An analysis of 303 salamanders of the genus Eurycea from 99 sites in west-central Texas' Edwards-Trinity aquifer system found that patterns of population divergence and speciation were driven by complex surface and subsurface hydrogeology; the authors predict that Edwards-Trinity Eurycea may become vulnerable to extinction within 100 years because of habitat loss resulting from groundwater depletion caused by rapid population growth and a warming climate with increasing droughts.
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Article #18-15014: "Species delimitation in endangered groundwater salamanders: Implications for aquifer management and biodiversity conservation," by Thomas J. Devitt, April M. Wright, David C. Cannatella, and David M. Hillis.
MEDIA CONTACT: David M. Hillis, The University of Texas at Austin, TX; tel: 512-789-6659; email: dhillis@austin.utexas.edu ; Thomas J. Devitt, The University of Texas at Austin, TX; tel: 512-974-6340; email: tdevitt@utexas.edu
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences