Size Structure and Intraguild Interactions between Two Ambystoma Species

<p>Intraguild interactions affect population and community structure through a combination of competition and predation. Changes in size structure influence intraguild interactions by affecting the strength and direction of these species’ interactions. I tested for size-structured intraguild interactions in temporary pond ecosystems between marbled salamanders (<em>Ambystoma opacum</em>) and tiger salamanders (<em>Ambystoma tigrinum</em>) using an outdoor mesocosm experiment. I hypothesized that 1) <em>A. opacum</em> survivorship and growth would be negatively impacted when both species start at a similar size because tiger salamanders grow faster and are more aggressive 2) <em>A. tigrinum</em> will grow slower and have lower survivorship when they occur with large <em>A. opacum</em> because <em>A. opacum</em> will outcompete <em>A. tigrinum</em> and prey upon them. There was no support for the second hypothesis,<em> A. tigrinum</em> grew and survived the same regardless of <em>A. opacum</em> size. However, I found support for the first hypothesis. Small <em>A. opacum</em> mortality was greatest when they occurred with small <em>A. tigrinum</em> suggesting changes in size structure resulting in these two species occurring together at similar sizes will negatively impact <em>A. opacum</em> populations through intraguild predation. Climate change will likely affect the distribution and abundance of species in temporary pond ecosystems and influence size-structured interactions that impact population and community structure.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2022

Author dc:creator

• Daunton, Gwyneth

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Clifton B. Ruehl
• Dr. Chester Figiel
• Dr. Daniel Holt

• Amphibian Larvae Survivorship
• Mesocosm
• Intraguild Predation
• Size-Structure
• Ambystoma Opacum
• Ambystoma Tigrinum
• Biology
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Life Sciences

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/462

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:csuepress.columbusstate.edu:theses_dissertations-1464