Thesis (M.S. in zoology)--Washington State University, May 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 22, 2009). "School of Biological Sciences." Includes bibliographical references (p. 18-25).

Studies were conducted on a population of tiger salamanders, Ambystoma tigrinum, at Henderson Island Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County, TN. Tests were conducted to locate the nonbreeding habitat of the salamanders and to detect any difference in fluctuating asymmetry (FA) between larval populations in a large, permanent pond and an ephemeral wetland. Drift fences were installed with pitfall traps at selected locations around each pond to determine nonbreeding habitat use by adults. Most adult salamanders were found using a blackberry (Rubus sp.) dominated old-field, a grassy field, and a shrub-grass mix field, which were all adjacent to the ponds. No statistical difference in FA between the 2 ponds.

The number of California vernal pools and vernal lakes are diminishing. Through the present study, this investigator hopes to increase the understanding of vernal pool biota, as well as the awareness that these unique habitats need protection. Other studies of California vernal pools have emphasized their flora, their plankton and their physicochemical aspects. The purpose of this investigation is to survey the insects and other macrofauna found in two vernal lakes of eastern Stanislaus County, to examine the phenology of the insects within one of these lakes, and to compare the insect taxa found in these vernal lakes to those reported from studies of similar vernal pools.