As you are reading this sentence, four people have been born. In fact, 255 people are born each minute (The World Counts, 2014). Those people will need food, water, clothing, space, and many other resources. The global population is reaching seven billion and a half people, and as this number increases, humans are moving to every corner of land on earth. This leaves no room for other species, who are clinging to existence. According to the United Nations, ⅕ of the world's species are at risk of extinction. The public recognizes the value of species, but even so their habitat continues to get destroyed at ever increasing rates. California has some of the highest population growth in the United States, drawing people to it due to its natural beauty. Unfortunately, this population growth means that people have to move into and develop areas previously occupied with precious wildlife habitat. Many of the most desirable areas are the exact areas that the California Tiger Salamanders inhabit: low-lying regions with mild weather and access to water. Commercial residential development and agricultural land expansion has caused extensive habitat loss (Frisvold, 2009).

       

         This is very bad news for the endemic California Tiger Salamander or Ambystoma californiense. As the land gets stripped of forest section by section, consuming habitat and separating populations, this urbanization destroys the California Tiger Salamanders’ chance of survival. The destruction of these salamander’s breeding ponds  is the primary reason that the California Tiger Salamander is endangered today. (Hammerson, 2004)

         

           California Tiger Salamanders are in imminent danger of becoming prematurely extinct, just like most of the world's amphibians. Though these creatures are the ancestors to much of life that exists on earth today, they are one of the fastest disappearing animals. One must wonder, how could these ancient, highly adapted creatures be going extinct so rapidly? Due to anthropogenic impacts of population growth and economic expansion, the California Tiger Salamander is very prone to endangerment. These salamanders are especially prone to habitat destruction because they have an extremely small range due to specific resources they need in order to survive. Certain characteristics make a species much more prone to endangerment as their habitat changes due to human activities. Amphibians, the group which salamanders are a part of, are one of these animals. Because of their sensitivity, California Tiger Salamanders can be used as an indicator of how healthy many different ecosystems are (Godrile, 2013).

         

           California Tiger Salamanders exhibit a biphasic life cycle and as a result, require two distinct habitats (Hammerson, 2004).To fully understand the threats the California Tiger Salamanders are facing, we will take a journey through the life cycle of this salamander. We will examine the unique threats the salamanders face in each stage of their lives. For a salamander to live and reproduce successfully, specific habitat requirements must be met. The complex life cycle of the California Tiger Salamander makes it essential that these amphibians have access to a mixed array of habitats, which they occupy depending on the time of year.