MODIFIED INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SALAMANDER LIFE STAGES CAUSED BY WILDFIRE-INDUCED SEDIMENTATION

摘要: A 1993 wildfire and subsequent landslides modified many streams in the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California (USA). Prior to fire at Cold Creek Canyon, adult newts (Taricha torosa) frequently preyed on conspecific eggs larvae. Post-fire increased number stream pools containing terrestrial earthworms. Earthworms were more common newt diets after fire, conspecifics absent. More earthworms fewer present stomachs burned sites than unburned sites. In laboratory experiments, larvae used refuges significantly less presence combined chemical cues from both adults as compared adult-newt alone. These data suggest that cannibalism is reduced alternative prey items can detect this predation risk.