Palatability and Predator Avoidance Behavior of Salamanders in Response to the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis Virginiana)
| Autor: | Shelby L. Hart, Brian G. Gall, Kari L. Spivey, Trevor L. Chapman, Theresa E. Wrynn, Mackenzie M. Spicer |
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| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
animal structures biology Didelphis urogenital system Virginia opossum Zoology biology.organism_classification 01 natural sciences Predation 010601 ecology Desmognathus Notophthalmus viridescens biology.animal Plethodon dorsalis Salamander Predator hormones hormone substitutes and hormone antagonists Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
| Zdroj: | The American Midland Naturalist. 181:245 |
| ISSN: | 0003-0031 |
| DOI: | 10.1674/0003-0031-181.2.245 |
| Popis: | Our understanding of mammalian predation on salamanders is primarily restricted to small carnivorous species (i.e., shrews). We conducted a series of investigations to determine whether the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a predator of various salamander species [Desmognathus fuscus, Plethodon dorsalis, and Notophthalmus viridescens (adult and eft)] from the eastern United States. All species, including toxic newt efts, were palatable to opossums. These results suggest opossums could be an active predator of salamanders. In a second study, each terrestrial salamander species exhibited avoidance responses to kairomones from opossums indicating that despite a significant risk of mortality each salamander has evolved mechanisms to minimize predation risk. Combined with overlapping habitat preferences, foraging behavior that places them in contact, and a dietary preference for animal matter, these data suggest opossums may be an important predator on terrestrial salamanders. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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