Does background colouration affect the behaviour of tadpoles? An experimental approach with an odonate predator

Nomura, Fausto; Marco, Paulo De; Carvalho, Antônio F.; Rossa-Feres, Denise C.

doi:10.1080/03949370.2012.742465

Cited by 14 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…These preferences of prey might provide concealment against predators without incurring the costs of colour plasticity. Previous research in larval amphibians has pointed out a relationship between background colour and antipredator responses, with individuals selecting backgrounds enhancing their crypsis potential after being disturbed57, or avoiding higher activity rates in non-matching substrates58. Nevertheless, none of these studies have demonstrated larval ability to flexibly choose backgrounds resembling their own appearance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pigmentation plasticity enhances crypsis in larval newts: associated metabolic cost and background choice behaviour

Polo‐Cavia

Gómez-Mestre

2017

Sci Rep

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In heterogeneous environments, the capacity for colour change can be a valuable adaptation enhancing crypsis against predators. Alternatively, organisms might achieve concealment by evolving preferences for backgrounds that match their visual traits, thus avoiding the costs of plasticity. Here we examined the degree of plasticity in pigmentation of newt larvae (Lissotriton boscai) in relation to predation risk. Furthermore, we tested for associated metabolic costs and pigmentation-dependent background choice behaviour. Newt larvae expressed substantial changes in pigmentation so that light, high-reflecting environment induced depigmentation whereas dark, low-reflecting environment induced pigmentation in just three days of exposure. Induced pigmentation was completely reversible upon switching microhabitats. Predator cues, however, did not enhance cryptic phenotypes, suggesting that environmental albedo induces changes in pigmentation improving concealment regardless of the perceived predation risk. Metabolic rate was higher in heavily pigmented individuals from dark environments, indicating a high energetic requirement of pigmentation that could impose a constraint to larval camouflage in dim habitats. Finally, we found partial evidence for larvae selecting backgrounds matching their induced phenotypes. However, in the presence of predator cues, larvae increased the time spent in light environments, which may reflect a escape response towards shallow waters rather than an attempt at increasing crypsis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although few studies have found empirical support for such behaviour515253545556, the idea that prey recognize and show preferences for backgrounds that confer greater crypsis against predators has been often presumed, also in amphibian larvae5758.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pigmentation plasticity enhances crypsis in larval newts: associated metabolic cost and background choice behaviour

Polo‐Cavia

Gómez-Mestre

2017

Sci Rep

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“…Cryptic behavior occurs when tadpoles modulate their activity according to the substrate coloration (e.g., Physalaemus nattereri). Unpalatability allows tadpoles to maintain their activity due to the presence of toxins in their skin (e.g., Rhinella schneideri tadpoles) (Nomura et al 2013). Macan (1974) reported that dysticids are commonly recorded in environments that do not have fishes, such as our study sites.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anuran larvae as prey and hosts of invertebrates in Neotropical aquatic habitats

Gambale

Guerra

Oda

et al. 2014

Rev. Chil. de Hist. Nat.

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Background: Biotic processes, such as predation and parasitism events, are crucial for answering questions in ecology and evolution. Here, we report predation and ectoparasitism events of invertebrates upon tadpoles in aquatic habitats of southern Brazil. Findings: Four lentic water bodies were sampled twice a month (December 2012 to March 2013. Those water bodies were located in the Diamante do Norte County, State of Paraná, southern Brazil. The tadpoles, Dendropsophus aff. minutus, Hypsiboas raniceps, Scinax fuscovarius, Physalaemus cuvieri and Elachistocleis bicolor were observed being predated by six different invertebrate predators. However, Leptodactylus fuscus and Pseudis sp. were also recorded on the same water bodies and were not observed being preyed or parasitized. The most abundant predator in our sampling areas was the diving beetle larvae. We observed a static and escape behavior of tadpoles when in close proximity to predators and constant movements in E. bicolor tadpoles, which can be advantageous for invertebrate predators. Parasitism events included D. aff. minutus, S. fuscovarius, and E. bicolor tadpoles that were infected by a single leech. The ectoparasites anchor the posterior sucker on the host tadpole during the blood feeding. Conclusions: Even isolated reports of ecological interactions are important for understanding ecological communities and the impacts of parasites and predators on tadpoles' populations. Additionally, these interactions can help to understand the ecology behavior of the organisms.

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“…For instances, nuthatches ( Sitta europea ) and treecreepers ( Certhia familiaris ) showed distinct preferences to different color background (Bursell & Dyck ); tadpoles adjusted their activity rate to the type of background coloration (Nomura et al. ); and cephalopods camouflage themselves by changing body color patterns according to habitat (Hanlon et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Background coloration represents a prominent environmental feature that often elicits behavioral responses of animals. For instances, nuthatches (Sitta europea) and treecreepers (Certhia familiaris) showed distinct preferences to different color background (Bursell & Dyck 2003); tadpoles adjusted their activity rate to the type of background coloration (Nomura et al 2013); and cephalopods camouflage themselves by changing body color patterns according to habitat (Hanlon et al 2009). An organism with cryptic coloration can conceal itself if blending into a background of similar color pattern (Stevens 2007;Kang et al 2012), and disruptive coloration breaks the body outline and makes detection difficult by distracting predator attention (Endler 2006;Fraser et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Group Effects and Background Color Patterns Affect the Exploratory Behavior of Tree Sparrows

2014

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Exploratory behavior serves the function of acquiring information when facing environmental uncertainty, thus plays an important role for animals living on patchy or ephemeral resources. Our study tested the hypothesis that exploratory behavior is affected by ecological factors associated with the risk of predation. We conducted experiments to examine exploration behavior of wild‐caught Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) under the influences of background color patterns (white or camouflaged) and group sizes (single vs. five sparrows). We further conducted two‐pattern choice experiments and offered sparrows backgrounds combining those two color patterns. In comparisons with single sparrows, flocking sparrows had shorter landing latencies, started exploring sand patches earlier, spent less total time on the ground before pecking at the first patch and nearly successfully located and pecked all patches. In contrast, sparrows responded nearly indifferently to the two single‐pattern backgrounds; yet when given a choice, sparrows still favored the camouflaged portion in the two‐pattern backgrounds and first landed more frequently there. Twice as many patches were left untouched on the two‐pattern backgrounds, mostly by single sparrows, than on both types of single‐pattern backgrounds. In tests of flocks, sparrows that first landed on the ground to initiate exploration had a higher chance to also first explore a sand patch than random expectation on single‐pattern backgrounds, but not necessarily on two‐pattern backgrounds. Our results demonstrate context‐specific effects of social exploration, suggest possible influence of individual variation and offer evidence for advantages of group living in situations where explorers have to cope with environmental uncertainty.

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Does background colouration affect the behaviour of tadpoles? An experimental approach with an odonate predator

Cited by 14 publications

References 47 publications

Pigmentation plasticity enhances crypsis in larval newts: associated metabolic cost and background choice behaviour

Pigmentation plasticity enhances crypsis in larval newts: associated metabolic cost and background choice behaviour

Anuran larvae as prey and hosts of invertebrates in Neotropical aquatic habitats

Group Effects and Background Color Patterns Affect the Exploratory Behavior of Tree Sparrows

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