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Schlippe-Justicia L, Lemaire J, Dittrich C, Mayer M, Bustamante P, Rojas B. Poison in the nursery: Mercury contamination in the tadpole-rearing sites of an Amazonian frog. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169450. [PMID: 38135067 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has become a major threat for Neotropical forests. This technique for obtaining gold is a substantial driver of small-scale deforestation and the largest contributor of Hg emissions to both the atmosphere and freshwater systems globally. Previous studies have demonstrated the impacts of Hg accumulation on various aquatic ecosystems and organisms. However, its consequences in other, more discrete systems such as phytotelmata (water-holding plant structures), and the organisms therein, have so far gone unnoticed. Here, we show high concentrations of Hg (mean ± SD: 1.43 ± 2.19 ppm) in phytotelmata and other small pools, the aquatic microenvironments used by the Neotropical poison frog Dendrobates tinctorius as tadpole-rearing sites. In 17 % of the cases, we detected Hg concentrations above the severe effect level (SEL = 2 ppm) for freshwater sediments. Hg concentrations varied depending on pool characteristics and tended to increase in proximity to known ASGM sites. We did not find an effect of Hg concentration on the number of D. tinctorius tadpoles in a given pool. Tadpoles were found in pools with concentrations of up to 8.68 ppm, suggesting that D. tinctorius fathers do not avoid pools with high Hg levels for tadpole deposition. While further research is needed to determine the potential effects of Hg on tadpole development, we found an intriguing tendency for tadpoles in later developmental stages to have lower body condition when occurring in pools with higher Hg concentrations. Our findings provide evidence of relevant Hg concentrations in the terrestrial water systems used by phytotelm-breeding anurans, and highlight the need of further field and experimental studies investigating the implications of Hg contamination for tadpole development and behaviour and the overall conservation of Amazonian biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Schlippe-Justicia
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Jérémy Lemaire
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Carolin Dittrich
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria; University of Jyvaskyla, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Martin Mayer
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Anne Evenstads Vei 80, 2480 Koppang, Norway; Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Nordre Ringgade 1, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Paco Bustamante
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Bibiana Rojas
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria; University of Jyvaskyla, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
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2
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Carrillo JFC, Boaretto AG, Santana DJ, Silva DB. Skin secretions of Leptodactylidae (Anura) and their potential applications. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2024; 30:e20230042. [PMID: 38374940 PMCID: PMC10876013 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2023-0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The skin of anuran species is a protective barrier against predators and pathogens, showing also chemical defense by substances that represent a potential source for bioactive substances. This review describes the current chemical and biological knowledge from the skin secretions of Leptodactylidae species, one of the most diverse neotropical frog families. These skin secretions reveal a variety of substances such as amines (12), neuropeptides (16), and antimicrobial peptides (72). The amines include histamine and its methylated derivatives, tryptamine derivatives and quaternary amines. The peptides of Leptodactylidae species show molecular weight up to 3364 Da and ocellatins are the most reported. The peptides exhibit commonly glycine (G) or glycine-valine (GV) as C-terminal amino acids, and the most common N-terminal amino acids are glutamic acid (E), lysine (K), and valine (V). The substances from Leptodactylidae species have been evaluated against pathogenic microorganisms, particularly Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and the most active peptides showed MIC of 1-15 µM. Furthermore, some compounds showed also pharmacological properties such as immunomodulation, treatment of degenerative diseases, anticancer, and antioxidant. Currently, only 9% of the species in this family have been properly studied, highlighting a large number of unstudied species such as an entire subfamily (Paratelmatobiinae). The ecological context, functions, and evolution of peptides and amines in this family are poorly understood and represent a large field for further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F. C. Carrillo
- Program in Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Biosciences,
Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
- Laboratory of Systematics and Biogeography of Amphibians and
Reptiles (Mapinguari), Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso
do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
- Laboratory of Natural Products and Mass Spectrometry (LaPNEM),
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition (FACFAN), Federal University
