Lungless in Highlands: A Brief History of Research and Education on Plethodontid Salamanders at Highlands Biological Station

摘要

This paper is a short history of contributions by Highlands Biological Station to our knowledge of the biology of plethodontid salamanders, achieved through research, courses, and conferences. I have interspersed the account of plethodontid studies with essentials of the history of the Station itself, in its mission "to foster education and research focused on the rich natural heritage of the Highlands Plateau, while preserving and celebrating the integrity of the "biological crown of the southern Appalachian Mountains." In this limited account I cannot include all the individuals, either graduate students or senior investigators, who have studied plethodontids at the Station, but instead will focus on those who have conducted longer-term research at the laboratory. Likewise, I have not provided a full bibliography of scientific papers on plethodontids based on research at Highlands, which would include several hundred citations, but instead provide a short list of major papers and review articles that I hope capture the essence of the types of studies conducted at the Station.