Alarm response by a plethodontid salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus): Conspecific and heterospecific “Schreckstoff”

1994 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 2751-2759 ◽  
Author(s):  
William I. Lutterschmidt ◽  
Glenn A. Marvin ◽  
Victor H. Hutchison
Keyword(s):  
Alarm Response ◽  
Plethodontid Salamander ◽  
Desmognathus Ochrophaeus

Multiple mating by females is not dependent on body size in the salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cara Shillington ◽  
Paul Verrell
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Multiple Mating ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Mating Frequency ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Multiple Partners ◽  
Plethodontid Salamander ◽  
The Face ◽  
Desmognathus Ochrophaeus

AbstractMale mate choice for particular "classes" of females may be devalued if chosen females are more likely to mate with multiple partners (thus precipitating sperm competition). Larger females carry greater numbers of eggs available for fertilization in the plethodontid salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus, and are chosen by males in simultaneous mate-choice tests. We found no difference in mating frequency between 12 large females and 12 smaller females across 576 male-female encounters. Given limited published data on patterns of sperm utilization in this salamander, we conclude that male choice of more fecund partners may be advantageous even in the face of multiple mating by females and resultant sperm competition. Studies of natural populations of salamanders are required to confirm this conclusion.

Tests for age and size effects on male mating success in a plethodontid salamander

1988 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélène Francillon-Vieillot ◽  
Lynne D. Houck
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Mating Success ◽  
Size Effects ◽  
Equal Access ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Male Mating Success ◽  
Plethodontid Salamander ◽  
Age Estimates ◽  
Desmognathus Ochrophaeus

AbstractWe used the skeletochronological method to obtain estimates of age for male Desmognathus ochrophaeus (Urodela: Plethodontidae). Age estimates were compared with body size and with a measure of matiing success obtained from an earlier study. Body size is significantly correlated with age, but there is much variation in age among animals having the same body size. Mating success was not significantly correlated either with size or age when males had equal access to potentially receptive females.

Avoidance Response By Adult Newts (Cynops Pyrrhogaster and Notophthalmus Viridescens) To Chemical Alarm Cues

Behaviour ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 132 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn A. Marvin ◽  
Victor H. Hutchison
Keyword(s):  
Avoidance Response ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Skin Extract ◽  
Notophthalmus Viridescens ◽  
Alarm Cues ◽  
Alarm Response ◽  
Cynops Pyrrhogaster ◽  
Plethodontid Salamander ◽  
Chemical Alarm Cues ◽  
General Response

AbstractMany fishes and aquatic invertebrates use chemical alarm cues to avoid predation, however relatively little is known about the occurrence of chemical alarm cues in amphibians. We tested the response of adult fire-bellied newts (Cynops pyrrhogaster) and red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) to chemical cues from damaged tissues of newts and other salamanders. Both species avoided chemical cues from a conspecific skin extract. Notophthalmus viridescens also avoided chemical cues from C. pyrrhogaster skin extract, but the converse was not true. Neither species avoided chemical cues from a conspecific viscera extract, plethodontid salamander (Desmognathus and Plethodon) skin extracts, or a conspecific skin extract which had been heated. These results indicate that the avoidance behaviour is an alarm response to chemical cues released from damaged newt skin and is not a general response to chemical cues from damaged salamander tissue. This study provides the best evidence to date for an avoidance response by caudate amphibians to chemical alarm cues.

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