An Ethogram of Intraspecific Agonistic and Display Behavior for the Wandering Salamander, Aneides Vagrans

Davis, Theodore M.

doi:10.1655/0018-0831(2002)058[0371:aeoiaa]2.0.co;2

Cited by 11 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This behaviour increased in frequency by 13 and 50 weeks of age and is very similar to what has been reported for several species of salamander (Staub 1993;Davis 2002) and snakes (Carpenter 1977), with the apparent aim of pinning the other individual down in a ritualised display of dominance (Staub 1993;Davis 2002).…”

Section: Agonistic Behavioursupporting

confidence: 83%

Intra- and interspecific agonistic behaviour in hatchling Australian freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni) and saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We examined agonistic behaviour in hatchling Australian freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni) at 2 weeks, 13 weeks, and 50 weeks after hatching, and between C. johnstoni and saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) at 40-50 weeks of age. Among C. johnstoni, agonistic interactions (15-23 s duration) were well established by two weeks old and typically involved two and occasionally three individuals, mostly between 17 : 00 and 24 : 00 hours in open-water areas of enclosures. A range of discrete postures, non-contact and contact movements are described. The head is rarely targeted in contact movements with C. johnstoni because they exhibit a unique 'head raised high' posture, and engage in 'push downs'. In contrast with C. porosus of a similar age, agonistic interactions between C. johnstoni were conducted with relatively low intensity and showed limited ontogenetic change; there was also no evidence of a dominance hierarchy among hatchlings by 50 weeks of age, when the frequency of agonistic interactions was lowest. Agonistic interactions between C. johnstoni and C. porosus at 40-50 weeks of age were mostly low level, with no real exclusion or dominance observed. However, smaller individuals of both species moved slowly out of the way when a larger individual of either species approached. When medium-or high-level interspecific interactions did occur, it was between similar-sized individuals, and each displayed species-specific behaviours that appeared difficult for contestants to interpret: there was no clear winner or loser. The nature of agonistic interactions between the two species suggests that dominance may be governed more strongly by size rather than by species-specific aggressiveness.

show abstract

Section: Agonistic Behavioursupporting

confidence: 83%

Intra- and interspecific agonistic behaviour in hatchling Australian freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni) and saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the lungless salamanders (family Plethodontidae), the preponderance of species that were investigated exhibits nonrandom spacing and a variety of territorial behaviors (Cupp 1980;Jaeger et al 1986;Mathis 1989;Gergits and Jaeger 1990;Verrell and Donovan 1991;Anthony 1993). On Vancouver Island, Canada, the two plethodontid species studied to date exhibit relatively reduced territorial behavior (Ovaska 1987(Ovaska , 1988(Ovaska , 1993Ovaska and Davis 1992;Davis 2002a). Of these two, the wandering salamander Aneides vagrans (ne: the clouded salamander, Aneides ferreus; see Jackman 1998) arguably exhibits the fewest signs of territoriality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…vagrans can exhibit agonistic behaviors typical of other plethodontids, but at much reduced frequencies and intensities (Davis 2002a). Experimental investigations of spacing patterns indicate that A. vagrans is not territorial (Davis 1991) and wandering salamanders do not use fecal pellets as territorial markers, unlike many other plethodontids (Jaeger et al 1986;Ovaska and Davis 1992). Although individuals do exhibit strong cover site fidelity, they are often found in small aggregations of several individuals (Davis 2002b; T. W. J. Garner, personal observation) under the bark of downed trees or within crevices formed by fractures in downed and solid woody debris (Davis 2002b;Jackman 1998;Fellers and Drost 1994;Davis and Gregory 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ovaska (1987Ovaska ( , 1988 concluded that the lack of territoriality in Plethodon vehiculum could be attributed at least in part to mild seasonality and a concurrent increase in food availability without resource partitioning. Davis (2002a) also attributed A. vagrans' relatively innocuous behavior to mild climate and plentiful food resources, but because cover sites used by A. vagrans are more patchily distributed than those for P. vehiculum, site tenacity is strong, females attend clutches, and single adults are commonly found sharing cover with juveniles. Davis (2002a) posited that lowered aggression among individuals within a log might be more a matter of inclusive fitness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Tests of aggregative preferences of wandering salamanders (Aneides vagrans)

Garner

Gregory

2006

acta ethol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plethodontid salamanders usually exhibit territorial spacing patterns and behaviors. Previous works suggest that plethodontids from Vancouver Island, Canada lack strong territoriality. In one Vancouver Island species, Aneides vagrans, salamanders may even be found in the field in small aggregations. We investigated preferences of A. vagrans for occupied vs unoccupied cover objects and for cover objects occupied by conspecifics of different age/ size classes. We also tested A. vagrans preferences for conspecific vs heterospecific salamanders in an attempt to determine if the lack of territoriality by A. vagrans is species-specific and perhaps related to habitat segregation. A. vagrans did not avoid occupied cover objects or exhibit a preference for occupied vs unoccupied sites. Age class did not affect cover object choice. A. vagrans did not avoid heterospecifics that exhibit the highest degree of resource overlap (Plethodon vehiculum), which we believe might be attributable to a benign and resource-rich habitat, although alternative explanations exist. A. vagrans did avoid syntopic newts (Taricha granulosa), though this is probably due to toxic newt skin secretions.

show abstract