Plethodon yonahlossee Populations Due to Climate Change," Journal of Herpetology 58(2), 162-172, (22 August 2024). https://doi.org/10.1670/23-057
Accepted: 24 May 2024; Published: 22 August 2024
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