Differential Effects of Malathion and Nitrate Exposure on American Toad and Wood Frog Tadpoles

2010 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey R. Smith ◽  
S. V. Krishnamurthy ◽  
Anthony C. Burger ◽  
Leonard B. Mills
Keyword(s):  
Wood Frog ◽  
American Toad ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Frog Tadpoles

Influence of prey diet quality on predator-induced traits in wood frog tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Catherine Chuirazzi ◽  
Melissa Ocampo ◽  
Mizuki K. Takahashi
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Wood Frog ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Lithobates Sylvaticus ◽  
Phenotypic Changes ◽  
Intestinal Length ◽  
Frog Tadpoles

Abstract Diet quality and predation are two critical factors in determining the growth and development of organisms. Various anurans are susceptible to phenotypic changes influenced by these factors. Yet, few studies examined prey diet quality as potential influence over predator-induced traits. Using wood frog tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus) as a model species, we investigated the effects of three diet compositions (plant-based, animal-based, omnivorous) crossed with presence or absence of chemical cues from predatory dragonfly larvae (Aeshnidae). After 35 days, we recorded 11 morphological measurements, Gosner stage, and intestinal length of tadpoles to assess phenotypic changes under the six different experimental conditions. Our results showed the additive effects of both diet quality and predator chemical cue without detection of interactions between the two. Tadpoles receiving the omnivorous diet grew and developed faster with wider denticle rows than those receiving the plant or animal diets. The growth and development of tadpoles receiving only the animal diet were significantly hindered. These results emphasize the importance of diet quality in the growth and development of larval wood frogs. Chemical cues from predators significantly reduced tadpole body size but, in contrast to previous findings, did not affect tail size. Our experimental procedure of providing water containing predator and injured conspecific chemical cues on a weekly basis likely provided relatively weak predation risk perceived by tadpoles compared to previous studies using caged predators. The predator environment in our experiment, however, represents one ecologically relevant scenario in which predation risk is not urgent.

scholarly journals Time-dependent latent inhibition of predator-recognition learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 20190183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam L. Crane ◽  
Douglas P. Chivers ◽  
Maud C. O. Ferrari
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Latent Inhibition ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Predator Recognition ◽  
Wood Frog ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Lithobates Sylvaticus ◽  
Frog Tadpoles ◽  
Recognition Learning

To optimally manage an environment with predators, prey must correctly distinguish between cues that are risky and cues that are safe. Even a specific cue that is safe in one area or at a certain time may be dangerous in other situations, and vice versa. Latent inhibition is a cognitive mechanism by which animals fail to learn that a stimulus as risky because they have already learned it as non-threatening via previous encounters with the stimulus in the absence of negative consequences. Here, we demonstrate that latent inhibition of predator-recognition learning in wood frog tadpoles, Lithobates sylvaticus , depends on the timing of their learning opportunities. For 6 days, tadpoles were exposed daily to an initially novel stimulus (salamander odour), either in the morning (11.00–13.00 h) or evening (16.00–18.00 h). The following day, we conditioned tadpoles to recognize the salamander odour as a predator by pairing it with injured tadpole cues, either at the same time as their previous experience or at the opposite time. When tested the following day, latent inhibition occurred under each scenario where the timing of conditioning matched the timing of the pre-exposure. However, tadpoles tested in the morning showed learned fright responses when conditioned in the morning if their pre-exposure had occurred in the evening, whereas individuals tested in the evening showed learned fright responses when conditioned in the evening if their pre-exposure had occurred in the morning. This is the first report of time-dependent latent inhibition of predator-recognition learning, which is likely an important mechanism for correctly managing predation risk and safety.

On the efficacy of anti-parasite behaviour: a case study of tadpole susceptibility to cercariae of Echinostoma trivolvis

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 1623-1629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Koprivnikar ◽  
Mark R. Forbes ◽  
Robert L. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Wood Frog ◽  
Green Frog ◽  
Wood Frogs ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Frog Tadpoles ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Host Behaviour ◽  
Echinostoma Trivolvis

Many animals respond behaviourally to the infective stages of parasites, but the efficacy of such responses in reducing risk of parasitism often is not established. It was found that tadpoles of Rana clamitans Latr., 1801 (green frogs) and R. sylvatica LeConte, 1825 (wood frogs) increased their activity when exposed to live infective stages (cercariae) of the trematode Echinostoma trivolvis Rudolphi, 1809. The susceptibility to parasitism for green frog tadpoles subjected to three different treatments was compared. Tadpoles were housed at 20 °C and allowed to respond to cercariae, held at 6–8 °C and showing reduced behavioural responses, or anesthetized and showing no responses. Low levels of parasitism were found for tadpoles that responded behaviourally to cercariae; such responses are expected to occur under normal field conditions in the absence of factors suppressing activity of tadpoles. We also demonstrate that infectivity of E. trivolvis cercariae to non-responding (anesthetized) wood frog tadpoles was higher at warm than at cool temperatures. Thus, lowered parasitism at warm temperatures in the first experiment likely resulted from host behavioural responses and not from low infectivity of cercariae. These results have implications for observing effects of environmental factors on susceptibility to parasitism where susceptibility is thought or known to be mediated by host behaviour.

Microgeographic Adaptation of Wood Frog Tadpoles to an Apex Predator

Copeia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. Urban ◽  
Jonathan L. Richardson ◽  
Nicole A. Freidenfelds ◽  
Dana L. Drake ◽  
John F. Fischer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wood Frog ◽  
Apex Predator ◽  
Frog Tadpoles

Actue Toxic Effects of Round-Up Herbicide on Wood Frog Tadpoles (Rana sylvatica)

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 705-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett A. Comstock ◽  
Spencer L. Sprinkle ◽  
Geoffrey R. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Rana Sylvatica ◽  
Wood Frog ◽  
Toxic Effects ◽  
Frog Tadpoles
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