THE WATER ECONOMY OF SALAMANDERS: EXCHANGE OF WATER WITH THE SOIL

¹ Department of Zoology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

Specimens of six salamander species were exposed to different soil moistures and rates of water exchange were calculated from the changes in weight observed. Soil water was available to these salamanders in soils with moisture tensions between 0 atm. and 2 atm. At these tensions, salamanders could rehydrate fully and can therefore be expected to remain in water balance in any soil with a tension in this range. The measurements should be useful in determining the suitability of habitats for salamanders. The rate of water exchange between the salamander and the soil was a function of the soil moisture tension. The rate of uptake from saturated soils was correlated with the body weight and the dehydration deficit of the salamanders. There were no differences in rate of exchange or in absorption threshold between the different species. These characteristics of water exchange between salamanders and soil are related to the properties of the soil.