Dissertation Research: Courtship Pheromones, Female Receptivity, and Sexual Isolation in Plethodontid Salamanders

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Nontechnical Abstract Proposal # 9801210 Kreitman, M. / Rollmann, S. In terrestrial plethodontid salamanders, a male delivers chemicals substances (pheromones) to the female during courtship. These pheromones lead to an increase in female receptivity, thereby reducing the time a pair spends in courtship. These pheromones may also be used by females to determine whether or not the courting male is a member of her species. This possibility will be tested by observing the behavioral responses of females to male pheromones from different subpopulations within the same species and from males from different species. The behavioral experiments will be accompanied by chemical analyses of the pheromone components that influence female behavior. Many vertebrates rely on chemical signals, such as pheromones, for communication between potential mates. Chemical variation in these pheromones could lead to discrimination against individuals from different subpopulations and perhaps lead to complete reproductive isolation of the subpopulations thereby contributing to the formation of new species. The hypothesis that divergence in pheromones functions to reduce mating has not been tested in a vertebrate species and few vertebrate pheromones have been isolated and identified. Finally, until now, little research has focused on the chemical variability in pheromones or on the relationship between chemical differences and behavioral effects. This research breaks new ground by using the unique opportunity offered in plethodontid salamanders to investigate these issues.