Divergence of Trophic Morphology and Resource Use Among Populations of Plethodon Cinereus and P. Hoffmani in Pennsylvania

摘要: Species of the genus Plethodon are widely distributed in forests eastern and western North America. They terrestrial salamanders that have no aquatic larval stage, live moist woodland habitats. Many species believed to be territorial (Hairston, 1951, 1981; Jaeger, 1971, 1972, Highton 1995; Nishikawa 1985;), intraspecific competition is thought for food resources direct access foraging sites (Jaeger, 1972). Several often co-inhabit a particular location, with as many five sympatric some southern Appalachian localities (Highton 1995). Therefore, likelihood ecological interactions among congeners high, competitive exclusion has been suggested possible mechanism affects distributions (Hairston 1951),(Highton 1995;Jaeger 1971).