Food level and light conditions affect the antipredator behavior in larvae of a stream-breeding amphibian

Băncilă, Raluca Ioana; Plăiaşu, Rodica; Stănescu, Florina; Schmidt, Benedikt R.; Nae, Ioana; Denoël, Mathieu

doi:10.1007/s00265-021-02966-w

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Likewise, in our experiment, N. thuringius individuals were more active during night, when all microcosms were completely dark. Differences in diel activity are expected to occur in organisms with activity patterns regulated by the photoperiod (Bancila et al 2021;Falcón et al 2020) and it is worth noting that in our experiment responses to day period and light were detected in the stygobiont amphipod, but not in the epigean one. Furthermore, the interaction between day period and predation risk highlighted that during night-time, stygobionts were more active in tanks without predation risk than in those with predators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 47%

“…Furthermore, the interaction between day period and predation risk highlighted that during night-time, stygobionts were more active in tanks without predation risk than in those with predators. Similarly, Bancila et al (2021) detected a complex interplay between light conditions and environmental features, including not only predation risk, but also food availability, in shaping activity of salamander larvae. Interactive effects of night/light conditions with environmental features suggest that the differences observed between field and laboratory conditions could be linked to the complex and difficult to be controlled interplay of multiple factors acting on spring ecotones in the wild.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Behavioural drivers of ecotone exploitation: activity of groundwater animals in spring

Manenti

Galbiati

Lapadula

et al. 2023

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Border habitats such as interfaces and ecotones are promising research targets being likely areas of high species richness and genetic and phenotypic diversity. Springs are intriguing habitats exploited by both subterranean and surface species. For subterranean species, springs can provide higher trophic resources but can be risky in terms of predation and UV radiation, while for surface species, springs can be safer but less productive environments. We coupled field surveys and laboratory experiments to understand how predation risk and physical constraints, like light occurrence, affect spring exploitation by both a subterranean (Niphargus thuringius) and a surface crustacean amphipod species (Echinogammarus stammeri). From March to May 2021, we surveyed multiple springs and evaluated the activity (both during day and night) of the amphipods and of their predators. Furthermore, in a subterranean laboratory, we reared 80 N. thuringius and 80 E. stammeri under safe and risky conditions with both constant darkness and diel light variation assessing their activity and survival. Risky conditions were represented by the occurrence of meso-predators alone or coupled with the presence of a top predator. In the field, N. thuringius activity was negatively related to the density of predators, while laboratory experiments revealed a main role played by light treatments and night period. E. stammeri activity in the field was higher close to surface while in laboratory conditions decreased during time. In laboratory conditions, predation risk negatively affected survival of both amphipods. Our findings reveal that physical constraints play a key role in affecting the exploitation of ecotones and can mediate antipredator responses, thus providing selective pressures for the exploitation of border environments. Significance statement Understanding environmental pressures acting on ecotones is a key point to verify if new adaptations may occur at the border between two distinct habitats. Using both field and laboratory approaches, we show that, in springs, the behaviour of subterranean invertebrates is affected by surface physical constraints which can mediate the effects of predation risk. Behavioural strategies to avoid predation, such as nocturnal activity, may promote spring ecotone exploitation by groundwater animals, such as amphipod crustaceans.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 47%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Behavioural drivers of ecotone exploitation: activity of groundwater animals in spring

Manenti

Galbiati

Lapadula

et al. 2023

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…Our results did not support this assumption, as the traits we investigated were responsive to food availability and light condition, but no interaction between these two factors was detected. However, a previous study ( Băncilă et al, 2021 ) showed that these two factors have an interactive effect on the behavioural responses of fire salamander larvae; more specifically, larvae exposed to low food availability take more risks in exploring the environment, especially in the absence of light, when predator pressure would be lower. Manenti, Denoël & Ficetola (2013) found that behavioural plasticity is higher in larvae from subterranean environments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Food and light availability induce plastic responses in fire salamander larvae from contrasting environments

Băncilă,

Stănescu,

Plăiaşu

et al. 2023

PeerJ

Self Cite

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Phenotypic plasticity has been proposed as a mechanism facilitating the colonisation and adaptation to novel environments, such as caves. However, phenotypic plasticity in subterranean environments remains largely unexplored. Here, we test for plasticity in growth and development of fire salamander larvae (Salamandra salamandra) from subterranean and surface habitats, in response to contrasting food availability and light conditions. We hypothesized that: (i) low food availability and absence of light decrease larval growth and delay metamorphosis, (ii) light conditions mediate the effects of food availability on growth and time to metamorphosis, and (iii) larval response to contrasting light and food conditions is shaped by the habitat of origin. Our study showed that reduced food availability significantly delayed metamorphosis and slowed total length and body mass growth rates, while exposure to constant darkness slowed body mass growth rate. However, larvae slowed growth rates and increased time to metamorphosis without compromising size at metamorphosis. The effect of food availability on growth and time to metamorphosis did not change under different light conditions. Fire salamanders from subterranean and surface habitats responded differently only in relation to contrasting food availability conditions. Specifically, larvae from the surface habitat grew faster in high food conditions, while growth in larvae from the subterranean habitat was not influenced by food availability. Initial size also appeared to be an influential factor, since larger and heavier larvae grew slower, metamorphosed faster, and the size advantage was maintained in newly-metamorphosed juveniles. Overall, the results of our experiment suggest that plasticity and local adaptation favor the exploitation of aquatic subterranean habitats for breeding by fire salamanders, allowing successful development even under food shortage and day-length constraints, without compromising metamorphic size. Our findings have implications for conservation because they confirm that phenotypic plasticity plays a critical role in allowing fire salamanders to overcome altered environmental conditions.

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“…We exposed larvae from different altitudes to either rich or poor food availability levels and observed the effects on both larval and juvenile growth, and on juvenile behaviour (food stimulus response). Previous studies showed that nutritional conditions experienced at the larval stage may have complex behavioural and morphological consequences (Bancila et al, 2021; Krause & Caspers, 2016) that can last and impact for years after metamorphosis (Krause et al, 2021). Here, we investigated if responses to food treatments at different life stages reflected adaptation to the different conditions along the altitudinal gradient.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Larval development and poor trophic resource availability: Local adaptations and plasticity in a widespread amphibian species

Manenti

Kristensen

Cogliati

et al. 2023

J of Evolutionary Biology

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Natural selection shapes the life features of organisms to suit the environment where they live, to take advantage of opportunities at different life stages, and to mitigate the risks (e.g., Via, 2009;Waddington, 1942). Environmental conditions early in life can have fitness consequences later in life, i.e., carry-over effects sensu O'Connor et al. (2014). Therefore populations living in different environments are expected to differentially allocate resources in order to minimise deleterious effects of early life on adult fitness (Stevens et al., 2000).

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Food level and light conditions affect the antipredator behavior in larvae of a stream-breeding amphibian

Cited by 5 publications

References 55 publications

Behavioural drivers of ecotone exploitation: activity of groundwater animals in spring

Behavioural drivers of ecotone exploitation: activity of groundwater animals in spring

Food and light availability induce plastic responses in fire salamander larvae from contrasting environments

Larval development and poor trophic resource availability: Local adaptations and plasticity in a widespread amphibian species

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