Aggression and Competition in Eastern Plethodon (Amphibia, Urodela, Plethodontidae)

Thurow, Gordon

Aggression (including territoriality, social dominance, and feeding competition) was observed among and between salamanders of different eastern large and eastern small Plethodon. The aggression affects the overlapping food and shelter use in sympatric Plethodon species, and so is a part of competition. The occurrence and frequency of observed interactions are summarized, and certain sequences are narrated, such as P. cinereus versus P. nettingi shenandoah. Eastern large Plethodon tend to behave aggressively toward any Plethodon invading their territory, sympatric or not, unless the invader is much larger. Attack is more likely if the first salamander has a high social ranking in the "neighborhood." The eastern small Plethodon were less well studied. Some did attack other entities, both sympatric and allopatric, but some appeared less aggressive than others, or than eastern large Plethodon. Size and frequency data support size effects and species differences in Plethodon. The effect of age, sex, the territory, and season or time of day are discussed briefly. Aggression between eastern small and eastern large Plethodon was also observed, aggression between genera, and attacks by plethodontids against salamandrids and ambystomids. Less surface activity, and habitat displacement (through increased arboreality) can occur in less dominant Plethodon. Terrarium behavior versus behavior "in nature" is discussed, as well as the probable non-learned nature of many of the poses and movements.

Aggression and Competition in Eastern Plethodon (Amphibia, Urodela, Plethodontidae)

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