of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Amanda Galdi Boaretto
- Program in Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Biosciences,
Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
- Laboratory of Natural Products and Mass Spectrometry (LaPNEM),
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition (FACFAN), Federal University
of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Diego J. Santana
- Program in Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Biosciences,
Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
- Laboratory of Systematics and Biogeography of Amphibians and
Reptiles (Mapinguari), Institute of Biosciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso
do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Denise Brentan Silva
- Program in Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Biosciences,
Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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Brooks OL, Talbott‐Swain EN, Rimmele BN, Dugas MB. Tadpole plasticity shapes the potential benefits of egg feeding to poison frog parents. Ethology 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia L. Brooks
- School of Biological Sciences Illinois State University Normal Illinois USA
| | | | - Brianne N. Rimmele
- School of Biological Sciences Illinois State University Normal Illinois USA
| | - Matthew B. Dugas
- School of Biological Sciences Illinois State University Normal Illinois USA
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4
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Fouilloux CA, Fromhage L, Valkonen JK, Rojas B. OUP accepted manuscript. Behav Ecol 2022; 33:582-591. [PMID: 35592877 PMCID: PMC9113263 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In juveniles extreme intraspecies aggression can seem counter-intuitive, as it might endanger their developmental goal of surviving until reproductive stage. Ultimately, aggression can be vital for survival, although the factors (e.g., genetic or environmental) leading to the expression and intensity of this behavior vary across taxa. Attacking (and sometimes killing) related individuals may reduce inclusive fitness; as a solution to this problem, some species exhibit kin discrimination and preferentially attack unrelated individuals. Here, we used both experimental and modeling approaches to consider how physical traits (e.g., size in relation to opponent) and genetic relatedness mediate aggression in dyads of cannibalistic Dendrobates tinctorius tadpoles. We paired full-sibling, half-sibling, and non-sibling tadpoles of different sizes together in an arena and recorded their aggression and activity. We found that the interaction between relative size and relatedness predicts aggressive behavior: large individuals in non-sibling dyads are significantly more aggressive than large individuals in sibling dyads. Unexpectedly, although siblings tended to attack less overall, in size-mismatched pairs they attacked faster than in non-sibling treatments. Using a theoretical model to complement these empirical findings, we propose that larval aggression reflects a balance between relatedness and size where individuals trade-off their own fitness with that of their relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe A Fouilloux
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
- Address correspondence to C.A. Fouilloux. E-mail:
| | - Lutz Fromhage
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Janne K Valkonen
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Bibiana Rojas
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
- B. Rojas. E-mail:
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5
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Cossio R, Wright J, Acosta R, Rodríguez A. Space use and parental care behaviour in Andinobates claudiae (Dendrobatidae). BEHAVIOUR 2021. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-bja10139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The selection of habitats with potential reproductive resources may maximize individual reproductive success and overall fitness. Dendrobatid frogs display remarkable parental care which is associated with water bodies (phytotelmata) contained in plants with characteristics that are important to offspring survival. It has been shown that the size of phytotelmata is a key factor that drove the divergence in parental care patterns in poison frogs and that the distribution of reproductive resources can influence space use in these species. Here, we investigated parental care strategies and the influence of reproductive resource distribution on space use patterns in a wild population of Andinobates claudiae in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We identified the phytotelmata characteristics that predict tadpole deposition and analysed the association between the spatial distribution of phytotelmata and spatial use of males and females. Our observations showed that this species mates polygamously and exhibits male parental care. We found that male frogs have smaller kernel density home ranges and core areas compared to females, and that space use is related to the density of Heliconia plants whose axil cavities are used for tadpole rearing. Furthermore, we found that tadpoles were more frequently found in phytotelmata that were at lower heights and contained larger water volumes. Fathers invested time inspecting multiple cavities and travelled further than predicted from their territories to find suitable deposition sites. Our observations suggest a selective choice of phytotelmata regarding tadpole deposition, where distribution and quality of cavities might influence parental care decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Cossio
