Do antipredator responses of Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis tadpoles depend on the intensity of predation risk?

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 823-837
Author(s):  
Swapnil C. Supekar ◽  
Narahari P. Gramapurohit
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Euphlyctis Cyanophlyctis ◽  
Antipredator Responses

Does temporal variation in predation risk affect antipredator responses of larval Indian Skipper Frogs (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis)?

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-209
Author(s):  
S.C. Supekar ◽  
N.P. Gramapurohit
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Predation Risk ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Seasonal Cycles ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
Euphlyctis Cyanophlyctis ◽  
Specific Behaviour ◽  
Antipredator Responses ◽  
Long Tails

Predation risk varies on a moment-to-moment basis, through day and night, lunar and seasonal cycles, and over evolutionary time. Hence, it is adaptive for prey animals to exhibit environment-specific behaviour, morphology, and (or) life-history traits. Herein, the effects of temporally varying predation risk on growth, behaviour, morphology, and life-history traits of larval Indian Skipper Frogs (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Schneider, 1799)) were studied by exposing them to no risk, continuous, predictable, and unpredictable risks at different time points. Our results show that larval E. cyanophlyctis could learn the temporal pattern of risk leading to weaker behavioural responses under predictable risk and stronger responses to unpredictable risk. Temporally varying predation risk had a significant impact on tadpole morphology. Tadpoles facing continuous risk had narrow tail muscles. Tadpoles facing predictable risk during the day were heavy with wide and deep tail muscles, whereas those facing predictable risk at night had long tails. Tadpoles facing unpredictable risk were heavy with narrow tail muscles. Metamorphic traits of E. cyanophlyctis were also affected by the temporal variation in predation risk. Tadpoles facing predictable risk during the day emerged at the largest size. However, tadpoles facing predictable risk at night and unpredictable risk metamorphosed earlier, whereas those facing continuous risk metamorphosed later.

scholarly journals Linking predation risk, ungulate antipredator responses, and patterns of vegetation in the high Andes

2016 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 966-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emiliano Donadio ◽  
Steven W. Buskirk
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Antipredator Responses

Variable predation risk and the dynamic nature of mosquito antipredator responses to chemical alarm cues

Chemoecology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maud C. O. Ferrari ◽  
François Messier ◽  
Douglas P. Chivers
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Alarm Cues ◽  
Dynamic Nature ◽  
Chemical Alarm Cues ◽  
Antipredator Responses

Predator diet and prey adaptive responses: Can tadpoles distinguish between predators feeding on congeneric vs. conspecific prey?

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (12) ◽  
pp. 1329-1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bastien Ferland-Raymond ◽  
Dennis L. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Rana Catesbeiana ◽  
Separate Experiment ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
Predator Diet ◽  
Antipredator Responses ◽  
Frog Tadpoles ◽  
Frog Species ◽  
Similar Risk

Predator diet can play an important role in facilitating detection of predation risk among prospective prey, and such detection should have adaptive significance in reducing mortality in environments where not all predators confer similar risk. In the laboratory, we tested behavioural and morphological responses of tadpoles from two congeneric frog species (bullfrog ( Rana catesbeiana Shaw, 1802) and mink frog ( Rana septentrionalis Baird, 1854)) to cues from an odonate predator (genus Aeshna Fabricius, 1775). In a separate experiment we found that both frog species had similar baseline vulnerability to Aeshna predation, implying that species’ responses to predators feeding on conspecific vs. congeneric prey also would be similar. Both species reduced their activity in the presence of predators feeding on tadpoles of either species vs. those fed invertebrates (Libellulidae) or not subjected to predators (controls). Bullfrog tadpoles grew bigger than controls when exposed to predators fed mink frog tadpoles only, whereas mink frogs failed to show a comparable response. Neither species exhibited changes in shape that were attributable to predator diet. Our results suggest that closely related frog species do not distinguish between predators feeding on conspecific vs. congeneric prey, implying that selection favours generalized antipredator responses when prey species are subject to similar predation risk.

