Behavioural responses to predators and predation risk in four species of larval anurans

Lawler, Sharon P.

doi:10.1016/s0003-3472(89)80142-3

Cited by 259 publications

(215 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Our results imply that the response to the growth-mortality tradeoff differs between B. bombina and B. ariegata tadpoles as predicted by the ecology of their usual breeding habitats ; the genetically-determined behavioural patterns demonstrated here will serve to increase B. bombina's fitness relative to B. ariegata in a semipermanent pond. Differences in tadpole behaviour and susceptibility to predation have been found in other taxa and, similarly, have been invoked to explain species' distributions along environmental gradients or occupation of alternative ecological niches (Morin 1983 ;Woodward 1983 ;Lawler 1989 ;Chovanec 1992 ;Werner & McPeek 1994 ;Skelly 1995). The data are consistent with the hypothesis that predator-rich environments should contain less active species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Mechanisms maintaining species differentiation: predator-mediated selection in aBombinahybrid zone

Kruuk

Gilchrist

1997

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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SUMMARYMechanisms which prevent gene flow will maintain differentiation between species, and therefore contribute to biological diversity. We describe an experimental study of such mechanisms in a hybrid zone between the fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina and the yellow-bellied toad B. ariegata. In this system, preference for different breeding habitats reduces the frequency of hybridization. A comparison of habitat ecology shows that the semi-permanent ponds in which B. bombina usually breeds have higher densities of aquatic predators than the temporary puddles typically used by B. ariegata. We test for behavioural adaptations in tadpoles to these different levels of predation. B. bombina tadpoles are significantly less active than B. ariegata, both before and after the introduction of a predator to an experimental arena ; this reduces their vulnerability as many predators detect prey through movement. Behavioural differences translate into differential survival : B. ariegata suffer higher predation rates in laboratory experiments with three main predator types ( riturus sp., D tiscus larvae, Aeshna nymphs). This differential adaptation to predation will help maintain preference for alternative breeding habitats, and thus serve as a mechanism maintaining the distinctions between the two species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Mechanisms maintaining species differentiation: predator-mediated selection in aBombinahybrid zone

Kruuk

Gilchrist

1997

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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“…One possibility is that tadpoles that do not move will be less likely to be detected and eaten by predators. Odonate nymphs are important predators of many larval anuran species (Lawler, 1989;Skelly and Werner, 1990;Chovanec, 1992) and have been observed in the same ponds as Xenopus tadpoles in South Africa (Alan Roberts, personal observation). We therefore used damselfly nymphs (Zygoptera) to compare the predation of control tadpoles to those with denervated cement glands.…”

Section: Does Predation Increase When the Cement Gland Is Denervated?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At this stage of development (stage 37/38) there is no fitness cost in keeping still as the tadpoles have no mouth and do not start to feed until about 2 days later (Nieuwkoop and Faber, 1956). This contrasts with older tadpoles that need to move in order to feed but then face increased risk of predation, for example by dragonfly nymphs (Lawler, 1989;Chovanec, 1992). Such investigations on other tadpoles suggested that tonic inhibition during attachment in the hatchling Xenopus tadpole could be significant in reducing activity and as a consequence, reducing predation.…”

Section: Significance Of Tonic Inhibition During Attachmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms and significance of reduced activity and responsiveness in resting frog tadpoles

Lambert

Howard

Plant

et al. 2004

Journal of Experimental Biology

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where a weight attached to the mucus simulates the force as it hangs. Simulated attachment reduces responsiveness and spontaneous fictive swimming activity. We have recorded the activity and responses of trigeminal neurons innervating the cement gland. They are spontaneously active and simulating attachment results in a sustained increase in this activity. We propose that hanging from a mucus strand increases firing in cement gland afferents. This leads to tonic GABA inhibition that reduces tadpole activity and responses, and leads to fewer attacks by predators.

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“…Previous studies of the hydroperiod gradient have focused on life history responses to drying and behavioral traits that potentially influence development and growth. Rates of development and sometimes growth are facultatively higher in drying ponds (Wilbur 1987, Merila¨et al 2000, and species differences in foraging activity can be correlated with pond permanence (Woodward 1983, Lawler 1989, Van Buskirk 2002, Richter-Boix et al 2007). However, causal relationships between external shape and developmental rate are unknown and perhaps unlikely, so the observed patterns of morphological change along the permanence gradient may have an explanation that does not directly involve pond drying.…”

Section: Relationships Between Morphology and Habitat Gradientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural variation in morphology of larval amphibians: Phenotypic plasticity in nature?

Buskirk

2009

Ecological Monographs

103

107

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Phenotypic plasticity has been studied intensively in experimental settings but infrequently in nature, and therefore the relevance of experimental findings is poorly known. This is especially true for morphological plasticity in amphibian larvae induced by predators and competitors. This paper describes a seven-year survey of head and tail shape in eight species of anuran and newt larvae in northern Switzerland, involving 6824 individual larvae and 59 ponds. I tested relationships between geometric measures of size and shape and five habitat gradients: pond permanence, cover by forest canopy and aquatic vegetation, and the densities of predators and competitors. Responses to competitors and predators were often similar to those reported in experiments. High competitor density was associated with small size and a large head in newt larvae, a long or deep head/body in anuran larvae, and a short or shallow tail in newts and some tadpoles. High predator density was correlated with a deep tail fin and tail muscle in many species. In anurans, the change in shape between low-and highpredator ponds in nature closely paralleled the plastic response to nonlethal predators in mesocosm experiments. The survey revealed many previously undescribed relationships between morphology and the other habitat features. Several species had relatively large tails in ponds that were shaded or thickly vegetated. Associations between year-to-year changes in shape and habitat within ponds implicated phenotypic plasticity rather than genetic population divergence, at least in anurans. These results inspire confidence in the relevance of experiments and highlight many new patterns that will merit further study. Abstract. Phenotypic plasticity has been studied intensively in experimental settings but infrequently in nature, and therefore the relevance of experimental findings is poorly known. This is especially true for morphological plasticity in amphibian larvae induced by predators and competitors. This paper describes a seven-year survey of head and tail shape in eight species of anuran and newt larvae in northern Switzerland, involving 6824 individual larvae and 59 ponds. I tested relationships between geometric measures of size and shape and five habitat gradients: pond permanence, cover by forest canopy and aquatic vegetation, and the densities of predators and competitors. Responses to competitors and predators were often similar to those reported in experiments. High competitor density was associated with small size and a large head in newt larvae, a long or deep head/body in anuran larvae, and a short or shallow tail in newts and some tadpoles. High predator density was correlated with a deep tail fin and tail muscle in many species. In anurans, the change in shape between low-and highpredator ponds in nature closely paralleled the plastic response to nonlethal predators in mesocosm experiments. The survey revealed many previously undescribed relationships between morphology and the other habitat features. Several species h...

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Behavioural responses to predators and predation risk in four species of larval anurans

Cited by 259 publications

References 14 publications

Mechanisms maintaining species differentiation: predator-mediated selection in aBombinahybrid zone

Mechanisms maintaining species differentiation: predator-mediated selection in aBombinahybrid zone

Mechanisms and significance of reduced activity and responsiveness in resting frog tadpoles

Natural variation in morphology of larval amphibians: Phenotypic plasticity in nature?

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