Territoriality in an Ambystoma Salamander? Support for the Null Hypothesis

Martin, David L.; Jaeger, Robert G.; Labat, Christopher P.

doi:10.2307/1444956

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The surrogate intruder was constructed by rolling a piece of paper towel to the length and width of an average juvenile Ambystoma and wetting it. The surrogate functioned as a control because I could distinguish between behavior directed toward a live intruder vs. that elicited by any object placed in a resident's chamber (Martin et a!. 1986).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reports of agonistic interactions in adult salamanders have been largely restricted to the family Plethodontidae, while studies in other families, such as the Ambystomatidae, are few and conflicting. Ducey and Ritsema (1988) and Ducey (1989) detected intraspecific aggression in several species of Ambystoma, whereas Martin et al (1986) found no evidence of agonistic behavior in Ambystoma texanum. These studies of Ambystoma were confined to intraspecific interactions and did not examine the potential of aggression as an interference mechanism of interspecific competition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Interference Competition in Postmetamorphic Salamanders: Interspecific Differences in Aggression by Coexisting Species

Walls

1990

Ecology

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I examined whether interference competition occurred among the terrestrial juveniles of two pond—breeding salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum and A. talpoideum. In a laboratory experiment, I observed intra— and interspecific agonistic behavior between pairs of recently metamorphosed individuals by staging encounters between resident salamanders (i.e., possessors of a refugium) and (1) conspecific, (2) heterospecific, and (3) surrogate (control) intruders. Resident A. maculatum exhibited significantly more threat and submissive behavior to live intruders than to surrogates, with more agonistic behavior direct toward conspecifics than to heterospecifics. Intruders likewise exhibited significantly more threat and submissive behavior to conspecific residents than to heterospecific residents. In contrast, neither resident nor intruding A. talpoideum altered their behavior in response to differing types of opponents. These results indicate that interference competition may operate in the terrestrial environment. Further, the agonistic behavior of terrestrial Ambystoma is the antithesis of that of the larvae of these two species, which suggests an ontogenetic switch in behavior at metamorphosis. These data are the first indication of such a shift in competitive abilities in amphibians. This behavioral switch may sustain coexistence between these two species by counterbalancing the competitive advantage of one species in the aquatic stage with that of the other species in the terrestrial stage.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interference Competition in Postmetamorphic Salamanders: Interspecific Differences in Aggression by Coexisting Species

Walls

1990

Ecology

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“…jan.malmgren@jmnatur.se restrial component of their habitats, they are less likely to defend resources and to display territoriality there (Martin et al, 1986). Competitive interactions, for example agonistic behaviour such as aggression and biting, have nevertheless been observed in the terrestrial phase of ambystomatid salamanders (e.g., Ducey and Ritsema, 1988;Ducey, 1989, Smyers et al, 2001, 2002.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling terrestrial interactions and shelter use in great crested newts (Triturus cristatus)

Malmgren

Andersson²,

Ekdahl

2007

Amphib Reptilia

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The great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) is a pond-breeding salamander with a prolonged aquatic phase and a period of activity in the terrestrial environment prior to hibernation. Individuals use ground-covering objects and burrows as shelters from predators and unfavourable conditions. We investigated how interactions and spacing patterns were formed in staged experiments where paired newts were exposed to an arena with two shelters. Shelter use was predominant in all sets of great crested newts, irrespective of sex and size. Males and females differed in their shelter-use response. Females were more prone to reside in shelters when meeting other females than when meeting males, whereas males appeared indifferent to the sex of another individual. The social interaction was uniform for all combinations, with a 2:1 relation between the numbers of pairs sharing shelters vs. positioned in different shelters, instead of a random 1:1 distribution. Thus, the differences in shelter sharing could be attributed to the predominance of shelter use for females when meeting other females. We suggest that this behaviour, when females respond to the presence of another female, is a form of resource protection. Although sex effects were clearly noted, we could not demonstrate that size-related characteristics affected the outcome of any social interactions.

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“…There is considerable evidence of density-dependent competition and predation affecting larvae, suggesting that population regulation may occur during the aquatic larval stage (e.g., Stenhouse et al 1983;Wilbur and Collins 1973;Petranka 1989;Scott 1990;Van Buskirk and Smith 1991). This has led some researchers to suggest that competition for resources in the terrestrial environment may be limited and that, as a result, resource defense and territorial aggression may be weak or absent (Martin et al 1986;Petranka 1989). However, factors affecting the spatial dispersion of Ambystoma spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of abundance of small-mammal burrows and conspecifics on the density and distribution of spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) in terrestrial habitats

Regosin¹,

Windmiller²,

Reed³

2003

Can. J. Zool.

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Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) distributions were studied within eighteen 272-m2 field enclosures in upland deciduous forest adjacent to two breeding ponds. The enclosures were subsequently used in experiments involving (i) removal of small-mammal burrows to determine if burrow abundance influenced salamander density and (ii) manipulation of salamander densities to determine if increased density was associated with decreased growth, fecundity, or probability of re-emerging to breed. Mean density of salamanders wintering in enclosures <65 m from the breeding ponds was 1.0/100 m2 (SD = 1.1/100 m2, n = 17, range = 04.0/100 m2). Density declined as distance to the nearest breeding pond increased, and the sex ratio was skewed sharply toward males (8:1) wintering close (<65 m) to the pond but not farther from the pond (1:1). Males residing within the enclosures weighed more than males wintering farther from the breeding ponds. Migrating salamanders were over 3 times more likely to leave burrow-removal plots than control plots prior to the summer inactive period. Salamanders housed at high density (15/enclosure) were less likely to re-emerge to breed than were salamanders housed at low density (5/enclosure), but we observed no effects on growth or fecundity. Results suggest that conspecific distribution and burrow availability might affect the density of spotted salamanders within terrestrial habitats.

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Territoriality in an Ambystoma Salamander? Support for the Null Hypothesis

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

Interference Competition in Postmetamorphic Salamanders: Interspecific Differences in Aggression by Coexisting Species

Interference Competition in Postmetamorphic Salamanders: Interspecific Differences in Aggression by Coexisting Species

Modelling terrestrial interactions and shelter use in great crested newts (Triturus cristatus)

Influence of abundance of small-mammal burrows and conspecifics on the density and distribution of spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) in terrestrial habitats

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