Behavioural responses of Bufo bufo and Bufo calamita tadpoles to chemical cues of vertebrate and invertebrate predators

Semlitsch, Raymond D.; Gavasso, Sonja

doi:10.1080/08927014.1992.9525337

Cited by 33 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Amphibian larvae have been found to exhibit a variety of inducible behavioural (e.g. Petranka et al 1987;Kats et al 1988;Lawler 1989;Skelly and Werner 1990;Semlitsch and Gavasso 1992;Griffiths et al 1998;Lefcort 1998) and morphological (Smith and Van Buskirk 1995;McCollum and Van Buskirk 1996;McCollum and Leimberger 1997;Van Buskirk 2000;Van Buskirk and Schmidt 2000;Relyea 2001;Teplitsky et al 2003) defences. Although some amphibian species have been shown to respond behaviourally to unnatural predators (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Induced defences in an endangered amphibian in response to an introduced snake predator

et al. 2004

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Introduced species have contributed significantly to the extinction of endemic species on islands. They also create new selection pressures on their prey that may result in modified life history strategies. Introduced viperine snakes ( Natrix maura) have been implicated in the decline of the endemic midwife toad of Mallorca ( Alytes muletensis). A comparison of A. muletensis tadpoles in natural pools with and without snakes showed that those populations subject to snake predation possessed longer tails with narrower tail fins but deeper tail muscles. Field and laboratory experiments showed that these changes in tail morphology could be induced by chemical and tactile cues from snakes. Populations of tadpoles that were subject to snake predation also displayed clear bimodal size-frequency distributions, with intermediate-sized tadpoles missing from the pools completely. Tadpoles in pools frequented by snakes developed faster in relation to their body size than those in pools without snakes. Variation in morphology between toad populations may therefore be caused by a combination of size-selective predation and tadpole plasticity. The results of this study indicate that the introduction of alien species can result in selection for induced defences, which may facilitate coexistence between predator and prey under certain conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Induced defences in an endangered amphibian in response to an introduced snake predator

et al. 2004

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“…A adoção do padrão proativo por R. ornata é independente da detecção de predadores, uma vez que os girinos não modularam a sua atividade na presença de pistas indiretas, embora a eficiência da estratégia de defesa, i.e. a impalatabilidade, seja sensível ao tipo de predador (SemLiTSch & gaVaSSo, 1992). A impalatabilidade não depende da detecção prévia de um predador para ser eficiente, mas sim, da sensibilidade do predador à substância impalatável e da capacidade de aprendizagem.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Avaliação de risco e plasticidade comportamental limitada em girinos de Rhinella ornata (Anura, Bufonidae)

Costa

Nomura

2014

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

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ABSTRACT. Assessment risk and limited behavioral plasticity in tadpoles of Rhinella ornata (Anura, Bufonidae). Anuran tadpoles are important elements of trophic networks in aquatic environments, being food resource for many types of predators. Thus, the tadpoles exhibit a great variety of defense mechanisms that may be morphological, behavioral and/or physiological. The unpalatability, produced by the accumulation of toxic substances in the skin, is a common mechanism in many frog lineages. However, some predators are not affected by these toxic substances, which may favor the development of alternative mechanisms of defense against predation. In this context, our objective was evaluate if the unpalatable tadpoles of Rhinella ornata (Spix, 1824) may present behavioral mechanisms of defense against predation in the presence of predators that are not affected by toxic substances on its skin. To test our hypothesis, we used two kinds of predators: an aquatic Heteroptera of the genus Belostoma and a dragonfly larva of the genus Aeshna. The tadpoles were located in aquariums with visual and chemical clues of predators (direct risk experiment), only chemical clues (indirect risk experiment) and by the complete absence of predator signals (control). In both cases, the swimming behavior was observed for 5 minutes. During the experiments there was no alteration in swimming behavior of tadpoles.KEYWORDS. Predation, unpalatable, defensive behavior, invertebrate predators, chemical signs. RESUMO.Os girinos de anuros são elementos importantes das redes tróficas de ambientes aquáticos, sendo recurso alimentar de diversos tipos de predadores. Desta maneira, os girinos apresentam uma grande variedade de mecanismos de defesa que podem ser morfológicos, comportamentais e/ ou fisiológicos. A impalatabilidade, produzida pelo acúmulo de substâncias tóxicas na pele, é um mecanismo comum em muitas linhagens de anfíbios. No entanto, alguns predadores não são afetados por estas substâncias tóxicas, o que pode favorecer o desenvolvimento de mecanismos alternativos de defesa contra predação. Neste contexto, nosso objetivo foi avaliar se girinos impalatáveis de Rhinella ornata (Spix, 1824), podem apresentar mecanismos comportamentais de defesa contra predação na presença de predadores que não são afetados pelas substâncias tóxicas em sua pele. Para testar nossa hipótese, utilizamos dois tipos de predadores aquáticos: um heteróptero aquático do gênero Belostoma e uma larva de libélula do gênero Aeshna. Os girinos foram colocados em aquários com pistas visuais e químicas dos predadores (experimento de risco direto), somente pistas químicas (experimento de risco indireto) e ausência completa de sinais de predadores (controle). Em ambos os casos, o comportamento de natação foi observado durante 5 minutos. Durante os experimentos não houve alteração no comportamento de natação dos girinos. PALAVRAS-CHAVE.Predação, impalatabilidade, comportamento defensivo, predadores invertebrados, sinais químicos.

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“…Secondly, direct cues are more specifically indicative of the predator's identity, insofar as they correspond to chemicals that are unrelated to the predator's diet (Dodson et al 1994). While the relative effects of both types of signals have been well explored in larval amphibians (Hews & Blaustein 1985;Hews 1988;Semlitsch & Gavasso 1992;Wilson & Lefcort 1993;Laurila & al. 1997Laurila & al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of embryonic exposure to conspecific chemical cues on hatching and larval traits in the common frog (Rana temporaria)

Mandrillon

Saglio

2007

Chemoecology

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Recent studies indicate that amphibian eggs are capable of hatching plasticity in response to chemical cues released by predators feeding on conspecific eggs or larvae. However, information is scarce on the relative importance of predator and conspecific cues in such a process. In particular, no attempt has been made to compare the effects of embryonic exposures to chemical cues indicative of a predation risk for eggs and larvae, although both life stages can co-occur in natural habitats. In this context, common frog embryos (Rana temporaria) were raised until hatching in the presence of crushed conspecific extracts from eggs and tadpoles to assess their respective influences on some hatching and larval traits. While a significant delay in hatching time was observed in embryos exposed to chemical cues from tadpole extract, this life-history shift appeared unaffected by embryonic exposure to egg extract. Hatchlings derived from eggs incubated in the presence of both conspecific extracts showed a significantly greater weight than unexposed controls. However, such an effect was no longer apparent 15, 30 and 50 days after hatching, suggesting that embryonic exposure to chemical cues from damaged conspecific eggs and tadpoles has no influence on larval growth. Lastly, morphological measurements performed on hatchlings and older tadpoles (15, 30 and 50 days old) revealed no significant effect of embryonic treatments on the shape of body and tail.

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Behavioural responses of Bufo bufo and Bufo calamita tadpoles to chemical cues of vertebrate and invertebrate predators

Cited by 33 publications

References 23 publications

Induced defences in an endangered amphibian in response to an introduced snake predator

Induced defences in an endangered amphibian in response to an introduced snake predator

Avaliação de risco e plasticidade comportamental limitada em girinos de Rhinella ornata (Anura, Bufonidae)

Effects of embryonic exposure to conspecific chemical cues on hatching and larval traits in the common frog (Rana temporaria)

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