http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/one-way-gauge-health-local-waterways-check-ozark-hellbender-population_59304.mp3
The Ozark Hellbender--that's a salamandar, by the way--resides in the White River system that flows along the Missouri-Arkansas border. Hellbenders have been on the Endangered Species list for decades, a fact some blame on the low water quality of Ozarks waterways. KSMU’s Rebekah Clark reports.
Ozark Hellbenders, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation, are an indicator of the overall health of the rivers and streams they live in. To stay alive, the large aquatic salamanders need clean water so they have enough oxygen to breathe through their skin.
In the '80s and '90s, the Hellbender population decreased by about 75 percent. Dr. Alicia Mathis, head of the biology department at Missouri State University, says a bunch of different factors—including pollution—could have caused that drop.
“We know that the water in Hellbender habitats seems to be more highly sedimented; it’s not as clear as it used to be. The Hellbenders require really clear, cool running water. In addition, there’s been some speculation that agricultural run-off may be an issue, and there’s a little bit of evidence to support that.”
More human activity in and around the water can also cause more pollution.
In 2003, researchers collected a few remaining Hellbenders to raise in captivity. This gave the animals access to clean water, and gave researchers time to work on what was causing the decline.
“So we were interested in trying to find out if you took them into captivity, whether they would develop in a healthy matter, or whether there was actually something that was causing a problem in their development. Those data were really promising because it looked like that if you took them and put them in good quality water in the lab and raised them, they would develop normally.”
Hellbenders typically live over thirty years, so the process can take time, she says.
Dr. Mathis advises people who will be out in Ozarks rivers and streams this summer to be careful where they step. Hellbenders typically live under large rocks during the day, and they hunt at night.
“Please leave them alone. That’s the biggest thing. Sometimes people who are fishing think that Hellbenders are bad because they compete for the fish. Hellbenders are primarily eating crayfish. Just respect them and don’t urinate in the water. Because all of those things, when you talk about hundreds of people on a weekend, that’s a lot of water quality issues.”
Ozark Hellbenders are the largest aquatic salamander in North America, and the second largest in the world.
To watch a full interview with Dr. Mathis about Ozarks waterways, visit www.KSMU.org.
For KSMU News, I’m Rebekah Clark.