Measuring athletic performance in post-metamorphic fire salamanders.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Athletic performances are dynamic movements that are physically challenging and often predict individual success in ecological contexts. They stem from a complex integration of multiple phenotypic traits-e.g., morphological, physiological and behavioural-that dictate animal survival and individual fitness. However, directly quantifying athletic performances can be particularly challenging in cryptic, slow-moving species or not very reactive in attitude. Here we present and describe a rapid, simple, and low-cost method to measure athletic performance in post-metamorphic individuals of the fire salamander Salamandra salamandra. While extremely reactive during the larval stage, adult salamanders are, in fact, cryptic and relatively slow-moving.

Results

Forcing terrest

SUBMITTER: de Rysky E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8549336 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature