Measuring athletic performance in post-metamorphic fire salamanders
Author(s)
Date Issued
2021
Type
article
Volume
14
Issue
1
Start Page
399
Journal
Abstract
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.