Life Sciences Commons^™

Quantitative Behavioral Analyses Of Ozark Hellbender Reproduction And Paternal Care, Rachel Ann Settle

MSU Graduate Theses

The Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) is a federally endangered aquatic salamander. While some anecdotal observations have been reported, no quantitative assessments of reproductive behaviors have been made. I quantified video-recordings of two breeding events at the Saint Louis Zoo. Hellbenders were housed in an indoor stream outfitted with 4 cameras. General activity and agonistic behaviors increased through the first oviposition, peaked during inter-oviposition, and declined abruptly following the second oviposition. Following oviposition, males guard their eggs until hatching. I also quantified behavior of a guarding male from video footage collected by MDC from a nest in the North Fork …