Feeding asymmetry affects territorial disputes between males of Plethodon cinereus
Silva Nunes Vd. 1988. Feeding asymmetry affects territorial disputes between males of Plethodon cinereus. Herpetologica. 44(4):386-391
An experiment was conducted to study the interactions between paired males of the red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus, when both were residents of neighboring areas and the amount of food received per individual was asymmetric (i.e., "low" and "high" levels). The low food level was the minimum number of Drosophila virilis required per day by a salamander, without loss or gain of body mass; the high food level was double that amount. Salamanders fed low food levels spent significantly more time inside the burrow and in escape behavior. This suggests that males in food-poor territories avoid escalated aggressive disputes with males in food-rich territories.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Silva Nunes, Vânia
- Units
- SHEN
- Keywords
- Animal Behavior, Animal Communities (Wildlife), Animal Studies, Eastern Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), Research Report