In the eye of the tiger: predator avoidance tactics differ among life-history stages of an ambystomatid salamander

摘要: Loss of life to a predator obviously has negative impact on an individual's fitness, and so selection is expected favour tactics in prey that enable them avoid encounters with predators (our focus here) and/or survive such if they occur. While much known about species differences tactics, ontogenetic changes within have been less studied. Here we test for avoidance among life-history stages salamander complex cycle. Two ambystomatid salamanders use the same wetlands breeding Palouse bioregion northwestern United States. Laboratory trials conducted stark arenas demonstrated both adults larvae tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum melanostictum, upon eggs, (the latter terrestrial aquatic) smaller-bodied long-toed A. macrodactylum columbianum. Field data obtained over 3 successive years single pond used by ...