Predator Recognition and Avoidance in the San Marcos Salamander

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorGabor, Caitlin
dc.contributor.authorEpp, Kristen Joy
dc.contributor.committeeMemberNice, Chris
dc.contributor.committeeMemberZhang, Yixin
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMathis, Alicia
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSih, Andrew
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSih, Andrew
dc.date.accessioned2012-02-24T10:09:03Z
dc.date.available2012-02-24T10:09:03Z
dc.date.issued2010-08
dc.description.abstractSelection by predators is among the most important forces acting on prey populations. To persist with predators, prey must be able to recognize and respond to predatory threats. Despite the benefits of avoidance, there are time allocation tradeoffs with foraging and mating that make excessive responses to predators costly. Thus, antipredator behaviors of prey are often the result of complex interactions of effectiveness and efficiency. The San Marcos salamander (Eurycea nana) is a fully aquatic salamander endemic to the headwaters of the San Marcos River. Eurycea nana is subject to predation by a diverse community of native and nonnative fish predators. Despite the importance of predation pressures on prey populations and the protected status of E. nana and other regional congeners, no studies had examined predator-prey interactions in these species. This research was aimed at elucidating the mechanisms by which E. nana recognizes and responds to predators. Specifically, I examined recognition of native and nonnative predators, predation risk assessment via predator diet cues and cues of damaged conspecifics, and how experience with predators affects avoidance behaviors. I found that E. nana use chemical stimuli to detect predators and respond to predators by decreasing activity levels. These salamanders innately recognize some predators, including nonnative species that are closely related to native predators, but experience with predators can alter the intensity of avoidance responses. These studies provided insight into the mechanisms by which E. nana recognizes predators. Additionally, I conclude that repeated exposures to predators can enhance avoidance behaviors exhibited by prey. In sum, these studies highlight the need for research exploring the plasticity of avoidance behaviors in prey that innately recognize and respond to predators.
dc.description.departmentBiology
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent106 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationEpp, K. J. (2010). Predator recognition and avoidance in the San Marcos salamander (Unpublished dissertation). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/4322
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectpredator recognition
dc.subjectrisk assessment
dc.subjectantipredator
dc.subjectavoidance
dc.subjectEurycea
dc.subjectdiet cues
dc.subjectchemical cues
dc.titlePredator Recognition and Avoidance in the San Marcos Salamander
dc.typeDissertation
thesis.degree.departmentBiology
thesis.degree.disciplineBiology
thesis.degree.grantorTexas State University-San Marcos
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Epp-Thesis.pdf
Size:
655.26 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download

Collections

Graduate Theses and Dissertations