New Jersey has 15 vernal pools with tiger salamanders, and 13 of these 15 pools are in the Cape May area of New Jersey. New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife constructed several new vernal pools there that help tiger salamanders locate a pond within the 5 mile range.[1]
There are many possible causes for the disappearance of the tiger salamander. One of the causes is substances in the water. Water is important to the tiger salamander’s survival. An adult tiger salamander absorbs water to stay hydrated. Any substances in the water also enter the tiger salamander. Substances dissolved in the water could cause death when the tiger salamander interacts with the water. What happens to the pesticide in the dead tiger salamander’s body when the animal decomposes?
Farming releases substances like pesticides into the water system. The pesticides mix with water during storms. The water with the pesticides flows downhill into rivers and other wetlands. Sometimes the wind blows pesticides from the farmland into wetland and the pesticides mix with the water.
United States Geological Service (USGS) publishes data on substances that enter New Jersey streams. USGS takes samples from 45 sites across the state of New Jersey. The table on the next page lists Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) of some pesticides. If levels are above the MCL, tiger salamanders (and people) can get sick. MCL is measured in micrograms per liter.
[1] Adapted from: http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/species/spotlight/tiger_salamander/
My team and I measured the amount of pesticides in Bayshore Pool last year and this year. We collected data for Alachlor (pesticide 1), Cyanazine (pesticide 2), Metolachlor (pesticide 3), Prometon (pesticide 4), and Simazine (pesticide 5). We also obtained information about the safe amount of these pesticides. For example, we found that Alachlor is safe for humans and tiger salamanders if the amount (in microgram per liter) is below 2.0. The amount of Alachlor in Bayshore Pool last year (according to our graph) is 0.8. Since 0.8 is below 2.0, we know that Alachlor did not make the tiger salamanders sick.
Can you help us figure out if the amount of pesticides in Bayshore Pool are safe for tiger salamanders?
-Dr. Cortez
