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Salamander Stress And Duress: The Relationship Between Cort, Autotomy And Regeneration, And Exploratory Behaviour, Aaron M. Sullivan, Jacquelyn L. Lewis
Salamander Stress And Duress: The Relationship Between Cort, Autotomy And Regeneration, And Exploratory Behaviour, Aaron M. Sullivan, Jacquelyn L. Lewis
Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science
Responses to stress are generally mediated through the production of glucocorticoids by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (or -interrenal) axis. The prolonged production of stress hormones can contribute to delayed wound healing and growth, but little is known about their influence on regeneration following tail autotomy, or exploratory behaviour in autotomized individuals. Here we examined the relationship between stress, re-generation, and exploratory behaviour in Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanders (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) by manipulating corticosterone (CORT) levels via cutaneous patch. First, we measured tail regeneration in salamanders with elevated CORT for 13 weeks after the induction of tail autotomy. Test subjects received a weekly patch …
Antipredator Behavior In Desmognathus Ochrophaeus: Threat-Specific Responses To Chemical Stimuli In A Foraging Context, Elyse C. Johnson, Aaron M. Sullivan
Antipredator Behavior In Desmognathus Ochrophaeus: Threat-Specific Responses To Chemical Stimuli In A Foraging Context, Elyse C. Johnson, Aaron M. Sullivan
Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science
Prey species may reduce the likelihood of injury or death by engaging in defensive behavior but often incur costs related to decreased foraging success or efficiency. To lessen these costs, prey may adjust the intensity or type of antipredator behavior according to the nature of the perceived threat. We evaluated the potential for threat-sensitive responses by Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanders (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) exposed to chemical stimuli associated with predation by asking three questions:(1) Do individual D. ochrophaeus respond to chemical cues in a threat-sensitive manner? (2) Do salamanders exhibit the same pattern of behavioral response while foraging? and (3) Is …