How Do Aquatic Predators Affect Larval Ambystomatid Salamanders In Their Journey to Metamorphosis? Jacob M. Hutton Kennesaw State University, Fall 2015 Abstract The effects of predators in aquatic ecosystems have been widely examined on the morphology, behavior, and life history of larval prey organisms. The ability of the Mole Salamanders (Family Ambystomatidae) to display phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental factors of has been extensively documented in the attempt to produce greater understanding of their complex larval stage and the general effects of predators on their survival. In this paper, I explored the empirical results of 16 ambystomatid egg predation studies and 121 larval ambystomatid predation studies and then compared them with several prevalent models of predator induced plasticity. A longer time and a larger total size at hatching was found in 75% of the egg predation studies. In the larvae predation studies, 27% found an earlier time and smaller size and 27% found a later time and larger size at metamorphosis. Only 11 of the 121 larvae predation reviewed studies tested both the time and size at metamorphosis. Fewer studies than expected were found to meet the specific predictions of the various models of predation risk on the growth, morphology, and behavior, but many followed the general directionality predicted. Overall however, predation risk caused reduced growth rates, smaller morphological traits, reduced behavior, and reduced survival. Future studies should continue data collection to complete metamorphosis and test larval growth, morphology, and behavior in more realistic experimental designs.