Meeting Abstract

52.5  Saturday, Jan. 5  Chronically elevated corticosterone inhibits mating and feeding in a Plethodontid salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus RICCIARDELLA, L.F.*; WOODLEY, S.K.; Duquesne University; Duquesne University ricciardellal@duq.edu

In western Pennsylvania, acidified streams are common. Studies show that acidification is associated with altered stream salamander assemblages. The mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus, is an abundant local species that is found in acidified streams. However, little is known about their stress physiology. The focus of this research is to more fully understand the effects of environmental degradation on the physiological stress response. Ten male D. ochrophaeus had gelling implants surgically inserted into the body cavity that delivered the stress hormone corticosterone for three weeks. Ten D. ochrophaeus received blank implants, and ten were left intact. Behavioral experiments examined mating, feeding, and predator avoidance. Results indicated that fewer males with a corticosterone implant reached an advanced stage of courtship compared to intact and blank groups. In addition, none of the corticosterone implanted animals inseminated a female, and insemination was also reduced in blank implanted animals compared to the intact group. In addition, both blank and corticosterone implanted males ate fewer flies than the intact group. There was no difference among the three groups in activity on a substrate moistened with predator odors; however, all groups moved significantly less in the presence of a predator odor compared to the water control. Future studies will examine the effects of acidification on corticosterone and behaviors important to survival and reproductive fitness.