Territories of male and female terrestrial salamanders: costs, benefits, and intersexual spatial associations

Abstract

I used a mark-recapture study to estimate home areas for 107 red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) in a natural forest habitat. Both males and females of this species defend feeding territories, but I presume that some individuals in this relatively highdensity population (approximately 2.8 salamanders per m2) are nonterritorial floaters. Although territorial salamanders exhibited greater numbers of tail autotomies, they had significantly longer relative tail lengths. This difference suggests that territorial individuals gain benefits from territorial ownership. From the observation that home area size was inversely correlated with body size, I infer that larger animals gained higher quality foraging areas. Home areas of adults were significantly more segregated intrasexually and more aggregated intersexually than would be expected from a random distribution. Furthermore, intersexual overlap of home areas was significantly greater than intrasexual home area overlap. Territorial defense of feeding areas by male and female red-backed salamanders therefore also may play a role in mating behavior.

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317613

Keywords

Amphibia, Plethodon cinereus, Salamanders, Spatial associations, Territoriality

Publication Date

5-1-1991

Journal Title

Oecologia

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