The effect of mirrors on African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) larval growth, development, and behavior

Gouchie, Gillian M.; Roberts, Lesley F.; Wassersug, Richard J.

doi:10.1007/s00265-008-0611-7

Cited by 21 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As all chordates exhibit neural lateralization, Xenopus (Archaeobatrachia) larvae have been shown to exhibit visual perception laterality (Gouchie et al. ), and not all neobatrachians exhibit similar behavioral lateralization (Bisazza et al. ; Malashichev ; Malashichev ); we are inclined to agree with the idea that variation in type and degree of lateralization is more related to functional traits than phylogenetic relatedness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 48%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Lateralized Turning Biases in Two Neotropical Tadpoles

Briggs-Gonzalez

Gonzalez

2016

Ethology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lateralized turning behavior in startle responses and upon descent after surfacing for a breath of air has been documented for tadpoles in several anuran species. A left‐handed preference is most common and was previously thought to be linked to the asymmetry in spiracle location. Here, we investigate the presence of behavioral asymmetries in tadpoles of Agalychnis callidryas and Leptodactylus melanonotus in explosive turns after air‐breathing. Data were also collected on lateralized posture in the orientation of tails of embryonic A. callidryas within the egg case, as well as the startle response of free‐swimming tadpoles exposed to mechanical stimulation. A left‐curled tail bias was found among several clutches from Costa Rica, but this was not the case among clutches examined from Panama. Free‐living tadpoles of L. melanonotus displayed a distinct right‐handed preference during explosive turns. While some tadpoles of A. callidryas were at stages too early to detect any explosive turns when breathing, later‐staged individuals did display a left‐handed bias in startle response to mechanical stimulation. Additionally, it appears that the expression of behavioral lateralization of larvae (but not embryos) may predict whether or not the adults exhibit similar lateralization. Findings herein provide insight into the ontogeny and evolutionary origins of lateralized behavior in anurans.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 48%

“…; Gouchie et al. ). Because studies exploring behavioral lateralization in tadpoles are limited to movement, it seems logical that particular lateralized behaviors examined in the larval stage may also be a precursor to lateralization in locomotive strategy of the adult stage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Lateralized Turning Biases in Two Neotropical Tadpoles

Briggs-Gonzalez

Gonzalez

2016

Ethology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In addition, the cues that prey use are not always accurate indicators of environmental conditions. For example, some tadpoles alter foraging activity and slow growth when presented with mirrors that artificially increase the perceived conspecific density, even though no reduction in food has occurred (Rot‐Nikcevic, Taylor & Wassersug 2006; Gouchie, Roberts & Wassersug 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To avoid measuring animals twice, we did not return tadpoles to rearing tubs, thereby decreasing the density of tadpoles in each tub throughout the experiment. Many larval anurans respond to variation in conspecific density by altering development, behaviour or morphology (Newman 1994; Relyea 2004a; Rot‐Nikcevic, Taylor & Wassersug 2006; Gouchie, Roberts & Wassersug 2008). Although we decreased density equally across all four treatments, it is possible that the effect of decreasing density was different in each temperature × predator combination.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermally contingent plasticity: temperature alters expression of predator-induced colour and morphology in a Neotropical treefrog tadpole

Touchon

Warkentin

2010

Journal of Animal Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary1. Behavioural, morphological and coloration plasticity are common responses of prey to predation risk. Theory predicts that prey should respond to the relative magnitude of risk, rather than a single level of response to any risk level. In addition to conspecific and predator densities, prey growth and differentiation rates affect the duration of vulnerability to size-and stage-limited predators and therefore the relative value of defences. 2. We reared tadpoles of the Neotropical treefrog Dendropsophus ebraccatus with or without cues from a predator (Belostoma sp.) in ecologically relevant warm or cool temperatures. To track phenotypic changes, we measured morphology, tail coloration and developmental stage at three points during the larval period. 3. Cues from predators interacted with growth conditions causing tadpoles to alter their phenotype, changing only tail colour in response to predators in warm water, but both morphology and colour in cool growth conditions. Tadpoles with predators in warm water altered coloration early but converged on the morphology of predator-free controls. Water temperature alone had no effect on tadpole phenotype. 4. We demonstrate that seemingly small variation in abiotic environmental conditions can alter the expression of phenotypic plasticity, consistent with predictions about how growth rate affects risk. Predator-induced tadpole phenotypes depended on temperature, with strong expression only in temperatures that slow development. Thermal modulation of plastic responses to predators may be broadly relevant to poikilotherm development. It is important to include a range of realistic growth conditions in experiments to more fully understand the ecological and evolutionary significance of plasticity.

show abstract

“…Since the mid‐20th century, the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis , has become one of the most widely used model organisms in biology (Harland & Grainger, ; Porro & Richards, ). Especially in neurobiology, Xenopus embryos, tadpoles, and adults are used as models in pathological, developmental, physiological, and behavioral studies (Cannatella & De Sa, ; Cervino, Paz, & Frontera, ; Cline & Kelly, ; Dong et al, ; Edwards‐Faret et al, ; Frankenhaeuser & Huxley, ; Gouchie, Roberts, & Wassersug, ; Katz, Potel, & Wassersug, ; Lee‐Liu, Méndez‐Olivos, Muñoz, & Larraín, ; McKeown, Sharma, Sharipov, Shen, & Cline, ; Moreno, Tapia, & Larrain, ; Pieper, Eagleson, Wosniok, & Schlosser, ; Pratt & Khakhalin, ; Roberts, Walford, Soffe, & Yoshida, ; Schlosser & Northcutt, ; Simmons, Costa, & Gerstein, ; Wassersug & Hessler, ; Young & Poo, ). It is therefore surprising, that only one study (Paterson, ) on the anatomy of the cranial nerves of X. laevis tadpoles exists.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three‐dimensional reconstruction of the cranial and anterior spinal nerves in early tadpoles of Xenopus laevis (Pipidae, Anura)

Naumann

Olsson

2017

J of Comparative Neurology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Xenopus laevis is one of the most widely used model organism in neurobiology. It is therefore surprising, that no detailed and complete description of the cranial nerves exists for this species. Using classical histological sectioning in combination with fluorescent whole mount antibody staining and micro-computed tomography we prepared a detailed innervation map and a freely-rotatable three-dimensional (3D) model of the cranial nerves and anterior-most spinal nerves of early X. laevis tadpoles. Our results confirm earlier descriptions of the pre-otic cranial nerves and present the first detailed description of the post-otic cranial nerves. Tracing the innervation, we found two previously undescribed head muscles (the processo-articularis and diaphragmatico-branchialis muscles) in X. laevis. Data on the cranial nerve morphology of tadpoles are scarce, and only one other species (Discoglossus pictus) has been described in great detail. A comparison of Xenopus and Discoglossus reveals a relatively conserved pattern of the post-otic and a more variable morphology of the pre-otic cranial nerves. Furthermore, the innervation map and the 3D models presented here can serve as an easily accessible basis to identify alterations of the innervation produced by experimental studies such as genetic gain- and loss of function experiments.

show abstract

The effect of mirrors on African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) larval growth, development, and behavior

Cited by 21 publications

References 28 publications

Lateralized Turning Biases in Two Neotropical Tadpoles

Lateralized Turning Biases in Two Neotropical Tadpoles

Thermally contingent plasticity: temperature alters expression of predator-induced colour and morphology in a Neotropical treefrog tadpole

Three‐dimensional reconstruction of the cranial and anterior spinal nerves in early tadpoles of Xenopus laevis (Pipidae, Anura)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About