Date of Award
7-12-2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Matthew Gifford
Abstract
Thermal physiology substantially limits the distributions of organisms across landscapes. Specifically, the thermal sensitivity of foraging and digestive energetics influence the quantity of energy available for allocating to specific life functions. I hypothesized that foraging and Specific Dynamic Action (SDA) performances would differ between montane endemic and lowland salamander species. I found that foraging energetics differed between the montane endemics, Plethodon ouachitae and P. caddoensis, in comparison to the lowland P. albagula. Differences in foraging energetics were particularly pronounced at the warmest temperature and the montane endemics were more thermally sensitive, suggesting that constraints in foraging energetics influence the elevational distribution limits of salamanders. However, SDA time and energetics did not differ between P. ouachitae and P. albagula. Future expansions of my research that include other ecologically relevant temperatures and species groups could broaden our understanding of the impacts of climate change on montane biodiversity.
Recommended Citation
Barnes, Cody Lund, "Foraging and Digestive Energetics in Montane and Lowland Salamanders" (2012). Theses and Dissertations. 361.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/361