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bünteweg 17d, 30559 Hannover, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Jennifer Wright
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Rebeca Acosta
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Ariel Rodríguez
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bünteweg 17d, 30559 Hannover, Germany
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Cavalcanti IRDS, Luna MC, Faivovich J, Grant T. Structure and evolution of the sexually dimorphic integumentary swelling on the hands of dendrobatid poison frogs and their relatives (Amphibia: Anura: Dendrobatoidea). J Anat 2021; 240:447-465. [PMID: 34755350 PMCID: PMC8819055 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The hands of adult males of many dendrobatid poison frogs and their relatives possess swelling formed by glandular tissue hypothesized to secrete courtship pheromones delivered to the female during cephalic amplexus. Variation in the occurrence and external morphology of the swelling of finger IV has provided important evidence for dendrobatoid systematics for decades, but its underlying structure has not been investigated. We undertook a detailed comparative analysis of the integument of the hand, including both external morphology and histology, of 36 species representing the diversity of dendrobatoid frogs and several close relatives. The swelling is caused by four densely packed, hypertrophic, morpho-histochemical types of specialized mucous glands (SMGs). We observed type I SMGs on fingers II-V and the wrist, including areas that are not swollen, types II and IV exclusively on finger IV, and type III on finger IV and the wrist. Type I SMGs occur either in isolation or together with types II, III, or IV; types II, III, and IV never occur together or without type I. We delimited 15 characters to account for the variation in external morphology and the occurrence of SMGs. Our data suggest that type I SMGs are a new synapomorphy for Dendrobatoidea and that type II SMGs originated in either the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of Dendrobatidae or independently in the MRCAs of Aromobatidae and Colostethinae, respectively, while types III and IV are restricted to Anomaloglossus. The discovery of these SMGs adds a new dimension to studies of poison frog reproductive biology, which have investigated acoustic, visual, and tactile cues in courtship, mating, and parental care across the diversity of Dendrobatoidea for decades but have almost entirely overlooked the possible role of chemical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Celeste Luna
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 'Bernardino Rivadavia' - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julián Faivovich
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 'Bernardino Rivadavia' - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Taran Grant
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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7
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Serrano-Rojas SJ, Pašukonis A. Tadpole-transporting frogs use stagnant water odor to find pools in the rainforest. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:272393. [PMID: 34608492 PMCID: PMC8627569 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Breeding sites are often a limited and ephemeral resource for rainforest frogs. This resource limitation has driven the evolution of diverse reproductive strategies that increase offspring survival. For example, poison frogs shuttle their tadpoles from terrestrial clutches to aquatic rearing sites, using various cues to assess pool suitability. Yet, how frogs find new pools is unknown. We tested the role of odor cues in the process of finding tadpole deposition sites by the poison frog Allobates femoralis. We created 60 artificial pools grouped into three conditions: stagnant water, tadpole water and clean water control. Fifteen pools were discovered within 6 days, with more tadpoles and more frogs directly observed at pools with stagnant odor cues. Our findings suggest that frogs use odor cues associated with stagnant water for the initial discovery of new breeding pools. These cues may be good indicators of pool stability and increased likelihood of tadpole survival. Summary: Amphibians rely on water for reproduction; however, very little is known on how amphibians find water bodies. Experiments in Allobates femoralis suggest that frogs use stagnant odor cues to find breeding pools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley J Serrano-Rojas
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, 371 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC), Cusco 08000, Perú
| | - Andrius Pašukonis
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, 371 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,CEFE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, 34090, France
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8
