The San Marcos salamander, Eurycea nanam is a light reddish-brown translucent salamander about 2-5 cm in length. E. nana is found only in Spring Lake and a portion of the San Marcos River.

Question

Which human activity would most likely decrease the ability of the salamanders to survive?

The addition of a new food source into the river that limits competition for resources

Increasing water consumption that decreases the flow of lean water from the springs that feed the river

Public transportation that reduces the number of automobiles that contribute to pollution runoff into the river

Tourism that helps fund the educational programs related to river ecosystem conservation

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Answer 1

The human activity that would most likely decrease the ability of the San Marcos salamanders to survive is:

Increasing water consumption that decreases the flow of lean water from the springs that feed the river.

This activity can lead to reduced habitat availability and water quality for the salamanders, which are dependent on specific environmental conditions in their aquatic habitat. Changes in water flow can affect the temperature and oxygen levels in the water, potentially making it unsuitable for the salamanders.