Abstract
Spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) exhibit polyandry. The behavior has been well documented but the selective advantage of multiple matings have been insufficiently studied. Using a mesocosm experiment and microsatellite analysis, we determined if A. maculatum polyandry was driven by sperm-limitation, male quality, or genetic bet-hedging. We created a series of mesocosms using wild-caught salamanders to control the number of males accessible to the study females. Egg masses were harvested, and DNA was collected from all adults and embryos. Microsatellites of six previously characterized loci were used to determine paternity. Data were combined with data generated previously in the Hale Lab. Collectively, these data support that there is a combination of factors that influence the polyandrous behavior, most notably sperm limitation and male quality.
How to Cite
Reynolds-Engel, J., (2020) “An Investigation Into Possible Motivations Of Polyandry In The Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 33(1).
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