University Presentation Showcase: Graduate Division
How a Salamander Gets its Spots: Predation Risk as a Carryover Effect on Aposematic Coloration in Ambystoma maculatum
Presenter Hometown
New Salisbury, IN
Major
M.S. in Biology
Department
Biological Sciences
Degree
Graduate
Mentor
Cy L. Mott
Mentor Department
Biological Sciences
Recommended Citation
Mann, Madeline R., "How a Salamander Gets its Spots: Predation Risk as a Carryover Effect on Aposematic Coloration in Ambystoma maculatum" (2025). University Presentation Showcase Event. 1.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2025/graduate/1
Abstract
Early experience can often induce the expression of traits that subsequently influence fitness later in life, a phenomenon known as carryover effects (COEs). Some COEs influence phenotype expression in both early and late life stages, which then influence expression of additional secondary traits developed in later stages, called indirect COEs. Previous research has highlighted effects of indirect COEs of food availability on body condition and aposematic defensive coloration (i.e., bright colors indicative of toxicity) in amphibians, but little is known of how predation risk experienced during larval stages affects later stage coloration. We hypothesized increased predation risk in larval stages decreases larval body condition, subsequent juvenile body condition, and leads to reduced secondary defensive coloration. To better understand the interplay between larval predation risk, growth and development, and subsequent aposematic coloration in larval amphibians, we monitored a suite of growth, development, and color variables among larval Spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) under a predator present/absent mesocosm design. Larvae exhibited developmental plasticity in body condition and behaved appropriately to predation risk. However, time to metamorphosis was long, metamorphic body condition was similar between treatments, and color analyses showed no difference in coloration. The results indicate no effect of predation risk on aposematic coloration of juvenile salamanders, suggesting it does not act as a COE. Future studies should investigate the effect of predation risk with increased prey diversity for larvae and, if possible, extend studies to include time at first reproduction to directly assess ties between individual aposematic coloration and reproductive fitness.
Presentation format
Poster
How a Salamander Gets its Spots: Predation Risk as a Carryover Effect on Aposematic Coloration in Ambystoma maculatum
Early experience can often induce the expression of traits that subsequently influence fitness later in life, a phenomenon known as carryover effects (COEs). Some COEs influence phenotype expression in both early and late life stages, which then influence expression of additional secondary traits developed in later stages, called indirect COEs. Previous research has highlighted effects of indirect COEs of food availability on body condition and aposematic defensive coloration (i.e., bright colors indicative of toxicity) in amphibians, but little is known of how predation risk experienced during larval stages affects later stage coloration. We hypothesized increased predation risk in larval stages decreases larval body condition, subsequent juvenile body condition, and leads to reduced secondary defensive coloration. To better understand the interplay between larval predation risk, growth and development, and subsequent aposematic coloration in larval amphibians, we monitored a suite of growth, development, and color variables among larval Spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) under a predator present/absent mesocosm design. Larvae exhibited developmental plasticity in body condition and behaved appropriately to predation risk. However, time to metamorphosis was long, metamorphic body condition was similar between treatments, and color analyses showed no difference in coloration. The results indicate no effect of predation risk on aposematic coloration of juvenile salamanders, suggesting it does not act as a COE. Future studies should investigate the effect of predation risk with increased prey diversity for larvae and, if possible, extend studies to include time at first reproduction to directly assess ties between individual aposematic coloration and reproductive fitness.