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Šigutová H, Harabiš F, Šigut M, Vojar J, Choleva L, Dolný A. Specialization directs habitat selection responses to a top predator in semiaquatic but not aquatic taxa. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18928. [PMID: 34556794 PMCID: PMC8460784 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98632-2] [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: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat selectivity has become an increasingly acknowledged mechanism shaping the structure of freshwater communities; however, most studies have focused on the effect of predators and competitors, neglecting habitat complexity and specialization. In this study, we examined the habitat selection of semiaquatic (amphibians: Bufonidae; odonates: Libellulidae) and aquatic organisms (true bugs: Notonectidae; diving beetles: Dytiscidae). From each family, we selected one habitat generalist species able to coexist with fish (Bufo bufo, Sympetrum sanguineum, Notonecta glauca, Dytiscus marginalis) and one species specialized in fishless habitats (Bufotes viridis, Sympetrum danae, Notonecta obliqua, Acilius sulcatus). In a mesocosm experiment, we quantified habitat selection decisions in response to the non-consumptive presence of fish (Carassius auratus) and vegetation structure mimicking different successional stages of aquatic habitats (no macrophytes; submerged and floating macrophytes; submerged, floating, and littoral-emergent macrophytes). No congruence between habitat specialists and generalists was observed, but a similar response to fish and vegetation structure defined both semiaquatic and aquatic organisms. While semiaquatic generalists did not distinguish between fish and fishless pools, specialists avoided fish-occupied pools and had a preferred vegetation structure. In aquatic taxa, predator presence affected habitat selection only in combination with vegetation structure, and all species preferred fishless pools with floating and submerged macrophytes. Fish presence triggered avoidance only in the generalist bug N. glauca. Our results highlight the significance of habitat selectivity for structuring freshwater ecosystems and illustrate how habitat selection responses to a top predator are dictated by specialization and life history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Šigutová
- grid.412684.d0000 0001 2155 4545Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 71000 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Harabiš
- grid.15866.3c0000 0001 2238 631XDepartment of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 16521 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Šigut
- grid.412684.d0000 0001 2155 4545Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 71000 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Vojar
- grid.15866.3c0000 0001 2238 631XDepartment of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 16521 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Choleva
- grid.412684.d0000 0001 2155 4545Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 71000 Ostrava, Czech Republic ,grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, 277 21 Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Dolný
- grid.412684.d0000 0001 2155 4545Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 71000 Ostrava, Czech Republic
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9
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Baek SY, Lee MH, Kim YS, Bae SR, Song UR, Kang CK. Selective Oviposition by Oriental Fire-bellied Toads in Temporally Fluctuating Environments. CURRENT HERPETOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.40.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Yun Baek
- Department of Biology, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, SOUTH KOREA
| | - Min-Hyun Lee
- Department of Biology, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, SOUTH KOREA
| | - Yong-Su Kim
- Department of Biosciences, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, SOUTH KOREA
| | - Sang-Ryong Bae
- Department of Biosciences, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, SOUTH KOREA
| | - Uh-Ram Song
- Department of Biology, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, SOUTH KOREA
| | - Chang-Ku Kang
- Department of Biosciences, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, SOUTH KOREA
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Fouilloux CA, Serrano Rojas SJ, Carvajal‐Castro JD, Valkonen JK, Gaucher P, Fischer M, Pašukonis A, Rojas B. Pool choice in a vertical landscape: Tadpole-rearing site flexibility in phytotelm-breeding frogs. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9021-9038. [PMID: 34257942 PMCID: PMC8258215 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Many species of Neotropical frogs have evolved to deposit their tadpoles in small water bodies inside plant structures called phytotelmata. These pools are small enough to exclude large predators but have limited nutrients and high desiccation risk. Here, we explore phytotelm use by three common Neotropical species: Osteocephalus oophagus, an arboreal frog that periodically feeds eggs to its tadpoles; Dendrobates tinctorius, a tadpole-transporting poison frog with cannibalistic tadpoles; and Allobates femoralis, a terrestrial tadpole-transporting poison frog with omnivorous tadpoles. We found that D. tinctorius occupies pools across the chemical and vertical gradient, whereas A. femoralis and O. oophagus appear to have narrower deposition options that are restricted primarily by pool height, water capacity, alkalinity, and salinity. Dendrobates tinctorius tadpoles are particularly flexible and can survive in a wide range of chemical, physical, and biological conditions, whereas O. oophagus seems to prefer small, clear pools and A. femoralis occupies medium-sized pools with abundant leaf litter and low salinity. Together, these results show the possible niche partitioning of phytotelmata among frogs and provide insight into stressors and resilience of phytotelm breeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe A. Fouilloux
