Cannibalism among amphibian larvae: a case of good taste

Sadler, Laila M.; Elgar, Mark A.

doi:10.1016/0169-5347(94)90222-4

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Thus, the high growth rates enabled by favourable climatic conditions will create an additional mortality risk based on body size, strengthening the advantage to larger body size at metamorphosis. In this sense, the dynamics of cannibalism in juvenile cane toads are the opposite of those documented in cannibalistic larvae of the toad Scaphiopus bombifrons and salamanders Ambystoma macrodactylum , A. tigrinum nebulosum and Hynobius retardatus , where low food supply and thus hunger (or inducible defences in heterospecific prey) stimulates some individuals to switch their diets towards cannibalism [6], [91], [92], [93], [94]. Facultative cannibalism in early life-history stages of anurans thus may arise as a result of unusually high growth rates (in cane toads) as well as unusually low growth rates (in Scaphiopus bombifrons and the salamanders noted above).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Larger Body Size at Metamorphosis Enhances Survival, Growth and Performance of Young Cane Toads (Rhinella marina)

et al. 2013

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Body size at metamorphosis is a key trait in species (such as many anurans) with biphasic life-histories. Experimental studies have shown that metamorph size is highly plastic, depending upon larval density and environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, food supply, water quality, chemical cues from conspecifics, predators and competitors). To test the hypothesis that this developmental plasticity is adaptive, or to determine if inducing plasticity can be used to control an invasive species, we need to know whether or not a metamorphosing anuran’s body size influences its subsequent viability. For logistical reasons, there are few data on this topic under field conditions. We studied cane toads (Rhinella marina) within their invasive Australian range. Metamorph body size is highly plastic in this species, and our laboratory studies showed that larger metamorphs had better locomotor performance (both on land and in the water), and were more adept at catching and consuming prey. In mark-recapture trials in outdoor enclosures, larger body size enhanced metamorph survival and growth rate under some seasonal conditions. Larger metamorphs maintained their size advantage over smaller siblings for at least a month. Our data support the critical but rarely-tested assumption that all else being equal, larger body size at metamorphosis is likely to enhance an individual’s long term viability. Thus, manipulations to reduce body size at metamorphosis in cane toads may help to reduce the ecological impact of this invasive species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Larger Body Size at Metamorphosis Enhances Survival, Growth and Performance of Young Cane Toads (Rhinella marina)

et al. 2013

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“…One such social factor is the benefit of schooling in the presence of a predator [39] and/or when tadpoles detect chemical cues from a predator [40]. Predators may include larger conspecifics [41] and therefore represent another form of natural selection. This may result in relatively higher predation pressures on smaller individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Making Friends: Social Attraction in Larval Green and Golden Bell Frogs, Litoria aurea

2013

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Socio-ecological models combine environmental and social factors to explain the formation of animal groups. In anurans, tadpole aggregations have been reported in numerous species, but the factors driving this behaviour remain unclear. We conducted controlled choice experiments in the lab to determine whether green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea) tadpoles are directly attracted to conspecifics (social factors) in the absence of environmental cues. Using repeated measures, we found that individual tadpoles strongly preferred associating with conspecifics compared to being alone. Furthermore, this preference was body size dependent, and associating tadpoles were significantly smaller than non-associating tadpoles. We suggest that small tadpoles are more vulnerable to predation and therefore more likely to form aggregations as an anti-predator behaviour. We demonstrate that tadpoles present an ideal model system for investigating how social and ecological factors influence group formation in vertebrates.

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“…Overall mean growth of the experimental population was suppressed by high-density conditions during the early developmental stage, as found for many amphibian species (Wilbur & Collins 1973;Semlitsch & Caldwell 1982;Scott 1990). Cannibalism, which was found to occur under crowding conditions (Crump 1992;Wakahara 1995), has been known to generally facilitate the growth of salamander larvae (Crump 1992;Sadler & Elgar 1994). 7).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…It is likely that such large larvae exist in the population as a consequence of cannibalism. Cannibalism, which was found to occur under crowding conditions (Crump 1992;Wakahara 1995), has been known to generally facilitate the growth of salamander larvae (Crump 1992;Sadler & Elgar 1994). In fact, the mortality of H. retardatus larvae in high-density treatments was much higher than that in low-density treatments (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Such cannibalistic morphs, which are often flexibly induced by environmental stimuli after hatching (Rose & Armentrout 1976;Crump 1992), differ from typical morphs in having a greater head size and mouth width, and elongated vomerine teeth (Powers 1903;Rose & Armentrout 1976;Lannoo & Bachmann 1984). Previous studies have suggested that cannibalistic polyphenism is an adaptive trait, particularly in ponds that are small and short of food (Polis 1981;Crump 1983Crump , 1992Sadler & Elgar 1994). Because the prey size of larval salamanders is generally gape-limited (Kusano et al 1985;Ohdachi 1994;Nishihara-Takahashi 1999), cannibalistic morphs, having a wider mouth, can achieve advantageous foraging over typical morphs in the same population under such pond environments (Reilly et al 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of head shape variation on growth, metamorphosis and survivorship in larval salamanders (Hynobius retardatus)

Kohmatsu

Nakano

Yamamura

2001

Ecological Research

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The effects of head shape variation on growth and metamorphosis in larval salamander (Hynobius retardatus) were examined by a laboratory experiment and a field experiment. In the laboratory experiment, each larva was fed equal amounts and was prevented from accessing others in both the solitary and group treatments, although chemical cues could be transmitted through water in the group treatment. The relative head width of larvae became larger in the group treatment during the early periods but having a large head width did not finally influence growth rate and days for metamorphosis. In the field experiment, larvae were allowed to contact each other directly in two density conditions. The enlarged relative head width was linked to high growth rate in the high‐density treatment but not in the low‐density treatment. The larval body size distribution in the high‐density condition tended to be smaller, and there was a small proportion of large‐sized individuals with a broad head width. Moreover, the small number of large larvae metamorphosed much earlier than the others. The mortality of larvae in high‐density conditions was much higher than that in the low‐density treatments. This would be a consequence of cannibalism in the high‐density condition. From the experimental results obtained, it is argued that for the larvae of H. retardatus having a large head is an adaptive tactic that maximizes fitness, particularly in temporary ponds with an unpredictable environment and in crowded conditions.

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Cannibalism among amphibian larvae: a case of good taste

Cited by 9 publications

References 12 publications

Larger Body Size at Metamorphosis Enhances Survival, Growth and Performance of Young Cane Toads (Rhinella marina)

Larger Body Size at Metamorphosis Enhances Survival, Growth and Performance of Young Cane Toads (Rhinella marina)

Making Friends: Social Attraction in Larval Green and Golden Bell Frogs, Litoria aurea

Effects of head shape variation on growth, metamorphosis and survivorship in larval salamanders (Hynobius retardatus)

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