Intergeneric Aggression among Salamanders

Many plethodontid salamanders establish feeding territories. We studied interactions of two species in different genera to investigate the roles of species identity, residency, and relative body size in gaining or maintaining control of a cover object. Species identity had the largest effect, with Desmognathus ochrophaeus proving more successful than Plethodon cinereus as a resident and as an intruder. Residency also influenced the outcome of trials: residents were more likely to maintain control of their cover objects than to be displaced. The relative body size of the salamanders in a trial had a small, marginally nonsignificant effect on the outcome. Species identity may be important in determining spatial relations of salamanders in the field. Foraging by plethodontid salamanders is re- stricted by dryness of the habitat. When the forest is wet, plethodontids forage widely and even climb plants in search of prey (Jaeger, 1978). When the forest becomes drier, activity