Food Habits of Larval Ringed Salamanders, Ambystoma Annulatum

Author

Mark A. Kluhsman

Date of Graduation

Summer 1991

Degree

Master of Science in Biology

Department

Biology

Committee Chair

Daniel Beckman

Abstract

Larval Ambystoma annulatum were collected from two ponds in Stone County, Missouri during 1989-1990 for a food habits study. Larvae fed on a variety of organisms. The major food items consisted of microcrustaceans, nematodes, and dipteran larvae. The diet changed both with development and season. Temporal shifts in the diet were probably affected most by changes in prey availability. The larvae fed mostly on plankton and added benthos to their diet as they grew larger. Also, larger larvae ate more prey items than smaller larvae and were able to feed on larger prey items. However, larger prey items were not frequently present in the diet and gape size did not explain much of the variation in maximum prey size.

Subject Categories

Biology

Copyright

© Mark A Kluhsman

Recommended Citation

Kluhsman, Mark A., "Food Habits of Larval Ringed Salamanders, Ambystoma Annulatum" (1991). MSU Graduate Theses. 54.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/54