The Comparative Food Habits of Sympatric and Allopatric Salamanders, Plethodon glutinosus and Plethodon jordani in Eastern Tennessee and Adjacent Areas
Powders VN and Tietjen WL. 1974. The Comparative Food Habits of Sympatric and Allopatric Salamanders, Plethodon glutinosus and Plethodon jordani in Eastern Tennessee and Adjacent Areas. Herpetologica. 30:167-175
ABSTRACT: Food habits of sympatric and allopatric populations of the salamanders Plethodon glutinosus and P. jordani were compared. Generally, both species were euryphagic. Diplopoda and insect larvae were the most important food items to both species during spring and fall seasons and in all areas examined. Seasonal differences in diets were noted. Geographical differences in utilization of certain items probably reflected altitudinal differences in availability. One case of vertebrate predation by P. glutinosus was noted. In sympatric P. glutinosus and P. jordani there appeared to be no qualitative differences in diet; however, quantitative differences were indicated by mean food item size being significantly larger in P. glutinosus than in P. jordani during the spring. These quantitative differences lessened during the fall and there was no significant difference in mean food item size between the salamander species at that time. This observation suggested that competition for food might be occurring during the late summer or fall. Possible consequences of this competition are discussed.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Powders, Vernon; Tietjen, W
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- Andrews Bald, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Big Locust Nature Trail, food, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-01828, Indian Gap, Plethodon glutinosus, Plethodon jordani, salamander, SER, Southeast Region, stomach contents