Axolotl!

An axolotl is closely related to a tiger salamander, but not closely to a lancelet.

Axolotl!

Ambystoma mexicanum

By: Hannah Rank, Rebecca Murray, Sierra Schwandt, and Elisa Voth Period 7

Allocation of Energy

• Axolotls delegate energy to reproduction and regeneration

Habitat

Changing Environment

• New condition- increase in African Tilapia population by 50%

Increasing the african tilapia population in Lake Xochimilco would cause the rapid extinction of the axolotl. African tilapia are an invasive species, making them a huge threat to the axolotls and other native organisms. Because of the axolotl's small numbers, the combined efforts of the tilapia, native predators, and humans would leave the environment bare of axolotls and see it dwindling in other native populations that tilapia prey upon.

Mutations II

Mutations I

• Exclusive to Lake Xochimilco and neighboring canals in Mexico City
• Once lived in Lake Chalco, but it no longer exists
• Live 1-2 miles above sea level.
• Occupy area less than 6.5 square miles [7]

Mutation- change CTA to CAA

TAC CGA CCC TGC CAA ATC

AUG GCU GGG ACG GUU UAG

Methionine-Alanine-Glycine-Threonine-Valine- Stop

TAC CGA CCC TGC CTA ATC

AUG GCU GGG ACG GAU UAG

Methionine-Alanine-Glycine-Threonine-Aspartic acid- Stop

Fun Facts

• Most scientifically studied salamanders in the world
• Ranked "critically endangered" by ZSL's EDGE [6]
• Is an important dish to Xochimilco natives
• Name derived from Aztec language Nahuatl, translates to "water-dog" or "water-monster"
• Axolotl may be a reference to god of deformations and death Xolotl [8]

Mutation will produce a toxic slime around the axolotl's gills to protect them from parasites.

Biomes and Relevant Abiotic Factors

Characteristics

• Borders both the mountains/ highlands and tropical rainforest biomes [13]
• Relevant abiotic factors are pH level, water temperature, pollution, and sunlight levels [11]

Endangerment

• Critically endangered and are an endemic species [3]
• Threatened by African Tilapia (invasive fish species), loss of environment, pollution, and overfishing [1]

Ambystoma toxiconum

• Average 9 in, but can grow upwards of 12 in in
• Are black in wild: in captivity are grey, brown, pink, orange, golden albino, and white albino [9]
• diet: mollusks, worms, insect larva, crustaceans, and smaller fish [5]
• lifespan: about 10 to 15 years
• Weight ranges from 2.11 to 8 oz. [4]

Classification of Axolotl [3]

D: Eukarya

K: Animalia

P: Chordata

C: Amphibia

O: Caudata

F: Ambystomatidae

G: Ambystoma

S: Ambystoma mexicanum

Niche

Classification of Tiger Salamander [3]

• Secondary consumers, carnivorous and solitary hunters that prey upon whatever it can fit in its mouth
• Bottom dwellers that do not leave the water [7]

D: Eukarya

K: Animalia

P: Chordata

C: Amphibia

O: Caudata

F: Ambystomatidae

G: Ambystoma

S: Ambystoma tigrinum

Human Impact

Adaptations

• Adapted to the cool temperatures of their habitat by remaining neotenous [3]
• Hormone thyroxine (causes maturity) does not work as effectively in cooler temperatures
• Can regenerate lost limbs
• Gills attached to the outside of their heads (can regenerate them if they survive), also have rudimentary lungs
• Retain tail to help with swimming [4]

Reproductive Behaviors

• Mature sexually between 6 months and a year, true range can be 5 months to several years [4]
• Females known to lay between 100 and 1000 eggs at a time
• Males have a larger cloaca than females when they are sexually mature
• Fertilization occurs when a male sends out spermatophore, female hovers over it and is fertilized
• Male leads female to spermatophores, movements resemble a "dance"
• Gestational period anywhere from a couple hours to a couple days [12]
• Eggs are left to hatch, those that hatch first eat the rest for food [4[

Humans are draining and poluting the waters that axolotls live in by dumping their waste and building materials in the Xolchimilco, causing serious damage to their environment. The native people still eat axolotl as a sacred dish, and the introduction of the invasive African Tilapia by natives is also steadily decreasing their numbers. [2]

Selective Pressures

Severe drought in central Mexico is drying up much of their habitat.

Invasive species introduced by humans like the African tilapia and predators like the carp that have been whittling down the axolotl population in their competition to survive. [10]

carp

Domino Effect

crane

Relationships

Parasitism

• The anchor worm attaches to the axolotl's gills and eats them, which limits oxygen intake

Mutualism

• Humans keep axolotls as pets, which provides food and a safe environment for them as well as pleasing humans [4]

crawfish

[1] [4] [5]

axolotl

Removing brine shrimp from the food web will severely impact the secondary and tertiary consumers. Brine shrimp are an important food source for the axolotl and the crawfish, which are in turn consumed by the crane and the carp. Removing the brine shrimp will eliminate a key food source of the axolotl and crawfish, causing a decrease in their populations. In turn, their predators, the crane and carp, would decrease in number as well. Algae populations would flourish with the absence of brine shrimp, draining the water of oxygen and threatening the populations of aquatic species like the axolotl.

blackworm

brine shrimp

decayed vegetation

algae

Sources

• http://www.ambystoma.org/education/84-what-do-axolotls-eat [1]
• http://animals.mom.me/predator-axolotl-4726.html [2]
• http://www.arkive.org/axolotl/ambystoma-mexicanum/ [3]
• http://www.axolotl.org/biology.htm [4]
• http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/osuldsen_brit/reproduction.html [5]
• http://www.edgeofexistece.org/amphinians/species_info.php?id=552 [6]
• http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/Lvfacts.htm [7]
• http://mentalfloss.com/article/63130/11-awesome-axolotl-factsv [8]
• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/a/axolotl/ [9]
• http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27503150/ns/world_news-world_environment/t/mexico-citys-water-monster-nears-extinction/ [10]
• peabody.yale.edu/sites/default/files/.../Abiotic%20and%20Biotic%20Factors%20DF.doc [11]
• http://sillyaxolotls.wixsite.com/sillyaxolotls/sexing-breeding [12]
• http://slideplayer.com/slide/9914093/chapter-7-major-ecosystems/ [13]