The intricate lifestyle of the California Tiger Salamander benefits the natural environment in many ways. Firstly, during late winter and early spring, the California Tiger Salamander migrates to vernal pools to reproduce. During

their migration, these

salamanders connect

energy and matter from

a terrestrial biome to an

aquatic biome. Without

the migratory patterns

of the California Tiger

Salamander, it is highly

plausible that the

terrestrial and aquatic

biomes would 

significantly contain lower levels of nutrients and energy.

      Once in its adult stage the California Tiger Salamander is known as a “mole” salamander because it spends one quarter of its life underground (California Tiger Salamander, 2013). Though they can not dig well, the California Tiger Salamander lives in underground burrows by occupying burrows created and abandoned by small mammals. This system also creates more movement of energy and matter by contributing to soil dynamics.