A Study of the Sensitivity of Plethodon cinereus (Caudata: Plethodontidae) to Damage-Released Cues from Conspecifics
Some prey species vary the intensity of antipredator responses according to the perceived level of threat associated with different concentrations of chemical cues related to predation. Here, we examine whether Red-Backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) respond to different concentrations of damage-released cues from the tails of conspecifics in a threat-sensitive manner. We exposed salamanders either to a control or to damage-released cues from conspecifics at one of three different concentrations. We found that salamanders exposed to damage-released cues significantly decreased their activity compared to salamanders exposed to a control. However, the intensity of the responses was not related to the concentration of the cue, suggesting that individuals of P. cinereus do not respond in a threat-sensitive fashion at the concentrations tested.Abstract
Average (± SE) activity scores for Red-Backed Salamanders exposed to a control treatment (H2O) and three different concentrations (g tissue/mL water) of a damage-released cue derived from the macerated tails of conspecifics. Activity scores are the number of times that individual salamanders crossed the midline of test dishes. Letters indicate significant differences among responses to chemical treatments. N = 30 for each treatment.
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