Comment on FR Doc # E8-21878

As a graduate student at Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, Georgia) the title of my thesis was “Natural History and Ecology of the Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) on The Atlantic Coastal Plain”. Over the course of 5 years (1996-2000) a total of only 56 A. cingulatum captures were made on Fort Stewart Army Reserve, Georgia. It is my opinion that the species is in significant decline, and as far as I am aware sampling efforts to find A. cingulatum in recent years support this claim. Habitat destruction/mismanagement and fire suppression of A. cingulatum sites are the two main culprits. The finding that there are now actually two species of Flatwoods Salamanders supports that both species are even rarer than previously believed and more serious conservation efforts must be implemented to ensure the survival of both species. Adam Safer, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology Division of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Physical Education South Georgia College 100 West College Park Dr. Douglas, GA 31533