Morph and Sex differences in prey selectivity of tiger salamanders (<i> Ambystoma mavortium nebulosum </i>)

Abstract

The tiger salamander is the top predator of the benthic invertebrate in the ponds at the Mexican Cut Nature Preserve, and hence, one of the main influential factors on the benthic invertebrate community structure. Recent phenomena observed at the MCP, like earlier snowmelt dates of some of the ponds in response to climate change, could potentially result in changes to the community structure by affecting the timeline of encounters between salamanders and their usual prey. To assess changes in predation selectivity of the tiger salamander in response to climate change and how sex and morph alter this feeding relationships, feeding trials were conducted at the MCP. The salamanders representing both morphs and sexes were starved for 24 hours before the trials and placed in 52 cm × 36 ½ cm plastic boxes with different types of their usual prey. The results did not support our hypothesis of shifting diet preferences, fairy shrimp is still the preferred food source for metamorphs, and unexpectedly, also for paedomorphic salamanders. The subsequent preferred prey differentiated between the morphs. An influence of sex on amount of prey consumed was not observed, it is most likely that this is due to the trials being conducted out of mating season. The importance of the study lies in assessing how climate change will affect feeding relationships and community structure of subalpine ponds at the MCP wetland or similar ecosystems.

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