Long-Term Dynamics of a Cave Salamander Population in a Region under Changing Climate

A 27-year study of Strinati's Cave Salamanders (Speleomantes strinatii) in the Northern Apennines reveals that their population dynamics remain stable despite regional climate change. While local temperatures have risen steadily, precipitation has stayed constant, yet no directional trends were detected in salamander abundance, adult sex ratio, recruitment, or growth rates. The population's complex fluctuations suggest interactions between lagged density dependence and external factors, likely buffered by the thermal inertia of their subterranean habitat. This finding highlights the resilience of long-lived cave-dwelling species to aboveground climate signals.

Costa, A., Oneto, F., Pastorino, M. V., Rosa, G., & Salvidio, S. (2024). Long-Term Dynamics of a Cave Salamander Population in a Region under Changing Climate. Herpetologica, 80(3), 209–220. https://doi.org/10.1655/herpetologica-d-23-00029