Repeatability of water loss and gain rates of Plethodon cinereus

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Geoffrey R. Smith ◽  
Abhishek V. Henry ◽  
Wesley O. Smith ◽  
Logan E. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Water Loss ◽  
Plethodon Cinereus ◽  
Colour Morph ◽  
Plethodontid Salamanders ◽  
Relative Water ◽  
Colour Morphs ◽  
Water Gain

Abstract Water loss and gain rates of amphibians are important to understanding their ecology, especially for plethodontid salamanders. We report the first estimates of repeatability of relative water loss and gain rates of the two major colour morphs of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus, in the fall and spring seasons. Repeatability of relative water loss in P. cinereus was >0 in the fall but not in the spring. Repeatability of relative water gain was significant for all salamanders pooled in the fall, and was not repeatable in the spring. There were no apparent differences in repeatability of relative water loss or gain between the two colour morphs. Our results suggest that the repeatability of relative water loss and gain rates varies by season, but not by colour morph.

Effects of colour morph and season on the dehydration and rehydration rates of Plethodon cinereus

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey R. Smith ◽  
Todd Johnson ◽  
Wesley O. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Water Relations ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Plethodon Cinereus ◽  
Colour Morph ◽  
Dehydration Rate

Plethodon cinereushas a striped morph and an unstriped morph that differ in aspects of their ecology and physiology. However, little is known about the water relations of these two morphs. The striped morph is often found at higher frequencies in moist conditions than is the unstriped morph. We examined dehydration and rehydration rates of striped and unstripedP. cinereusin the fall and spring. The morphs did not differ in dehydration rate, nor did dehydration rate differ between seasons. Striped salamanders rehydrated faster than unstriped salamanders. Salamanders in fall had greater rehydration rates than in spring. Our results suggest the striped morph may be better able to recover from water loss than the unstriped morph, whereas both morphs appear equally able to resist water loss.

Postautotomy tail movement differs between colour morphs of the red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Banan W. Otaibi ◽  
Quincey K. Johnson ◽  
Bradley J. Cosentino
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Behavioural Response ◽  
Plethodon Cinereus ◽  
Predation Pressure ◽  
Tail Autotomy ◽  
Tail Movement ◽  
Colour Morphs ◽  
Defensive Mechanism

Striped and unstriped colour morphs of the eastern red-backed salamander,Plethodon cinereus, vary in their pre-attack behavioural response to predators, but it is unknown whether the morphs vary in post-attack strategies. Both morphs employ tail autotomy, a post-attack defensive mechanism enabling an individual to release a portion of their tail to facilitate escape from predation. Postautotomy tail movement diverts attention of a predator away from the individual’s body, so natural selection should favor vigorous tail movement in both colour morphs ofP. cinereus. We compared the degree of postautotomy tail movement between morphs following simulated predation. Striped individuals exhibited substantially longer and faster tail movement than unstriped individuals. Divergence in postautotomy tail movement may be a direct evolved response to variable predation pressure between colour morphs. Alternatively, tail movement may be constrained in the unstriped morph due to a genetic correlation with colouration (e.g., pleiotropy).

scholarly journals Pewarisan Sifat Densitas Stomata dan Laju Kehilangan Air Daun (rate leaf water loss RWL) pada Kacang Tanah (Arachis hypogaea L.)

2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Adisyahputra Adisyahputra ◽  
Sudarsono Sudarsono ◽  
Kukuh Setiawan
Keyword(s):  
Water Loss ◽  
Gene Action ◽  
Stomatal Density ◽  
Female Parent ◽  
Quantitative Character ◽  
Arachis Hypogaea L ◽  
Relative Water ◽  
Qualitative Characters ◽  
Leaf Water Loss ◽  
High Level

The aim of this research is to analyze and examine the inheritance of stomatal density trait and RWL as a variable in drought tolerance ofpeanut. The experiment was conducted by using cv. Kelinci that is sensitive genotype as female parent and US 605 which is tolerantgenotype as male parent, including population off spring from hybrid cv. Kelinci (P1) with US 605 (P2). Stomatal density was determinedby making leaf imprint and by observing leaf imprint under microscope. Relative water loss was determined by dipping peanut leaf in PEG40% for 48 hours. Result of the analysis showed that stomatal density and RWL were not only controlled by qualitative characters of majorgene, but also controlled by quantitative character of minor gene by polygenic with the complex gene action. Both characters seem toinfluence more as genetic factor and have high level fixation additive varians which can give the opportunity to obtain the tolerant offspring.

scholarly journals Two Amelanistic Eastern Red-backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) from Eastern Canada

2011 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-David Moore ◽  
John Gilhen
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Plethodon Cinereus ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Black Skin ◽  
Colour Morphs ◽  
Skin Pigment

Three colour morphs of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus, are known in eastern Canada: red-backed, lead-backed, and erythristic. Anomalies, including two albino and four leucistic individuals, are also known from eastern Canada. We report the first salamander individuals exhibiting amelanism, which is a lack of black skin pigment, but with black eyes, one from Quebec and one from Nova Scotia, Canada.

