This study, conducted as part of the CLIFF (Climate and Forest Fragmentation) experiment at Harvard Forest, investigates how forest fragmentation and climate change—particularly drought-affect red-backed salamanders and their prey. By examining changes in microhabitats, salamander abundance, and soil arthropod diversity across experimental plots, the research aims to understand how environmental stressors alter forest ecosystems. Weekly field sampling from May to September 2025 will include salamander counts and continuous microclimate monitoring. The findings will inform conservation efforts and contribute to ecological modeling, while also providing undergraduate students with hands-on research experience.