In Focus: Salamanders, Science, and the Art of Seeing Nature

We've been focused on understanding the ecology and evolution of alternative reproductive tactics in two-lined salamanders. These are distinct breeding strategies found in males: “searching” males have traits and behaviors suited for finding and courting females on land, while “guarding” males are adapted for defending mates from rival males in streams.

At Highlands, we've studied differences in the timing and location of courtship between these two male forms, and we've collected genetic data to identify the proximate cause of the polymorphism. This work has shed light on the evolutionary forces that maintain this unique variation — and, more broadly, on how diversity evolves and persists in wild populations.

I always enjoy doing research with students, including those from the UNC Institute for the Environment. What makes Highlands unique is the ability to involve students in both fieldwork and lab work right on campus. We can find salamanders, collect DNA samples, and run analyses just steps from their lodging — it's a one-stop shop for research.

My favorite part of research is that moment when you first get a glimpse of new, exciting results — learning something no one else in the world knows. Sharing that experience with students is incredibly rewarding.

My advice to those starting out: jump into any opportunities you can find, even if they're not perfectly aligned with your current interests. Science teaches you to be thoughtful, patient, careful, and creative, and those skills transfer to many careers.

Thank you! When I was in grade school, I developed a strong interest in the natural world — especially reptiles and amphibians. I enjoyed searching for these animals around my hometown, and photography became a way to share my discoveries with friends and family. Over time, these hobbies grew together, and throughout my career, photography has been a valuable tool for sharing both the beauty of nature and our scientific results.

One challenge with salamanders is that you often find them active during rainy nights — not exactly ideal photography conditions. To capture natural behaviors, I sometimes carry a big camera and flashes out in wet weather.

Other times, we find them hiding under logs or rocks during the day. In those cases, the challenge is to carefully move them for a quick photograph — capturing their distinctive features while working quickly and gently to minimize stress.

As a graduate student, I spent a month at Highlands collecting data on the movement and behavior of two-lined salamanders. One cold, rainy night in November, I saw a pair engaged in their courtship ritual — called the “tail straddle walk” — on top of vegetation along the Creekside Trail. Although it's common in lab settings, it was the first time I'd seen it in the wild. Truly unforgettable.

Most of my photography is on Flickr, and our lab website has more about our research, including links to publications.