Behaviorial ecology of the Eastern red-backed salamander : 50 years of research

249 Pages·2016·5.575 MB·English

by  Robert G. Jaeger, Birgit Gollmann, Carl D. Anthony, Caitlin R. Gabor, Nancy R. Kohn

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Behavioral Ecology of the Eastern
Red-b acked Salamander
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Behavioral Ecology of the
Eastern Red-b acked
Salamander
50 Years of Research
BY ROBERT G. JAEGER,
BIRGIT GOLLMANN,
CARL D. ANTHONY,
CAITLIN R. GABOR
AND
NANCY R. KOHN
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Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Jaeger, Robert, author.
Title: Behavioral Ecology of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander / by Robert G. Jaeger,
Birgit Gollmann, Carl D. Anthony, Caitlin R. Gabor, and Nancy R. Kohn.
Description: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2016. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015050051 | ISBN 9780190605506
Subjects: LCSH: Plethodon cinereus—Behavior. | Plethodon cinereus—Ecology.
Classification: LCC QL668.C274 J34 2016 | DDC 597.8/5—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2015050051
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed by Sheridan Books, Inc., United States of America
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For Professor Jane Brockmann, who initially suggested and encouraged this
book, and Professor Murray Itzkowitz, whose juxtaposition of field and
laboratory experimentation was an inspiration for our research
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CONTENTS
List of Figures xi
Acknowledgments xiii
About the Authors xv
1. Prelude 1
1.1. Bob Jaeger meets the eastern red- backed salamander,
Plethodon cinereus 1
1.2. An introduction to red- backed salamanders 4
1.3. The plot of our research program 6
1.4. Comments concerning methodology and statistical paradigms 10
2. Interspecific competition between P. cinereus and P. shenandoah 13
2.1. Ecological studies 14
2.2. Behavioral experiments 18
2.3. Selected recent research by others: Interspecific competition 21
3. Intraspecific territoriality by P. cinereus 23
3.1. Definition and theory 23
3.2. Distribution and prey availability 24
3.3. Site tenacity by P. cinereus 27
3.4. Determining sex and defining behavioral patterns 28
3.5. The use of odors and dear enemy recognition 30
3.6. The expulsion of intruders 34
3.7. Testing territoriality in the forest 35
3.8. Variables that affect territorial contests 42
3.8.1. Length of residency 42
3.8.2. Body size 43
3.8.3. Body size without residency 45
3.8.4. Sex and reproductive condition 46
3.8.5. Intruder number 47
3.8.6. Tail condition 49
3.8.7. Food quantity 50
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3.8.8. Food quality 51
3.8.9. Signal honesty 53
3.9. Life history traits and territorial contests 54
3.9.1. Variation in reproductive success among females 55
3.9.2. Payoffs to and RHP of territorial owners 56
3.9.3. Resource acquisition and energy allocation 57
3.10. Seasonal and geographic variation in territorial
agonistic behavior 59
3.10.1. Seasonal variation 59
3.10.2. Geographical variation 61
3.11. Selected recent research by others: Intraspecific territoriality 63
4. Foraging tactics by P. cinereus within territories 65
4.1. Foraging on live versus dead prey 66
4.2. Diet breadth 67
4.3. Optimal prey choice 67
4.4. Territorial and foraging behavioral conflicts 69
4.5. Assessing prey densities 70
4.6. Judging prey profitabilities 72
4.7. Conflicts between foraging behavior and territorial defense 74
4.8. Diet diversity and clutch size 76
4.9. Selected recent research by others: Foraging tactics 78
5. Pheromonal glands and pheromonal communication by P. cinereus 80
5.1. Early studies suggest pheromones do occur 80
5.2. Do males of P. cinereus produce territorial pheromones? 81
5.3. Do females of P. cinereus produce territorial pheromones? 82
5.4. Where are those pheromones produced in males and females? 83
5.5. Focusing on the postcloacal gland 84
5.6. What information does the postcloacal gland communicate? 86
5.7. What signals do pheromones communicate? 87
5.8. Scent matching and tail autotomy 89
5.9. Do territorial pheromones aid in homing behavior by P. cinereus? 93
5.10. Are pheromones volatile? 95
5.11. Selected recent research by others: Pheromonal communication 98
6. Interspecific territoriality and other interspecific behavioral
interactions 101
6.1. Interspecific territoriality between P. cinereus and P. shenandoah 102
6.2. Rules of engagement with juveniles of P. glutinosus 105
6.3. Plethodon cinereus in an assemblage of salamanders 108
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Contents ix
6.4. Ecological tests of behavioral predictions: Enclosed plots
on the forest floor 111
6.5. More ecological tests of behavioral predictions: Unenclosed plots
on the forest floor 113
6.6. Character displacement: P. cinereus versus P. hoffmani 114
6.7. Competition between P. cinereus and P. hubrichti 117
6.7.1. Habitat niche partitioning? 118
6.7.2. Microhabitat niche partitioning? 118
6.7.3. Intra- and interspecific competition? 120
6.7.4. Intra- and interspecific territoriality? 122
6.7.5. Summary 126
6.8. Diversity of behaviors by P. cinereus toward other species 128
6.9. Selected recent research by others: Interspecific territoriality 129
7. Intraspecific social behavior within P. cinereus 131
7.1. Interactions of adults and juveniles in the forest
and in the laboratory 131
7.2. Distributions of adult males and females 134
7.3. Microdistributions of adults and juveniles 136
7.4. Female– female interactions 136
7.5. Male– female behavioral interactions in the forest 138
7.6. The ESS dating game 139
7.7. Males, females, and feces 141
7.8. Females prefer larger males 143
7.9. Males and females prefer familiar opposite- sex individuals 144
7.10. Social monogamy 146
7.11. Mutual mate guarding 149
7.12. Sexual coercion 150
7.13. Imperfect information during sexual discrimination? 152
7.14. Relationship value and conflict resolution 153
7.15. Natural versus forced partnerships 155
7.16. Females are often genetically polyandrous 156
7.17. Switching from social monogamy to social polygamy 157
7.18. Brooding behavior and neonates: Kin recognition? 160
7.19. What 3,487 uniquely marked salamanders reveal
about social relationships 162
7.19.1. Basic population ecology 163
7.19.2. Size distribution and growth rates 165
7.19.3. Sexual maturity and female fecundity 165
7.19.4. Population size 166
7.19.5. Sex ratio 166