An investigation of factors influencing erythrocyte morphology of red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)

2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Maerz ◽  
Joseph Milanovich ◽  
Andrew Davis ◽  
Jayna DeVore
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Plethodon Cinereus ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health State ◽  
Erythrocyte Morphology ◽  
Size And Shape ◽  
Plethodontid Salamanders ◽  
Body Sizes

AbstractAmphibians have long been known to display wide variation in erythrocyte morphology across species, but within species there has been little attention given to individual variation in red blood cell morphology. We captured 49 red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) from central Pennsylvania, USA and used image analysis procedures to measure erythrocyte morphology (size and shape) on blood smears made from all individuals. We then statistically examined whether variation in snout-vent-length, sex, tail loss, or capture location influenced these cell variables. Only snout-vent-length affected erythrocyte size and shape, with increasing body sizes associated with increasing cell areas and increasingly rounder cells. Further, erythrocyte shape was also associated with a measure of body condition that was corrected for body size, such that individuals with high body condition scores had rounder cells. Given the oxygen-carrying role of erythrocytes in all vertebrates, we suspect this discovery is related to size-related changes in oxygen demand, since total oxygen consumption increases with body size in an allometric manner. While our results warrant further investigation to understand the mechanism, the association we found between cell roundness and both body size and condition nevertheless indicates this parameter could be used to assess the health state of plethodontid salamanders in future research, provided non-destructive sampling is employed. Our results also underscore the value of hematological investigations in the study of animal biology.

Rapid adjustment of leaf angle explains how the desert moss, Syntrichia caninervis, copes with multiple resource limitations during rehydration

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Wu ◽  
Yuan-ming Zhang ◽  
Alison Downing ◽  
Zachary T. Aanderud ◽  
Ye Tao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Availability ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Ultrastructural Changes ◽  
Leaf Angle ◽  
Resource Limitations ◽  
Syntrichia Caninervis ◽  
Relative Water ◽  
Rapid Adjustment ◽  
Multiple Resource ◽  
Water Gain

Although the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis Mitt. is extremely desiccation tolerant, it still requires water and photosynthates for growth. The ecological significance of the leaf angle in maintaining a balance between water and light availability is critical to its survival. Active leaf repositioning balances water and light availability following rehydration. S. caninervis can adjust leaf angles from a steep (84–69°) to a stable level at 30° within 7 s after rehydration, obtaining maximum net photosynthetic gain at a shoot relative water content of ~60%. Leaf morphological characters, (leaf hair points, surface papillae and costal anatomy) and ultrastructural changes (chloroplast reordering and loss of lipid reserves as shown by changes in osmiophilic globules) were linked to rapid leaf spreading, water gain and sunlight reflectivity of leaves during rehydration. The high 377.20 ± 91.69 (cm2 g–1) surface area to mass ratio was a major factor in facilitating the rapid response to rewetting. Hyaline cells of the leaf base absorbed water, swelled and forced the leaf away from the stem as soon as rehydration commenced. Loss of leaf hair points retards leaf angle adjustment during rehydration.

scholarly journals Variation in founder groups promotes establishment success in the wild

2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1739) ◽  
pp. 2800-2806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Forsman ◽  
Lena Wennersten ◽  
Magnus Karlsson ◽  
Sofia Caesar
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Colour Morph ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Establishment Success ◽  
Evolutionary Rescue ◽  
Reproductive Life ◽  
Declining Populations ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Colour Morphs ◽  
Founder Group

Environmental changes currently pose severe threats to biodiversity, and reintroductions and translocations are increasingly used to protect declining populations and species from extinction. Theory predicts that establishment success should be higher for more variable groups of dissimilar individuals. To test this ‘diversity promotes establishment’ hypothesis, we introduced colour polymorphic pygmy grasshoppers ( Tetrix subulata ) to different sites in the wild. The number of descendants found at the release sites the subsequent year increased with increasing number of colour morphs in the founder group, and variation in founder groups also positively affected colour morph diversity in the established populations. Since colour morphs differ in morphology, physiology, behaviour, reproductive life history and types of niche used, these findings demonstrate that variation among individuals in functionally important traits promotes establishment success under natural conditions, and further indicate that founder diversity may contribute to evolutionary rescue and increased population persistence.

Behavioural Responses by Red-backed Salamanders to Conspecific and Heterospecific Cues

Behaviour ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Sullivan ◽  
Jason Rohr ◽  
Dale Madison
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Plethodon Cinereus ◽  
Phylogenetic Relatedness ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Alarm Cue ◽  
Predation Event ◽  
Plethodontid Salamanders ◽  
Desmognathus Ochrophaeus

AbstractChemical cues released from injured prey are thought to indicate the proximity of a predator or predation event, and therefore, an area of elevated predation risk. Prey often avoid chemical cues released from injured heterospecifics, but there is little evidence to determine whether this is due to homologous cues among phylogenetically related species, or avoidance of injured syntopic species that experience predation from the same predators. The purpose of this study was to examine the response of terrestrial red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) to chemical cues from non-injured and injured members of their prey guild that vary in their relatedness to P.cinereus. In the laboratory, P.cinereus avoided chemical cues from injured conspecifics, injured and non-injured slimy salamanders (P.glutinosus), and injured confamilial dusky salamanders (Desmognathus ochrophaeus). Red-backed salamanders did not avoid rinses from non-injured conspecifics and dusky salamanders, or cues from injured and non-injured earthworms (Lumbricus sp.), a more distantly related prey guild member. These results cannot be fully explained by either phylogenetic relatedness (among plethodontid salamanders) or prey guild membership alone. We suggest that a combination of these factors, and perhaps others, likely influenced the evolution of heterospecific alarm cue avoidance in the red-backed salamander.

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