Dispersal Versus Site Tenacity of Adult and Juvenile Red-Backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)

A single population of Plethodon cinereus from northwestern Nova Scotia shows a high incidence of limb skeletal variants, which is exceptional for this morphologically conservative species. Included are nine carpal patterns and five tarsal patterns, which result from the variable occurrence of 11 different combinations of fused adjacent mesopodial elements, and frequent absence of one or more ossified phalanges; one instance of increased phalangeal number also is noted. Primitive plethodontid carpal and tarsal patterns, which characterize P. cinereus from other parts of its range, occur in 69 and 71% of the carpi and tarsi examined, respectively. Modal phalangeal formulae also are those typical of P. cinereus generally. Several mesopodial variants resemble those seen in other plethodontid genera; they may have appeared independently in P. cinereus. Others are unique to this population. Both the genetic basis and geographical extent of this variation are unknown.

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Activity and Reproductive Cycles in Northern Populations of the Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon Cinereus

Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.1670/06-234r2.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 31-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Maria Helena Leclair ◽

Marc Levasseur ◽

Raymond Leclair

Keyword(s):

Plethodon Cinereus ◽

Reproductive Cycles

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Flock size and formation in black-billed gulls

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z82-234 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 60 (8) ◽

pp. 1806-1811 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Roger M. Evans

Keyword(s):

Size Distribution ◽

Causal Model ◽

Causal Explanation ◽

Flock Size ◽

Group Foraging ◽

Foraging Site ◽

Site Tenacity

Black-billed gulls (Larus bulleri) depart form breeding colonies and foraging sites in nonrandom, clumped formations (flocks). Flocks leaving colonies were significantly smaller than those leaving foraging sites, in part owing to more "upflights" at foraging sites. When more birds left a colony per unit time, flocks were both larger and more frequent.A causal model was developed based on the assumptions that flock departures from a colony or foraging site result from the effects of social attractions superimposed on otherwise random departure intervals. This model successfully predicted the size distribution of flocks departing from four colonies and foraging sites. In conjunction with the concepts of site tenacity and habituation, the model also permits a causal explanation of differences in the size of flocks departing colonies compared with foraging sites, and of size differences in flocks arising from "upflights" as opposed to the more common "straggling" columnar formations. The model and results are consistent with the hypothesis that colonies function as assembly points that facilitate group foraging.

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

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/15685381-00003107 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 395-399 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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).

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Gut of Red-backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) May Serve as a Reservoir for an Antifungal Cutaneous Bacterium

Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.1670/10-231.1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 329-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Patrick J. Wiggins ◽

Jacob M. Smith ◽

Reid N. Harris ◽

Kevin P. C. Minbiole

Keyword(s):

Plethodon Cinereus

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Presence of Modified Serous Glands in the Caudal Integument of the Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.1670/175-02n ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 732-736 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Louise Hecker ◽

Dale M. Madison ◽

Richard W. Dapson ◽

Valerie Holzherr

Keyword(s):

Plethodon Cinereus

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Male salamanders remember individuals based on chemical or visual cues

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/156853909x443463 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 146 (11) ◽

pp. 1485-1498 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Nancy Kohn ◽

Robert Jaeger

Keyword(s):

Filter Paper ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Visual Cues ◽

Chemical Cues ◽

Plethodon Cinereus ◽

Multiple Cues

AbstractThe use of multiple cues can enhance the detection, recognition, discrimination, and memorability of individuals by receivers. We conducted two experiments, using only males, to test whether territorial red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, could use only chemical or only visual cues to remember familiar conspecifics. In both experiments, focal males spent significantly more time threatening unfamiliar than familiar male intruders. They also chemoinvestigated the filter paper containing chemical cues of unfamiliar intruders more often than that of familiar intruders. These results suggest that red-backed salamanders can use both chemical and visual cues to recognize familiar individuals, allowing them to distinguish between less threatening neighbours and more threatening intruders in the heterogeneous forest floor habitat, where visual cues alone would not always be available.

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