| Abstract: |
Environmentally induced stressors can include threats from predators and competitors. In territorial species, individuals face ongoing competitive threats, and loss of contests may be more consequential to territory owners (losing a territory) than to intruders (continuing to be without a territory). Therefore, when the threat of increased predation risk is added, residents may respond differently from intruders. Here, we tested the impact of simulated predator attack, residency status and sex on the territorial behaviour of Southern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon serratus. Territorial behaviour was assessed through staged contests with same-sized and same-sexed individuals, with either territory owners (residents) or intruders experiencing the simulated predator attack. The amount of time salamanders displayed an aggressive posture was significantly affected by interactions among risk treatment, residency status, and sex. Overall, salamanders in the high-risk treatment (with simulated attack) showed fewer aggressive displays than salamanders in low risk treatment (without simulated attack), but this difference was stronger for intruders, and particularly female intruders, than for residents. Marking behaviour (chin taps) was generally more common for salamanders in the low risk treatment, with the strongest effects for female intruders. The stronger response to predation risk by intruders than residents and the particularly strong effects on female intruders likely reflect a difference in the costs and benefits of territory ownership. For residents the benefit of maintaining ownership of a territory may outweigh the cost of increased predation risk. Female intruders may value gaining a territory more than males, suggesting a high value of territory ownership for females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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