El. Wildy et al., Shifts in life-history traits as a response to cannibalism in larval long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum), J CHEM ECOL, 25(10), 1999, pp. 2337-2346
We examined the potential influence of cannibalism on life-history characte
ristics of larval long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum). Using a
2 x 2 factorial design, crossing morphology with diet, we exposed typical m
orph larvae to one of four types of stimulus animals: cannibal morphs fed a
conspecific diet, cannibal morphs fed a heterospecific diet (i.e., Tubifex
), typical morphs fed a conspecific diet, and typical morphs fed a heterosp
ecific diet. Test larvae exposed to stimulus animals fed a conspecific diet
exhibited a slower growth rate and an increase in the time taken to reach
metamorphosis. These changes in life history likely represent a cost of ant
ipredator behavior.