Notes from the FieldNFF·001Researcher Spotlight
In Focus: Salamanders, Science, and the Art of Seeing Nature
Biologist and photographer Todd Pierson on the alternative mating tactics of two-lined salamanders, mentoring students in the field, and capturing amphibian life through his lens.
Photograph © Todd Pierson
A conversation · August 2025
Few people can balance the precision of science with the artistry of photography quite like Todd Pierson. A biologist and photographer with a passion for amphibians and reptiles, he has spent years exploring the Southern Appalachians — studying the behavior of salamanders while capturing their beauty through his lens. During his time at Highlands Biological Station, he has dug into questions of biodiversity, mentored the next generation of researchers, and shared the wonders of the natural world far beyond the field. In this conversation, Todd reflects on his research, his approach to photography, and the moments that have stayed with him in Highlands.
SubjectTwo-lined salamanders · Eurycea — Southern Blue Ridge
01The research
Your research on salamanders is vital to understanding Appalachian biodiversity. What were the main questions you explored at Highlands?
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.
Field note — two ways to be a male
Searching or guarding?
On land
Traits and behaviors suited for finding and courting females on land.
In streams
Adapted for defending mates from rival males in streams.
Searching males rove on land to find and court females; guarding males stay in the streams to defend mates from rivals. Why both strategies persist, rather than one winning out, is the evolutionary puzzle at the heart of this work.
02Students
You’ve continued mentoring students through the UNC Institute for the Environment. What do you enjoy most, and what advice do you give young researchers?
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.
“Learning something no one else in the world knows.”
Todd Pierson · on the thrill of discovery
03The camera
You’re also known for your photography. How did you first get started photographing amphibians and reptiles?
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.
More than anatomy
04In the field
Your photos capture more than anatomy — they reveal personality. What’s your approach when you’re in the field with your camera?
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.
05A memory
Any particularly memorable moments or species encounters during your visits to Highlands?
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.
Through the lens
A field portfolio
Every wildlife image here was made by Todd Pierson in the Southern Appalachians. Select any photograph to view it larger; use the arrow keys to move between frames.
All wildlife photography © Todd Pierson. See more at flickr.com/twpierson.
06Going further
Where can people see more of your photography or learn about your latest research?
Most of my photography is on Flickr, and our lab website has more about our research, including links to publications.
About the researcher
Todd Pierson
Biologist & photographer · amphibians and reptiles
Todd studies the ecology and evolution of Southern Appalachian salamanders and mentors students through the UNC Institute for the Environment. His photography pairs scientific precision with a photographer's eye, bringing the region's amphibians and reptiles to audiences far beyond the field. Every wildlife image on this page is his.
Keep exploring
More from the field
This spotlight is part of Notes from the Field — researcher spotlights, current research, and discoveries from Highlands Biological Station.
NFF·002 · Current ResearchDeep Roots, Cold Streams
A decades-long collaboration decoding the chemical courtship of plethodontid salamanders — and the mentorship legacy that keeps drawing scientists back to HBS.
Read more dispatchesGrants-in-Aid of ResearchSupport field science at HBS
Notes from the Field is published by Highlands Biological Station, a center of Western Carolina University fostering research, education, and conservation in the southern Blue Ridge. All wildlife photography © Todd Pierson. Published August 2025.