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Üveges B, Kalina C, Szabó K, Móricz ÁM, Holly D, Gabor CR, Hettyey A, Bókony V. Does the Glucocorticoid Stress Response Make Toads More Toxic? An Experimental Study on the Regulation of Bufadienolide Toxin Synthesis. Integr Org Biol 2023; 5:obad021. [PMID: 37435008 PMCID: PMC10331804 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obad021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical defense is a crucial component of fitness in many organisms, yet the physiological regulation of defensive toxin synthesis is poorly understood, especially in vertebrates. Bufadienolides, the main defensive compounds of toads, are toxic to many predators and other natural enemies, and their synthesis can be upregulated by stressors, including predation risk, high conspecific density, and pollutants. Thus, higher toxin content may be the consequence of a general endocrine stress response in toads. Therefore, we hypothesized that bufadienolide synthesis may be stimulated by elevated levels of corticosterone (CORT), the main glucocorticoid hormone of amphibians, or by upstream regulators that stimulate CORT production. To test these alternatives, we treated common toad tadpoles with exogenous CORT (exoCORT) or metyrapone (MTP, a CORT-synthesis inhibitor that stimulates upstream regulators of CORT by negative feedback) in the presence or absence of predation cues for 2 or 6 days, and subsequently measured their CORT release rates and bufadienolide content. We found that CORT release rates were elevated by exoCORT, and to a lesser extent also by MTP, regardless of treatment length. Bufadienolide content was significantly decreased by treatment with exoCORT for 6 days but was unaffected by exposure to exoCORT for 2 days or to MTP for either 6 or 2 days. The presence or absence of predation cues affected neither CORT release rate nor bufadienolide content. Our results suggest that changes in bufadienolide synthesis in response to environmental challenges are not driven by CORT but may rather be regulated by upstream hormones of the stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Üveges
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
| | - C Kalina
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary
| | - K Szabó
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department for Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Móricz Zsigmond út 22, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Á M Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
| | - D Holly
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
| | - C R Gabor
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - A Hettyey
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
| | - V Bókony
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Herman Ottó út 15, 1022 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary
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Kásler A, Ujszegi J, Holly D, Üveges B, Móricz ÁM, Herczeg D, Hettyey A. Metamorphic common toads keep chytrid infection under control, but at a cost. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Kásler
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - J. Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - D. Holly
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - B. Üveges
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor School of Natural Sciences Bangor University Bangor UK
| | - Á. M. Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
| | - D. Herczeg
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
| | - A. Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Centre for Agricultural Research Plant Protection Institute Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Institute of Biology ELTE Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
- Department of Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Hungary
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3
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Üveges B, Basson AC, Móricz ÁM, Bókony V, Hettyey A. Chemical defence effective against multiple enemies: Does the response to conspecifics alleviate the response to predators? Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bálint Üveges
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
| | - Anna C. Basson
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Ágnes M. Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology Eötvös Loránd University Budapest Hungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Plant Protection Institute Centre for Agricultural Research Eötvös Loránd Research Network Budapest Hungary
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Ujszegi J, Ludányi K, Móricz ÁM, Krüzselyi D, Drahos L, Drexler T, Németh MZ, Vörös J, Garner TWJ, Hettyey A. Exposure to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis affects chemical defences in two anuran amphibians, Rana dalmatina and Bufo bufo. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:135. [PMID: 34217227 PMCID: PMC8254444 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01867-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, one of the major causes of worldwide amphibian biodiversity loss. Many amphibians exhibit skin-based chemical defences, which may play an important role against invading pathogens, but whether the synthesis of these chemical compounds is enhanced or suppressed in the presence of pathogens is largely unknown. Here we investigated direct and indirect effects of larval exposure to the globally distributed and highly virulent Bd-GPL strain on skin secreted chemical defences and life history traits during early ontogeny of agile frogs (Rana dalmatina) and common toads (Bufo bufo). Results Exposure to Bd during the larval stage did not result in enhanced synthesis of the antimicrobial peptide Brevinin-1 Da in R. dalmatina tadpoles or in increased production of bufadienolides in B. bufo tadpoles. However, exposure to Bd during the larval stage had a carry-over effect reaching beyond metamorphosis: both R. dalmatina and B. bufo froglets contained smaller quantities of defensive chemicals than their Bd-naïve conspecifics in the control treatment. Prevalence of Bd and infection intensities were very low in both larvae and metamorphs of R. dalmatina, while in B. bufo we observed high Bd prevalence and infection intensities, especially in metamorphs. At the same time, we did not find a significant effect of Bd-exposure on body mass or development rate in larvae or metamorphs in either species. Conclusions The lack of detrimental effect of Bd-exposure on life history traits, even parallel with high infection intensities in the case of B. bufo individuals, is surprising and suggests high tolerance of local populations of these two species against Bd. However, the lowered quantity of defensive chemicals may compromise antimicrobial and antipredatory defences of froglets, which may ultimately contribute to population declines also in the absence of conspicuous mass-mortality events.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary.
