By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
Beauty indeed is in the eye of the beholder, especially in the eye of a young boy who loves salamanders. So Lowe-Volk Park was the perfect place for young Josh Studer on Tuesday evening when Ohio State Ph.D. candidate Rob Denton presented updates on his study of salamanders in Crawford County.
Talk of the spring thaw might seem inappropriate with temperatures once again degenerating to obscene levels, but some of the talk at Lowe-Volk Park contained some glimpses of that, seemingly, far off mirage. Yes, the words “March” and “50 degrees with rain” were tossed about, some would say almost carelessly, but when salamanders are the topic of discussion the spring thaw is pivotal to Denton’s study.
Crawford County Parks District Naturalist Josh Dyer welcomed a delegation from Columbus to lead the discussion of these surprisingly abundant amphibians. Rob Denton, a PhD candidate at Ohio State, was the keynote speaker, and he brought with him professor Lisle Gibbs of the College of Ecology, Evolution, and Organic Biology.
Denton began his presentation with a rather obscure statement: “My wife does not like Josh Dyer.”
After those in attendance shared a quick look of bemusement, wondering if they had signed up for the right discussion, or if this interloper from Columbus knew in what high esteem his host was held, Denton elaborated. The reason that his wife is not such a fan of Dyer’s is that because when Dyer calls, and Denton assured his audience that his wife knows Dyer’s ringtone, Denton has to drop everything he is doing and rush off north to Crawford County.
When winter recedes into the cold recesses of memory, for at least a year anyway, these salamanders wriggle out of the ground and go running for the waterhole. This is what brings Denton to Crawford County every year.
Denton shared some surprising and astounding information about salamanders, as well as why they could hold some answers to key questions still perplexing humans. They study these salamanders not only to see how they are part of and interact with the ecosystem, but also to see if there is anything that humans can learn from these tiny creatures. As an example, salamanders have the ability to completely regenerate body parts which begs the question of how? And if this how is answerable, is there a way we can apply this practice to humans and maybe began to harness some of this power in our own bodies? While this may seem far-fetched, and in a best case scenario is extremely far-off, it gives a small taste of the importance of scientific research in not just maintaining the balance of our world, but in improving it.
To young Josh Studer, all of Denton’s information was interesting, but probably not what he came for. When the formal presentation was over and the informal time period of questioning and animal handling became available, young Josh ran to the front of the room for a chance to hold a salamander. His wish was duly granted.
Josh was positively beaming when he offered his take on salamanders. “They’re so slimy and they’re adorable. They’re so ugly they’re cute.”
Young Josh got his wish to handle a salamander and Denton had some very nice things to say about the area as he gets a sneak peek ahead of the spring thaw.
“I love Crawford County,” Denton said, adding that it reminded him of his boyhood in Indiana. “It’s been a real pleasure being able to work here.”
For the sake of his wife, let’s hope he has some more time at home before he has called back.