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TEMPERATURE PREFERANCES IN LARVAE OF TWO SPECIES OF TWO-LINED SALAMANDER (EURYCEA BISLINEATA SPECIES COMPLEX)

Abstract

Temperature preferences are critical for species that live in different thermal environments, especially those with an ectothermic physiology. The Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander (Euryeca wilderae) and the Southern Two-lined Salamander (E. cirrigera) are parapatric ectotherms with the former species occupying the mountains of Georgia and the latter found in the more lowland Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Previous work has been contradictory with larvae from allopatric populations reportedly differing in temperature preference while those in sympatry do not. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that larval salamanders from allopatric sites differ in temperature preference, i.e., those living in the mountains prefer colder temperatures than those living in the lowland Piedmont. We collected 20 larval E. wilderae from the Blue Ridge ecoregion in Union County, Georgia, and 20 larval E. cirrigera from the Piedmont in Madison County, Georgia. We placed each larva in water in a metal trough with a temperature gradient ranging from 14 to 21° C and allowed it to move freely until it remained in the same location for 10 min. We then tested for a difference in mean temperature preference with a one-way ANOVA. We found no significant difference in temperature preference. Our results were unexpected as a previous study of allopatric populations in North Carolina did show a significant difference. Individual variation in populations needs to be taken into account before broad conclusions can be drawn about temperature preferences in these species.

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