| | - Krisztina Ludányi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre utca 7, Budapest, 1092, Hungary
| | - Ágnes M Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary
| | - Dániel Krüzselyi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary
| | - László Drahos
- MS Proteomics Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok körútja 2, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Tamás Drexler
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary.,Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Rottenbiller utca 50, Budapest, 1077, Hungary
| | - Márk Z Németh
- Department of Plant Pathology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary
| | - Judit Vörös
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross street 13, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
| | - Trenton W J Garner
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.,Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary.,Department of Ecology, Institute for Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Rottenbiller utca 50, Budapest, 1077, Hungary
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Mariano DO, Sciani JM, Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Conceição K, Pimenta DC. Quantity - but not diversity - of secreted peptides and proteins increases with age in the tree frog Pithecopus nordestinus. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2021; 27:e20200105. [PMID: 33868394 PMCID: PMC8020714 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2020-0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Amphibians inhabit the terrestrial environment, a conquest achieved after several evolutionary steps, which were still insufficient to make them completely independent of the aquatic environment. These processes gave rise to many morphological and physiological changes, making their skin (and cutaneous secretion) rich in bioactive molecules. Among the tree frogs, the secretion is composed mainly of peptides; but alkaloids, proteins and steroids can also be found depending on the species. The most known class of biologically active molecules is the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that act against bacteria, fungi and protozoans. Although these molecules are well-studied among the hylids, AMPs ontogeny remains unknown. Therefore, we performed peptidomic and proteomic analyses of Pithecopus nordestinus (formerly Phyllomedusa nordestina) in order to evaluate the peptide content in post-metamorphosed juveniles and adult individuals. Methods: Cutaneous secretion of both life stages of individuals was obtained and analyzed by LC-MS/MS after reduction and alkylation of disulfide bonds or reduction, alkylation and hydrolysis by trypsin. Results: Differences in the TIC profile of juveniles and adults in both treatments were observed. Moreover, the proteomic data revealed known proteins and peptides, with slight differences in the composition, according to the life stage and the treatment. AMPs were identified, and bradykinin-potentiating peptides were observed in trypsin-treated samples, which suggests a protein source of such peptide (cryptide). Conclusion: In general, skin secretion contents were similar between juveniles and adults, varying in quantity, indicating that the different stages of life are reflected in the number of molecules and not on their diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas O Mariano
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana M Sciani
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,São Francisco University, Bragança Paulista, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Jared
- São Francisco University, Bragança Paulista, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Katia Conceição
- Laboratory of Peptide Biochemistry, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniel C Pimenta
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Ujszegi J, Vajna B, Móricz ÁM, Krüzselyi D, Korponai K, Krett G, Hettyey A. Relationships Between Chemical Defenses of Common Toad (Bufo bufo) Tadpoles and Bacterial Community Structure of their Natural Aquatic Habitat. J Chem Ecol 2020; 46:534-543. [PMID: 32468489 PMCID: PMC7332479 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-020-01184-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Many organisms synthesize secondary metabolites against natural enemies. However, to which environmental factors the production of these metabolites is adjusted to is poorly investigated in animals, especially so in vertebrates. Bufadienolides are steroidal compounds that are present in a wide range of plants and animals and, if present in large quantities, can provide protection against natural enemies, such as pathogens. In a correlative study involving 16 natural populations we investigated how variation in bufadienolide content of larval common toads (Bufo bufo) is associated with the bacterial community structure of their aquatic environment. We also evaluated pond size, macrovegetation cover, and the abundance of predators, conspecifics and other larval amphibians. We measured toxin content of tadpoles using HPLC-MS and determined the number of bufadienolide compounds (NBC) and the total quantity of bufadienolides (TBQ). AICc-based model selection revealed strong relationships of NBC and TBQ with bacterial community structure of the aquatic habitat as well as with the presence of conspecific tadpoles. The observed relationships may have arisen due to adaptation to local bacterial communities, phenotypic plasticity, differential biotransformation of toxin compounds by different bacterial communities, or a combination of these processes. Bacterial groups that contribute to among-population variation in toxin content remain to be pinpointed, but our study suggesting that toxin production may be influenced by the bacterial community of the environment represents an important step towards understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes leading to microbiota-mediated variation in skin toxin profiles of aquatic vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Ujszegi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary.
