Direct effects influence larval salamander size and density more than indirect effects

Anderson, Thomas L.; Ousterhout, Brittany H.; Rowland, Freya E.; Drake, Dana L.; Burkhart, Jacob J.; Peterman, William E.

doi:10.1007/s00442-020-04820-8

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…opacum does matter for their interactions, as it was the best predictor of larval A . annulatum size (Anderson et al., 2021), although this information was collected in the absence of any information on breeding phenology patterns. As both species can breed earlier than the other, it could be that density dependence only matters for the earliest‐arriving species, which would subsequently affect their individual growth rates and predation rates on later‐arriving species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…body size) and survival of later‐arriving marbled salamanders ( Ambystoma opacum ) were dependent on each species' density. Our focal taxa share many similar life history traits, including a complex life cycle where adults breed in the autumn, larvae overwinter in ponds prior to undergoing metamorphosis in late spring to early summer (Hassinger et al., 1970; Semlitsch et al., 2014), and are often found in sympatry in semi‐permanent to permanent ponds in the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains (Anderson et al., 2021; Ousterhout et al., 2015; Shaffer, 2010). Larval densities are highly variable among ponds (Ousterhout et al., 2015), as are body size distributions (Anderson et al., 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Asymmetric density‐dependent competition and predation between larval salamanders

2021

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Body size differences among consumers often lead to asymmetric interactions, with larger individuals typically being stronger competitors and/or predators on small individuals. These types of interaction are particularly exemplified in freshwater pond communities, where substantial size variation exists both within and among species of top consumers. We investigated whether density dependence can modify the outcome of size‐structured interactions between larval stages of two pond‐breeding salamanders, Ambystoma annulatum and Ambystoma opacum. Size structure exists in populations of these species due to variation in the timing of breeding, which we hypothesised would amplify predation rates and competitive asymmetries from the early‐arriving species (A. annulatum) on the later‐arriving species (A. opacum). We manipulated the relative densities of both A. annulatum and A. opacum in outdoor mesocosms. We maintained the experiment through metamorphosis, and analysed size at metamorphosis, larval period length and survival of each species. Ambystoma annulatum imparted a strong density‐dependent effect on A. opacum through a combination of predation and competition. Survival of A. opacum was negatively related to the density of A. annulatum. For the A. opacum that survived, body size was reduced and larval period lengthened at higher A. annulatum densities, indicative of interspecific competition that was partly explained by resource pre‐emption. In contrast, A. annulatum was only affected by intraspecific density‐dependent competition. Our results suggest that density‐dependent effects reinforce asymmetric interactions among larval salamanders. However, the intensity of the asymmetric interactions is mediated by the arrival time and size of conspecifics. Specifically, earlier‐arriving species can negatively affect the later‐arriving species via size‐mediated predation and competition. The interactive effects of density dependence and arrival time of community members are probably a common mechanism generating size variability in ecological communities. Yet, most studies only evaluate one mechanism or the other. By interweaving these two processes, our work displays the importance of understanding context‐dependence in species interactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Asymmetric density‐dependent competition and predation between larval salamanders

2021

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“…The ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) is endemic to the Ouachita Mountains and Ozark Plateau of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma of the United States, and it is a secretive, fossorial species rarely seen outside of its mass breeding migrations (Hutcherson et al, 1989;Trauth et al, 2004) . Far more collection records and scientific documentation on habits and ecology exist for the species in the Arkansas and Missouri regions of its range (Spotila and Beumer, 1970;Semlitsch et al, 2014;Crawford et al, 2017;Anderson et al, 2021), where even experimental studies to explore ecological aspects of the species (e.g., Anderson and Semlitch, 2016) and molecular studies to characterize population genetics (e.g., Phillips et al, 2000;Burkhart et al, 2017) have been conducted.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Museum specimens from Oklahoma include only 24 adult individuals and 44 larvae from LeFlore, Cherokee, Adair, Sequoyah, and McCurtain counties recorded between 1951 and 2015, as deposited in the Oklahoma State University Collection of Vertebrates, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, National Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute, The Field Museum of Natural History, and University of Texas at Arlington Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center (Vertnet accessed in 2017; review of records of Oklahoma State University's Collection of Vertebrates in 2021). Far more collection records and scientific documentation on habits and ecology exist for the species in the Arkansas and Missouri regions of its range (Spotila and Beumer, 1970; Semlitsch et al, 2014; Crawford et al, 2017; Anderson et al, 2021), where even experimental studies to explore ecological aspects of the species (e.g., Anderson et al, 2016; Anderson and Semlitch, 2016) and molecular studies to characterize population genetics (e.g., Phillips et al, 2000; Burkhart et al, 2017) have been conducted.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Regarding habitat use, different species of salamanders in the genus Ambystoma actively select breeding ponds rather than ovipositing in any available microhabitat (Kern et al, 2013). Among the abiotic and biotic factors that have been mentioned as important for breeding pond selection by the ringed salamander are absence of fish, increasingly permanent hydroperiod, and a good amount of surrounding forest; however, some variation in characteristics may be observed (Peterman et al, 2014; Anderson et al, 2015 a ; Ousterhout et al, 2015; Crawford et al, 2017; Anderson et al, 2021). Elevation of the breeding ponds used by ringed salamanders in our study went from 285 to 466 m above sea level, and most would be considered upland ponds.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Explosive Fall Breeding of the Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma Annulatum) in the Ozark Plateau of Oklahoma, Usa

Carlson

Cabrera-Guzmán

Fox

2023

The Southwestern Naturalist

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The ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) is endemic to the Ouachita Mountains and Ozark Plateau of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma in the United States. There are various records and studies on the habits and ecology of this species in Arkansas and Missouri, but not in Oklahoma. Consequently, this charismatic amphibian species cannot be properly listed or managed for conservation purposes in the state. In this work we present the first documentation of explosive fall breeding aggregations of the ringed salamander in Oklahoma. We conducted fieldwork and found active breeding individuals in 14 ponds from three localities at the Ozark Plateau in the northeastern corner of the state. We used drift fencing with pitfall and funnel traps and performed visual encounter surveys during 6 weeks in the fall to obtain data from adult individuals, to observe their behavior, and to document presence of eggs and larvae in these ponds. We found 694 adult salamanders plus egg masses and larval individuals during the breeding season in 2018. The three localities studied had male-biased reproductive populations, females were significantly larger and heavier than males, there was no sexual size dimorphism in tail length, and behavior and natural history were consistent with that previously reported for the species. Our results show that ringed salamanders reproduce in a variety of temporary and permanent ponds in northeastern Oklahoma and exhibit similar habits and natural history as other populations in the Ozark Plateau region.

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Demographic effects of phenological variation in natural populations of two pond-breeding salamanders

et al. 2021

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Direct effects influence larval salamander size and density more than indirect effects

Cited by 3 publications

References 79 publications

Asymmetric density‐dependent competition and predation between larval salamanders

Asymmetric density‐dependent competition and predation between larval salamanders

Explosive Fall Breeding of the Ringed Salamander (Ambystoma Annulatum) in the Ozark Plateau of Oklahoma, Usa

Demographic effects of phenological variation in natural populations of two pond-breeding salamanders

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