Different antipredator responses by Microcavia australis (Rodentia, Hystricognate, Caviidae) under predation risk

Behaviour ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 145 (6) ◽  
pp. 829-842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Martínez ◽  
Ana Srur ◽  
Stella Giannoni ◽  
Paula Andrea Taraborelli ◽  
Ana Sandobal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Antipredator Responses

scholarly journals Genetic variation in parental effects contribute to the evolutionary potential of prey responses to predation risk

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Tigreros ◽  
Anurag A. Agrawal ◽  
Jennifer S. Thaler
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Predation Risk ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Leaf Beetle ◽  
Parental Effects ◽  
Evolutionary Potential ◽  
Additive Genetic Variation ◽  
Heritable Trait ◽  
Antipredator Responses ◽  
Potential Impact

ABSTRACTDespite the ubiquity of parental effects and their potential impact on evolutionary dynamics, their contribution to the evolution of ecologically relevant adaptations remains poorly understood. Using quantitative genetics, here we demonstrate that parental effects contribute substantially to the evolutionary potential of larval antipredator responses in a leaf beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Previous research showed that larger L. decemlineata larvae elicit stronger antipredator responses, and mothers perceiving predators improved offspring responses by increasing intraclutch cannibalism –an extreme form of offspring provisioning. We now report substantial additive genetic variation underlying maternal ability to induce intraclutch cannibalism, indicating the potential of this adaptive maternal effect to evolve by natural selection. We also show that paternal size, a heritable trait, impacted larval responses to predation risk, but that larval responses themselves had little additive genetic variation. Together, these results demonstrate how larval responses to predation risk can evolve via two types of parental effects, both of which provide indirect sources of genetic variation for offspring traits.

scholarly journals Temporal learning of predation risk by embryonic amphibians

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maud C. O. Ferrari ◽  
Aditya K. Manek ◽  
Douglas P. Chivers
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Predation Risk ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Embryonic Stage ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Antipredator Responses ◽  
Temporal Learning

For prey species that rely on learning to recognize their predators, natural selection should favour individuals able to learn as early as possible. The earliest point at which individuals can gather information about the identity of their potential predators is during the embryonic stage. Indeed, recent experiments have demonstrated that amphibians can learn to recognize predators prior to hatching. Here, we conditioned woodfrog embryos to recognize predatory salamander cues either in the morning or in the evening, and subsequently exposed the two-week-old tadpoles to salamander cues either in the morning or in the evening, and recorded the intensity of their antipredator behaviour. The data indicate that amphibians learn to recognize potential predators while still in the egg, and also learn the temporal component of this information, which they use later in life, to adjust the intensity of their antipredator responses throughout the day.

Antipredator behaviour of a native marsupial is relaxed when mammalian predators are excluded

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 726 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Bannister ◽  
R. Brandle ◽  
K. Moseby
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Antipredator Behaviour ◽  
Risk Environment ◽  
Antipredator Responses ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
Novel Objects ◽  
Controlled Environments ◽  
Source Populations ◽  
Willingness To Use

Context Predator-controlled environments can lead to prey species losing costly antipredator behaviours as they exploit their low-risk environment, creating a ‘predator-naïve’ population. If individuals lacking suitable antipredator behaviours are used as source populations for reintroductions to environments where predators are present, their behaviour could result in high post-release predation. In contrast, animals sourced from environments with predators (‘predator-exposed’) may show effective antipredator behaviours and thus higher survival post-release. Aims The aim was to compare the antipredator behaviour of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) at predator-exposed and predator-naïve source populations, and then compare post-release survival after their reintroduction to a low predator environment. Methods Data were collected from possums at two sites, one with and one without mammalian predators. The behavioural responses of possums to a spotlighter, their willingness to use supplementary feeders at ‘safe’ and ‘risky’ heights, whether they avoided predator odour at traps and their general willingness to enter traps were recorded. Key results Predator-naïve possums showed weaker antipredator responses, were often found at ground level, engaged with novel objects, did not avoid predator scents and utilised different habitats regardless of associated predation risk. In contrast, predator-exposed possums had higher antipredator responses, chose connected trees, were rarely found at ground level and were generally difficult to capture. Post-translocation survival was high for both source populations. Predator-naïve-sourced female possums began to avoid predator urine (feral cat; Felis catus) 12 months after translocation. Conclusions Our research demonstrates that environmental predation risk can predict prey naïvety in brushtail possums. Some aspects of prey naïvety behaviour appear to be able to change in response to altered predation risk. Implications With many threatened species now existing only in feral predator-free areas, these results have implications for future reintroductions into unbounded areas where feral predators are present, and for the management of fenced reserves. The addition of a small number of predators to fenced reserves may aid in retaining antipredator behaviours in fenced prey populations.

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