Your path towards ecological understanding

Woodland salamanders; indicators of a healthy forest?

June 2, 2020 Antonio Seelman

Red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Red-backed salamanders are some of the most abundant vertebrates living on the forest floor. In New York State alone, there is an estimated 18 billion of them! These tiny creatures play big roles in ecosystems everywhere and their abundance can be used as an environmental indicator of forest health/age. Learn more about these animals by reading this article written by my former student Antonio Seelman!

New fungal species found in Thailand: Parasitic fungi promote biodiversity

April 26, 2019 Philip Pinzone

Ophiocordyceps globiceps a Habitat b Ascostroma emerging from infected fly c Host d Fertile head of ascostroma e Vertical section of the stroma f Section of ascomata g Peridium h, i Asci k Apical cap of asci l, q Part of ascospore m, n Secondary asc… — *Ophiocordyceps globiceps* a Habitat b Ascostroma emerging from infected fly c Host d Fertile head of ascostroma e Vertical section of the stroma f Section of ascomata g Peridium **h, i** Asci k Apical cap of asci **l, q** Part of ascospore **m, n** Secondary ascospores o Upper side of the culture p Reverse side of the culture. Scale bars: 1000 µm (**b–d**), 500 µm (**e, f**), 100 µm (**h, i**), 20 µm (g), 10 µm (**k, l**), 5 µm (**m, n, q**), 5 cm (**o, p**). From Xiao et al. 2019.

In the rainforests of Thailand, these two newly described parasites enhance biodiversity. Specialized parasites around the world level the playing field, allowing less dominant organisms to gain an ecological foothold. Parasites that reduce voracious herbivores allow higher levels of primary productivity which ultimately leads to more energy entering the system. By altering bottom-up processes through top-down control, these newly described fungal parasites promote biodiversity.