Landmark learning by juvenile salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum)

Abstract

Learning to use a landmark as a beacon to locate resources is one of the simplest forms of spatial learning. We tested whether landmark learning occurs in a semifossorial salamander that migrates annually to breeding ponds as adults. Juvenile spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) were tested in square containers with a plastic feeding dish in each corner, and a piece of earthworm was placed in one randomly-chosen dish. For landmark-trained salamanders, a rock was placed beside the dish containing the prey. For control salamanders, the rock was placed beside a randomly selected feeding dish. Each salamander was trained once every 2 days for 30 days. Significantly more landmark-trained salamanders than control salamanders entered the landmark area first, and landmark-trained individuals had faster latencies to enter the landmark area and longer stay-times. These results suggest that spotted salamanders are able to locate resources by associating their positions with landmarks.

Department(s)

Biology

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2014.10.015

Keywords

Ambystoma maculatum, associative learning, landmark learning, spotted salamander

Publication Date

2014

Journal Title

Behavioural processes

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