| The microbial flora of the skin of six healthy adult Taricha granulosa was investigated. Bacteria were isolated and identified from the dorsal skin surface both before and after the animals were stimulated to release granular gland secretions immediately after their arrival from the field and again after several weeks in captivity. Comparisons were made between the number of different isolates obtained and the types of isolates identified between each trial. A comparison was also made between the numbers of different microorganisms found before and after the animals released granular gland secretions. There was a highly significant ({dollar}alpha{dollar} =.025) difference found among the numbers of different types of bacteria isolated between the initial and final trial, and also a significant difference between the types of organisms isolated. The evolutionary implications of these results are discussed. |
