The Striped Newt

The striped newt is a species up for contention on the endangered species list. It is a small salamander whose size can vary from 2-4 inches(5-10 centimeters). The striped newt was given the name striped newt because it has a long red stripe going down the body. The salamander has a olive-green to dark brown color and a yellow belly sometimes containing black specs. Occasionally, the salamander has a row of red spots on the side of the body. The skin of the salamander is very rough and not as slimy other salamanders. Also, the striped newt has distinctive costal grooves all over it’s body. The striped newts primary habitat are ephemeral ponds. Striped newts are both aquatic and land creatures. The ephemeral ponds can suit both of these types
The species’ main threat is the destruction of their habitat and that their is nothing regulating this destruction. Nowadays in the world, lots of lots of different species have their habitat destroyed everyday. But he species on the endangered species lists have other natural factors decreasing the population. In this case, there is not enough natural factors to put the species on the endangered species list. All that needs to be done is to make laws regulating the development of urban buildings on the species’ habitat. Furthermore, people need to step up and help preserve the ephemeral ponds, the main habitat of the striped newt. If all of those things can get accomplished, the newt’s population would be back on it’s feet. The summary of the solution given is to pretty much take care of the striped newts habitat and take the correct precautions when doing so. What the solution states to do is maintain the wetlands, but also create fire to help to habitat survive. Maintaining the wetlands would do nothing but the help the ecosystem. Other species in the ecosystem could start to thrive more in a better suited wetland. But, creating fire so the ecosystem can survive may help later in life, but affect species lives in the present. Fires could kill some of the species, decreasing the overall population. Also, even though
Right now, the striped newts main threat is the destruction or loss of habitat. There is not much the striped newt can do by itself to survive when their habitat is being built on. There is no mutation that can help the striped newts when there habitat is being destroyed. The only thing they can do is move to a different habitat or pond. But the other threats like drought or less sunlight is something striped newts may be able to survive through without help. Natural selection will take place if a drought continues, then most of the striped newts will die except the newts that have a mutation that can help the salamander survive in a drought. Then this mutation will be passed down generation to generation until most of the salamanders can survive in a drought. The other natural threat to the striped newts that can be survived is the sunlight in their habitat is decreasing. The pine needles and pine trees, which allow sunlight through the canopy are densing, creating a thick canopy blocking the sunlight. Even with a thicker canopy, the habitat is fire dependent. Meaning that the habitat needs fire to burn away some of the canopy to creating more sunlight. But, the habitat is lacking fire as well. The habitat needs sunlight because that is how plants survive and grow. Without plants, nothing could survive. But there is one type of plant that is thriving: the trees on