| | - Balázs Vajna
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Ágnes M Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary
| | - Dániel Krüzselyi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary
| | - Kristóf Korponai
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Gergely Krett
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
- Danube Research Institute, Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina út 29, Budapest, 1113, Hungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest, 1022, Hungary
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7
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Hettyey A, Üveges B, Móricz ÁM, Drahos L, Capon RJ, Van Buskirk J, Tóth Z, Bókony V. Predator-induced changes in the chemical defence of a vertebrate. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:1925-1935. [PMID: 31408536 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
1. Inducible defences are ubiquitous in the animal kingdom, but little is known about facultative changes in chemical defences in response to predators, especially so in vertebrates. 2. We tested for predator-induced changes in toxin production of larval common toads (Bufo bufo), which are known to synthesize bufadienolide compounds. 3. The experiment included larvae originating from three permanent and three temporary ponds reared in the presence or absence of chemical cues of three predators: dragonfly larvae, newts or fish. 4. Tadpoles raised with chemical cues of predation risk produced higher numbers of bufadienolide compounds and larger total bufadienolide quantities than predator-naive conspecifics. Further, the increase in intensity of chemical defence was greatest in response to fish, weakest to newts and intermediate to dragonfly larvae. Tadpoles originating from temporary and permanent ponds did not differ in their baseline toxin content or in the magnitude of their induced chemical responses. 5. These results provide the first compelling evidence for predator-induced changes in chemical defence of a vertebrate that may have evolved to enhance survival under predation risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bálint Üveges
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ágnes M Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Drahos
- MS Proteomics Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Robert J Capon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Josh Van Buskirk
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zoltán Tóth
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Zoology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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8
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Üveges B, Szederkényi M, Mahr K, Móricz ÁM, Krüzselyi D, Bókony V, Hoi H, Hettyey A. Chemical defense of toad tadpoles under risk by four predator species. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:6287-6299. [PMID: 31236221 PMCID: PMC6580299 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many organisms use inducible defenses as protection against predators. In animals, inducible defenses may manifest as changes in behavior, morphology, physiology, or life history, and prey species can adjust their defensive responses based on the dangerousness of predators. Analogously, prey may also change the composition and quantity of defensive chemicals when they coexist with different predators, but such predator-induced plasticity in chemical defenses remains elusive in vertebrates. In this study, we investigated whether tadpoles of the common toad (Bufo bufo) adjust their chemical defenses to predation risk in general and specifically to the presence of different predator species; furthermore, we assessed the adaptive value of the induced defense. We reared tadpoles in the presence or absence of one of four caged predator species in a mesocosm experiment, analyzed the composition and quantity of their bufadienolide toxins, and exposed them to free-ranging predators. We found that toad tadpoles did not respond to predation risk by upregulating their bufadienolide synthesis. Fishes and newts consumed only a small percentage of toad tadpoles, suggesting that bufadienolides provided protection against vertebrate predators, irrespective of the rearing environment. Backswimmers consumed toad tadpoles regardless of treatment. Dragonfly larvae were the most voracious predators and consumed more predator-naïve toad tadpoles than tadpoles raised in the presence of dragonfly cues. These results suggest that tadpoles in our experiment had high enough toxin levels for an effective defense against vertebrate predators even in the absence of predator cues. The lack of predator-induced phenotypic plasticity in bufadienolide synthesis may be due to local adaptation for constantly high chemical defense against fishes in the study population and/or due to the high density of conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bálint Üveges
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural ResearchHungarian Academy of SciencesBudapestHungary
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and EvolutionUniversity of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Márk Szederkényi
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural ResearchHungarian Academy of SciencesBudapestHungary
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and EvolutionUniversity of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Katharina Mahr
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and EvolutionUniversity of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human BiologyUniversity of DebrecenDebrecenHungary
| | - Ágnes M. Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural ResearchHungarian Academy of SciencesBudapestHungary
| | - Dániel Krüzselyi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural ResearchHungarian Academy of SciencesBudapestHungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural ResearchHungarian Academy of SciencesBudapestHungary
| | - Herbert Hoi
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and EvolutionUniversity of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural ResearchHungarian Academy of SciencesBudapestHungary
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9
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Tóth Z, Kurali A, Móricz ÁM, Hettyey A. Changes in Toxin Quantities Following Experimental Manipulation of Toxin Reserves in Bufo bufo Tadpoles. J Chem Ecol 2019; 45:253-263. [PMID: 30684072 PMCID: PMC6477007 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-019-01045-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Possessing toxins can contribute to an efficient defence against various threats in nature. However, we generally know little about the energy- and time-demands of developing toxicity in animals, which determines the efficiency of chemical defence and its trade-off with other risk-induced phenotypic responses. In this study we examined how immersion into norepinephrine solution inducing the release of stored toxins, administration of mild stress mimicking predator attack or simple handling during experimental procedure affected the quantity and number of toxin compounds present in common toad (Bufo bufo) tadpoles as compared to undisturbed control individuals, and investigated how fast toxin reserves were restored. We found that total bufadienolide quantity (TBQ) significantly decreased only in the norepinephrine treatment group immediately after treatment compared to the control, but this difference disappeared after 12 h; there were no consistent differences in TBQ between treatments at later samplings. Interestingly, in the norepinephrine treatment approximately half of the compounds characterized by >700 m/z values showed the same changes in time as TBQ, but several bufadienolides characterized by <600 m/z values showed the opposite pattern: they were present in higher quantities immediately after treatment. The number of bufadienolide compounds was not affected by any treatments, but was positively related to TBQ. Our study represents the first experimental evidence that toxin quantities returned to the original level following induced toxin release within a very short period of time in common toad tadpoles and provide additional insights into the physiological background of chemical defence in this model vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Tóth
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó Str. 15, Budapest, H-1022, Hungary.
| | - Anikó Kurali
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó Str. 15, Budapest, H-1022, Hungary
| | - Ágnes M Móricz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó Str. 15, Budapest, H-1022, Hungary
| | - Attila Hettyey
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Herman Ottó Str. 15, Budapest, H-1022, Hungary
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