Socially facilitated antipredator behavior by ringed salamanders (Ambystoma annulatum)

Abstract

Many aspects of animal behavior can be socially facilitated, including foraging behavior, exploration behavior, and antipredator behavior. Although larvae of the ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) are not gregarious, they can live in high densities and face intense predation pressure during a short period following hatching. In a predator-recognition experiment, we found that these salamanders responded to chemical cues from dragonfly nymphs (Family: Libellulidae) with appropriate antipredator behavior (decreased activity), and this response was absent when salamanders were exposed to chemical cues from nonpredatory mayfly nymphs (Family: Heptageniidae). In a second experiment, we tested whether antipredator behavior in response to chemical cues of dragonflies could be socially facilitated by larval ringed salamanders. We placed an "observer" salamander into a central arena with four "demonstrator" salamanders behind clear barriers around an arena. The barriers ensured that chemical cues would not be detected by the observer. When demonstrators were exposed to chemical cues from dragonflies, the data were consistent with the hypothesis that both demonstrators and observers decreased activity relative to a blank control. Our results provide evidence that social facilitation can occur in larval ringed salamanders, a nonsocial species.

A Test of Local Enhancement in Amphibians

“…In a similar study, Crane et al. () demonstrated the social facilitation of antipredator behavior in another amphibian, the ringed salamander ( Ambystoma annulatum ). Given the recent advancements in our understanding of social learning in nonsocial species, we set out to determine whether amphibian larvae exhibit a second form of social learning.…”

“…A recent study by Crane et al. () documented social facilitation of predator recognition by naïve ringed salamanders ( A. annulatum ). In this case, a larvae naïve to a predator is placed next to an experienced individual and simultaneously exposed to stimuli from that predator.…”

Vulnerability and behavioral responses of South Chinese anuran tadpoles to native dragonfly (Pantala flavescens) naiads and introduced western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

“…Several previous studies have documented a positive correlation between predation risk and prey activity level (Crane et al 2012;Casillas-Barrag an et al 2016), thus a decrease in activity level is one of the most common and effective behavioral anti-predator responses (DeSantis et al 2013). For example, larvae of the ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) responded to chemical cues from dragonfly (Family: Libellulidae) nymphs with appropriate decreased activity in a predator-recognition experiment (Crane et al 2012).…”

“…We also found that the tadpoles of B. gargarizans and D. melanostictus were fond of continuous swimming in their natural persistent pond habitats (personal observation); therefore, this may be a response to having enough benefit from swimming rather than a direct response to the predator. The continuous swimming of tadpoles of the family Bufonidae aids in their escape from G. affinis, and may be part of social facilitation of anti-predator behavior (Crane et al 2012). Previous research has shown that H. chinensis tadpoles are aggressive carnivores that often cannibalize larvae (Fan et al 2014), which may explain why this species can keep high survivorship in the presence of predators.…”

“…For example, larvae of the ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum) responded to chemical cues from dragonfly (Family: Libellulidae) nymphs with appropriate decreased activity in a predator-recognition experiment (Crane et al 2012). Nunes et al (2013) demonstrated that tadpoles of Alytes cisternasii, Discoglossus galganoi, Bufo bufo, Hyla meridionalis, and Pelodytes ibericus had strong behavioral responses to dragonflies, specifically decreased activity.…”