Characterization of chemical defenses in ranid tadpoles against a fish predator

Takahara, Teruhiko; Mitsuhashi-Ohnishi, Chinami; Fujiwara-Tsujii, Nao; Yamaoka, Ryohei

doi:10.1007/s10164-011-0269-x

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Some studies have already shown the existence of chemical repellents in other Pelophylax species (e.g. Pelophylax nigromaculatus ; Takahara, Mitsuhashi‐Ohnishi, Fujiwara‐Tsujii, & Yamaoka, ), and this needs to be confirmed for P . kl.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Gambusia holbrooki, the ‘tadpolefish’: The impact of its predatory behaviour on four protected species of European amphibians

Vannini¹,

Bruni

Ricciardi

et al. 2018

Aquatic Conservation

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Biological invasions are widely regarded as the second major cause of the current global biodiversity crisis. Freshwater environments in particular include many habitats and species of conservation concern. Among those, amphibians are threatened worldwide by habitat loss and by the introduction of alien taxa, including pathogens and fish. The North American mosquitofish Gambusia spp. have been introduced throughout the world for the biological control of mosquitoes, and have established alien populations in over 110 countries. Their impact on native freshwater vertebrates, especially in Europe, is still poorly known. Here, the predatory impact of mosquitofish on the larval stages of four European amphibian species (Hyla intermedia, Triturus carnifex, Pelophylax kl. hispanicus, and Bufotes balearicus), locally abundant in Central Italy, has been investigated under laboratory conditions to assess whether any difference occurs in species vulnerability and interactions with the predator, as their breeding sites are often invaded by mosquitofish. Larval mortality and fish attacks, as well as observations on fish predatory behaviour, were recorded at four time intervals (10 min, 1 h, 6 h, and 24 h) and at three different prey abundances (with five, 10, and 20 larvae). A significant difference in predation rate for species, exposure time, and larval abundance occurred, with H. intermedia being the most vulnerable species and B. balearicus being the least vulnerable species. An increase in exposure time increased the rate of predation, whereas small groups of larvae (i.e. <10 individuals) appeared to be far more vulnerable to fish attack compared with the larger groups. Mosquitofish show considerable potential to prey upon the larvae of European amphibians, representing a serious threat for their conservation. Appropriate management and legislative strategies are thus necessary to prevent the further introduction and spread of this alien fish in natural environments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Gambusia holbrooki, the ‘tadpolefish’: The impact of its predatory behaviour on four protected species of European amphibians

Vannini¹,

Bruni

Ricciardi

et al. 2018

Aquatic Conservation

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“…Such food, consisting of palatable symbiont and inedible, chemically and morphologically protected fragments of the host, is unlikely to be consumed by a predator. It is known that chemically protected prey, caught and refused by fish, usually remains intact and most often uses this opportunity to hide and escape the danger [93][94][95][96][97][98] . Survival after rejection is also known for diverse preys of land and aerial predators [99][100][101][102] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comatulids (Crinoidea, Comatulida) chemically defend against coral fish by themselves, without assistance from their symbionts

Kasumyan

Isaeva

Dgebuadze

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Symbiotic associations between small animals and relatively large sessile invertebrates that use taste deterrents for protection are widespread in the marine environment. to determine whether the symbionts are involved in the chemical protection of their hosts, the palatability of ten species of comatulids and six species of their symbionts was evaluated. taste attractiveness was determined by offering agar pellets flavoured with extracts of comatulids and their symbionts for four coral reef fish species. Five species of symbiont were highly palatable, and one was indifferent to the taste. Almost all comatulids were distasteful, while their aversiveness was different for different fish. These findings indicate that comatulids chemically defend themselves without assistance from symbionts, and the taste deterrents are not universal and can only be effective against particular predators. The presence of tasteful symbionts reduces the security of their hosts by provoking attacks of predators and may impact on the individual and population fitness of comatulids. However, the chemical protection of comatulids is useful for symbionts and undoubtedly increases their survival. obtained results allows the relationship between comatulids and their symbionts considered commensalism. Most likely, similar relationships can be established in many other associations, where symbionts inhabit chemically defended coral reef invertebrates. In coral communities, which are characterized by extremely high species diversity and an unusually wide range of biotic relationships among organisms, the symbiotic coexistence of species is very common 1-3. At least 860 symbionts were recorded in only one host group, the scleractinian corals 4. A comparable diversity of symbionts is associated with other host groups of coral reef animals, comatulids or feather stars (Сrinoidea, Comatulida) 5-14. Comatulids are sessile animals with limited mobility. To reduce their vulnerability to predators, they have adopted various morphological, behavioural, chemical and other protective adaptations. These may include body rigidity, dense crown, cryptic mode of life, fast regeneration, aversive taste, and toxicity 15-18. Based on field and aquaria observations, it has been assumed that fish avoid feeding on comatulids 19. Later, the repulsive taste of some comatulids for several fish species was confirmed experimentally 20,21. There are no fish species specialized in feeding on comatulids; nevertheless, sometimes fish attack them, and findings of comatulid fragments in the digestive tracts of some fishes are well documented 19,22-24. Diverse symbiotic communities comprising tens of species have been found in all studied comatulids on the coral reefs of South Vietnam 25,26. Among their symbionts are polychaetes, gastropods, crabs, shrimps, brittle stars and fish. The total number of symbiotic species recorded just in one bay was close to seventy 25. Up to ten species and more than fifty individuals of symbionts can inhabit one host specimen simultaneously 13. ...

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Larvae to adult: skin ontogeny of Physalaemus ephippifer (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

Santos,

Oliveira-Bahia,

Souza-Ferreira

et al. 2023

Zoomorphology

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Throughout metamorphic development until adulthood, amphibians have important integumentary adaptations that maintain their physiological needs and protection against predation. The evolution of these strategies in the subfamily Leiuperinae has been elucidated in recent years. Therefore, the knowledge about Physalaemus ephippifer's skin attributes can corroborate the changes of these characteristics in the clade. The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics of P. ephippifer regarding the morphological development the skin during their lifespan. We collected foam nests in temporary ponds as well as adult individuals in a forest fragment. In the laboratory, the animals were classi ed by stage development, euthanized, and xed. Sections of the dorsolateral, lumbar, and femoral portions were dissected from the adult individuals. Samples were submitted to histological processing for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In premetamorphosis phase, gland development is absent and secretory cells are present. In prometamorphosis, development of rst glandular rudiments without secretion production begins, also xanthophores. During metamorphosis, mucous glands differentiated before serous glands. Until late metamorphosis ciliated cells persist and epidermis changes to an adultlike. In adults, serous glands show polymorphism with different distributions in the body, despite not having macroglandular structures. In addition, P. ephippifer individuals have few epidermal projections and cryptic coloration. Our results show that despite sharing few morphological structures with other specimens of Leiuperinae subfamily, the characteristics present in individuals of P. ephippifer are appropriate to the niche occupied and consistent with the changes that occur throughout their lineage.

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Characterization of chemical defenses in ranid tadpoles against a fish predator

Cited by 5 publications

References 35 publications

Gambusia holbrooki, the ‘tadpolefish’: The impact of its predatory behaviour on four protected species of European amphibians

Gambusia holbrooki, the ‘tadpolefish’: The impact of its predatory behaviour on four protected species of European amphibians

Comatulids (Crinoidea, Comatulida) chemically defend against coral fish by themselves, without assistance from their symbionts

Larvae to adult: skin ontogeny of Physalaemus ephippifer (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

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