The Distribution and Ecology of the Cave Salamander, Eurycea lucifuga

Hutchison, Victor H.

doi:10.2307/1942273

Cited by 29 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Furthermore, most of plethodontids prefer temperatures below 20-24°C, while they are rarely found in nature above 24°C (Brattstrom, 1963;Spotila, 1972;Lanza et al, 2006): during Mediterranean summer, external temperature often rises above 30°C, and may thus reach the species' physiological limits (Brattstrom, 1963;Spotila, 1972). Actually, all caves with temperature 25°C were unoccupied (table 2), confirming the importance of relatively cold microhabitats for these animals: overall, salamanders were associated with the coldest caves, which are probably the ones best buffering the outdoor conditions and maintaining more constant environmental features (Hutchinson, 1958). In these caves, salamanders may therefore experience the less stressful abiotic conditions.…”

Section: Environmental Features and Distribution Of Cave Salamandersmentioning

confidence: 88%

Do cave salamanders occur randomly in cavities? An analysis with Hydromantes strinatii

2012

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Underground environments are increasingly recognised as important habitats for the distribution of certain amphibians. However, very few analyses tested whether amphibians occur randomly in underground environments, or they select cavities with specific environmental features. We assessed the distribution of the cave salamander Hydromantes (Speleomantes) strinatii in an area of NW Italy during summer, and analysed relationships between salamander distribution and multiple cave features, considering parameters describing both the biotic and the abiotic environment. Using visual encounter surveys, species' detection probability was high, indicating that this technique provides reliable information on distribution. Salamanders were associated to caves with cold and humid microclimate, presence of wet walls, and hosting large numbers of Meta spiders. The association with less luminous caves was close to significance. Distribution data were not affected by spatial autocorrelation, suggesting that cave features are more important than the proximity to other occupied caves in determining the pattern of occupancy. Caves are heterogeneous environments: cave salamanders are strongly related to the features of underground environments. Food availability and abiotic features are major determinants of suitability for cave salamanders. Inter-correlation among biotic and abiotic cave features makes it complex identifying the role of factors determining species distribution, but quantitative analyses and PCA help to unravel the cave habitat requirements for amphibians.

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Section: Environmental Features and Distribution Of Cave Salamandersmentioning

confidence: 88%

Do cave salamanders occur randomly in cavities? An analysis with Hydromantes strinatii

2012

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“…Hutchison ( 1961 ) noted the low tolerance of salamanders to high temperatures, and Brattstrom ( 1963) reported that, except for the ability to adjust to lethal temperatures by acclimation, their only body-temperature control was through behavioral adjustments. Hutchison ( 1961 ) noted the low tolerance of salamanders to high temperatures, and Brattstrom ( 1963) reported that, except for the ability to adjust to lethal temperatures by acclimation, their only body-temperature control was through behavioral adjustments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Temperature and Water in the Ecology of Lungless Salamanders

Spotila¹

1972

Ecological Monographs

333

283

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Water economy and thermal relations of plethodontid salamanders were studied in the laboratory and in the field. Laboratory measurements included behavioral responses in temperature and relative humidity gradients, rates of dehydration and dehydration at various relative humidities and soil—moisture levels, and determination of critical thermal maxima by rapid controlled heating to a definite endpoint. Salamanders were acclimated to a combination of three temperatures and two photoperiods: 5°C, 16 hr of light alternating with 8 hr of darkness (LD 16:8); 5°C, (LD 8:16); 15°C (LD 16:8); 15°C (LD 8:16); 25°C (LD 16:8); and 25°C (LD 8:16). Three series of experiments were conducted on 20 populations representing 14 species. Critical thermal maximum increased with an increase in acclimation temperature indicating that the salamander's heat resistance was readily altered by its previous thermal history. Salamanders selected a definite range of temperatures and did not merely avoid extremes in the thermal gradient. Thermal preferenda were relatively stable for each species and were not significantly affected by either acclimation temperature or photoperiod. Rate of dehydration was dependent upon body size, drying power of the air, and ambient temperature. Interspecific differences in dehydration rates appeared to be related in part to differences in size. Species composed of small individuals lost weight faster than species made up of large individuals. As the vapor pressure deficit increased the dehydration rate increased. Dehydration was more rapid at higher temperatures. Rehydration rate increased as the percentage of weight loss due to dehydration increased and was more rapid at higher temperatures. Salamanders absorbed water from soil when soil—moisture tension was as high as 2.8 atm at 25°C. All species absorbed water from unsaturated soil at similar rates that were dependent upon soil—moisture content. Salamanders in the humidity gradient responded positively to differences in the moisture content of the air, and all but one species were more than 70% successful in selecting the highest relative humidity available in the gradient. Interspecific differences were apparent, but were not always correlated with habitat preferences. Plethodon glutinosus did not show any specific adaptation in its thermal responses or water relations that would account for its widespread distribution in the eastern United States. Plethodon ouachitae and P. caddoensis apparently have survived in the Ouachita Mountains due to favorable microhabitats and their ability to burrow deep beneath talus—covered slopes during hot and dry summers. Surface activity of P. caddoensis is limited in the summer by hot and dry conditions in its microhabitat.

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“…Development of the species-specific larval pigmentation pattern in H. scutatum is similar to the process observed in embryos of larval developing plethodontids, including G. porphyriticus, Eurycea longicauda, Eurycea lucifuga, E. quadridigitata, Desmognathus auriculatus, D. quadramaculatus, D. ochrophaeus, and P. ruber (Bishop, 1925;Collazo and Marks, 1994;Franz, 1967;Goin, 1951;Hutchison, 1958;Marks, 1995). In contrast, hatchlings of direct developers (P. cinereus, B. attenuatus, E. eschscholtzii, D. aeneus, and B. wrighti) display pigmentation patterns that reflect the adult pigmentation (Collazo, 1990;Dent, 1941;Marks and Collazo, 1998;Piersol, 1910;Stebbins, 1949).…”

Section: Pigmentation Changesmentioning

confidence: 58%

Normal table of embryonic development in the four-toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum

Hurney

Babcock

Shook

et al. 2015

Mechanisms of Development

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We present a complete staging table of normal development for the lungless salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum (Caudata: Plethodontidae). Terrestrial egg clutches from naturally ovipositing females were collected and maintained at 15 °C in the laboratory. Observations, photographs, and time-lapse movies of embryos were taken throughout the 45-day embryonic period. The complete normal table of development for H. scutatum is divided into 28 stages and extends previous analyses of H. scutatum embryonic development (Bishop, 1920; Humphrey, 1928). Early embryonic stage classifications through neurulation reflect criteria described for Xenopus laevis, Ambystoma maculatum and other salamanders. Later embryonic stage assignments are based on unique features of H. scutatum embryos. Additionally, we provide morphological analysis of gastrulation and neurulation, as well as details on external aspects of eye, gill, limb, pigmentation, and tail development to support future research related to phylogeny, comparative embryology, and molecular mechanisms of development.

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The Distribution and Ecology of the Cave Salamander, Eurycea lucifuga

Cited by 29 publications

References 26 publications

Do cave salamanders occur randomly in cavities? An analysis with Hydromantes strinatii

Do cave salamanders occur randomly in cavities? An analysis with Hydromantes strinatii

Role of Temperature and Water in the Ecology of Lungless Salamanders

Normal table of embryonic development in the four-toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum

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