state records,” he said. “We did follow-up physical surveys but have yet to locate
there, which we now know benefit us immensely via ecosystem ser- vices,” he said. “Enough psycho - logical studies have shown the
animals. More surveys need to be done in those streams and the main- stem of the Susquehanna River, as little is known about those popula - tions.” Environmen - tal DNA involves collecting stream samples and then
importance of nature in our feelings of happiness. As our society matures in a more sustain -
“I am not optimistic that local people and groups will voluntarily make efforts to protect the species at this point.” - Dr. Mizuki Takahashi
able direction, I believe changes will happen natu - rally. “In our region, we need to improve water quality by preventing and
looking at DNA for mark - ers that would be specific for certain species that would come off skin or other organic matter that would wind up in the water. “My concern is warming water tempera - ture, which may worsen their habitat quality throughout the watershed, in particular those in the mainstem,” said Takahashi. “Hellbend - ers are declining across their range. The Susquehanna watershed is one of the core areas where hellbenders are still present. It is critical to promote education and take ap - propriate conservation actions.” All five giant salamanders in the world – three species in China, one in Japan and hellbenders in the US – are declining. “In China, over-harvesting for human con - sumption has been a major issue. In Japan, concrete banks and dams are the major driv - ers, but recently, the hybridization between the Japanese and the introduced Chinese salamanders has become a severe issue,” he said. “In the US, habitat destruction via dams, diseases and climate change seem to be the primary threats.” Reversing that trend will require a cultural shift, Takahashi suggests. “We live in a financially/economically driv - en society, which has benefited us in many ways. However, through the process, we have lost natural environments and species residing
regulating agricultural runoff and the use of anthropogenic chemi - cals.” That transition can start with awareness of what we have. “People should be proud that hellbenders still live in our region and respect the species and their habitats. Early-age environmental education is critical in promoting pro-nature behaviors. Parents and educators should teach conservation and sustainable use of our resources and how to coexist with non-hu - man species,” said Takahashi. “Researchers like us should be more involved in public out - reach and the public should reach out to us for seminars and nature walks.” Ultimately, it is crucial for us to all learn from our mistakes before it is too late with the hell - bender, suggested Takahashi. “In the past, we lost bison, wolves, elks and mountain lions from the regions. Are we keep - ing the trend or reversing it? Which option would bring a brighter future for the coming generations?” he asked, pointing out that there are no formal protections for the species at this time, “so there is no regally bound set of rules that people must follow. “I am not optimistic that local people and groups will voluntarily make efforts to protect the species at this point.”
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