Space Use of Predatory Larval Dragonflies and Tadpole Prey in Response to Chemical Cues of Predation

Brown, Taylor A.; Fraker, Michael E.; Ludsin, Stuart A.

doi:10.1674/0003-0031-181.1.53

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Increased activity, as shown by the AOP tadpoles, however, is a more uncommon response and may reflect active escape from predators (e.g. Brown et al 2019). However, we also saw an apparent weakening of the behavioural response in acidic pH over time (Post 1 vs. Post 2/3, Fig.…”

Section: Behavioural Responsesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term responses of Rana arvalis tadpoles to pH and predator stress: adaptive divergence in behavioural and physiological plasticity?

et al. 2022

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Environmental stress is a major driver of ecological and evolutionary processes in nature. To cope with stress, organisms can adjust through phenotypic plasticity and/or adapt through genetic change. Here, we compared short-term behavioural (activity) and physiological (corticosterone levels, CORT) responses of Rana arvalis tadpoles from two divergent populations (acid origin, AOP, versus neutral origin, NOP) to acid and predator stress. Tadpoles were initially reared in benign conditions at pH 7 and then exposed to a combination of two pH (acid versus neutral) and two predator cue (predator cue versus no predator cue) treatments. We assessed behavioural activity within the first 15 min, and tissue CORT within 8 and 24 h of stress exposure. Both AOP and NOP tadpoles reduced their activity in acidic pH, but the response to the predator cue differed between the populations: AOP tadpoles increased whereas NOP tadpoles decreased their activity. The AOP and NOP tadpoles differed also in their CORT responses, with AOP being more responsive (CORT levels of NOP tadpoles did not differ statistically across treatments). After 8 h exposure, AOP tadpoles had elevated CORT levels in the acid-predator cue treatment and after 24 h exposure they had elevated CORT levels in all three stress treatments (relative to the benign neutral–no-cue treatment). These results suggest that adaptation to environmental acidification in R. arvalis is mediated, in part, via behavioural and hormonal plasticity.

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Section: Behavioural Responsesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term responses of Rana arvalis tadpoles to pH and predator stress: adaptive divergence in behavioural and physiological plasticity?

et al. 2022

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“…When tadpoles recognize predators, they often use aquatic vegetation as a refuge (Babbitt and Tanner 1998), and this strategy decreases the predation rate (Kopp et al 2006). Tadpoles also tend to reduce their activity in predator's presence and avoid sites close to the predator (Brown et al 2019;Mogali et al 2020), thus reducing the chance of being found. However, either immobility or sheltering in refuges leads tadpoles to decrease foraging time, which in turn negatively affects the growth and developmental rates during their metamorphosis (Skelly and Werner 1990;Van Uitregt et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential behavioral responses of benthic and nektonic tadpoles to predation at varying water depths

et al. 2022

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Predators influence microhabitat selection and activity level of tadpoles, but it is still unclear how such responses to predators differ among species and how water column's depth influences this predator-prey interaction. Here, we experimentally tested whether the presence of Odonata water-nymphs influenced spatial use and activity of benthic and nektonic tadpoles in different food availability contexts. Benthic tadpoles occupied and consumed more food at the bottom level, irrespective of predator’s presence. However, when predators were at bottom, benthic tadpoles remained close to the cages, suggesting a typical “stay-still” defensive behavior known for Physalaemus nattereri (Steindachner, 1863). Nektonic tadpoles occupied shallower depths on predator's presence, and they also consumed less food and avoided predator by selecting food sources far from it. When predator was at bottom level and food was available, the distance of tadpoles to the cage tended to be smaller. Scinax fuscovarius (Lutz, 1925) tadpoles were more active when food was absent regardless of predator’s presence. When food was available, these tadpoles generally occupied and consumed more food at bottom level. Tadpoles’ responses depended not only on predator’s presence, but on a complex net of factors, which include tadpoles’ habit, anti-predatory behavior, availability and location of food.

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“…To investigate the relative importance of sensory pathways on the assessment of predation risk by anuran larvae, we explored the defensive behaviour of green toad tadpoles ( Bufotes balearicus ) in response to larval dragonfly chemical cues, visual cues, or a combination of both. Based on two well-known behavioural responses that tadpoles display when exposed to predators, that is activity decrease and spatial avoidance [ 23 , 24 ], we expected green toad tadpoles to alter their behaviour whenever their sensory systems would detect an actual hint of predation risk. We hypothesised that, when relying on olfactory cues, tadpoles would reduce their level of activity, while predator visual cues would elicit both spatial avoidance and, secondarily, activity reduction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multimodal Cues Do Not Improve Predator Recognition in Green Toad Tadpoles

Gazzola

Guadin

Balestrieri

et al. 2022

Animals

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The anti-predator behaviour of green toad (Bufotes balearicus) tadpoles was investigated by exposing them to only the visual or chemical cues, or a combination of both, of a native predator, southern hawker Aeshna cyanea. We collected green toad egg strings in the field and tadpoles did not receive any predatory stimulus before the onset of the experiment. To manipulate chemical and visual cues independently, dragonfly larvae were caged inside a transparent plastic container, while chemical cues (odour of tadpole-fed dragonfly larvae) were injected into the surrounding arena. An empty container and water were used, respectively, as controls. The behaviour of individually tested tadpoles was videorecorded for 40 min, of which 20 were before their exposure to stimuli. Five second-distance frames were compared to assess both tadpole activity and position within the arena with respect to the visual stimulus. The tadpole level of activity strongly decreased after exposure to either chemical cues alone or in combination with visual cues, while visual cues alone apparently did not elicit any defensive response. The position of tadpoles inside the arena was not affected by visual cues, suggesting that green toad tadpoles mainly rely on olfactory cues to assess the level of predation risk.

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Space Use of Predatory Larval Dragonflies and Tadpole Prey in Response to Chemical Cues of Predation

Cited by 4 publications

References 35 publications

Short-term responses of Rana arvalis tadpoles to pH and predator stress: adaptive divergence in behavioural and physiological plasticity?

Short-term responses of Rana arvalis tadpoles to pH and predator stress: adaptive divergence in behavioural and physiological plasticity?

Differential behavioral responses of benthic and nektonic tadpoles to predation at varying water depths

Multimodal Cues Do Not Improve Predator Recognition in Green Toad Tadpoles

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