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | | | - Juan David Carvajal‐Castro
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von HumboldtBogotáColombia
- Department of Biological SciencesSt. John’s UniversityQueensNYUSA
| | - Janne K. Valkonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Philippe Gaucher
- USR LEEISA—Laboratoire EcologieEvolution, Interactions des Systèmes AmazoniensCNRS‐GuyaneCayenneFrench Guiana
| | | | - Andrius Pašukonis
- Department of BiologyStanford UniversityStanfordCAUSA
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionelle et EvolutiveCNRSMontpellier Cedex 5France
| | - Bibiana Rojas
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
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11
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Deng K, Zhou Y, He QL, Zhu BC, Wang TL, Wang JC, Cui JG. Conspecific odor cues induce different vocal responses in serrate-legged small treefrogs, but only in the absence of acoustic signals. Front Zool 2021; 18:28. [PMID: 34103057 PMCID: PMC8186033 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-021-00415-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Signal detection is crucial to survival and successful reproduction, and animals often modify behavioral decisions based on information they obtained from the social context. Undeniably, the decision-making in male-male competition and female choice of anurans (frogs and toads) depends heavily on acoustic signals. However, increasing empirical evidence suggests that additional or alternative types of cue (e.g., visual, chemical, and vibratory) can be used to detect, discriminate and locate conspecifics in many anuran species. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated whether conspecific odor cues affect male’s calling behavior. In this study, we conducted an experiment to investigate whether and how different chemical cues (male odors, female odors, and stress odors) from conspecifics affect male’s calling strategies in serrate-legged small treefrogs (Kurixalus odontotarsus), and whether the combined chemical and acoustic stimuli have additive effects on calling behavior or not. Results We found that compared with female odors, male K. odontotarsus reduced calling investment in response to male odors or stress odors, in the absence of rival’s advertisement calls. When odor stimuli and advertisement calls were presented simultaneously, however, there were no differences in the vocal response of focal males among odor groups. Conclusions These results provide evidence that male treefrogs switch calling investment according to different odor cues from conspecifics, and further demonstrate that calling behavior can be affected by chemical cues in anuran species. Our study highlights the potential role of airborne chemical cues in sex identification and contributes to increase our understanding of anuran communication. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12983-021-00415-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ya Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qiao-Ling He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bi-Cheng Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Tong-Liang Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands; Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province; College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China
| | - Ji-Chao Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands; Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province; College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China
| | - Jian-Guo Cui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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12
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13
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Alloparental care in glassfrogs: males care for unrelated clutches only when associated with their own. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1386. [PMID: 33446869 PMCID: PMC7809452 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80771-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Parental care is costly, thus theory predicts that parents should avoid caring for unrelated offspring. However, alloparenting has been reported in many taxa because it may increase the caregiver mating success or offspring survival. We experimentally investigated the existence of allopaternal care in two glassfrog species, Hyalinobatrachium chirripoi and Centrolene peristicta, and discussed possible costs and benefits. Males mated with multiple females and cared for clutches, while continued to call. In the field, we randomly placed unrelated clutches in the territory of males already caring for their clutches and in the territory of non-attending males. Attending males adopted unrelated clutches, whereas non-attending males abandoned their territories. Once males adopted unrelated offspring, they cared for all clutches in a similar frequency and gained new clutches. Alloparenting was context-dependent, as only males already caring for their clutches adopted unrelated ones. We suggest that steroid hormonal levels might mediate the adoption of unrelated offspring by attending males. Additionally, our results suggest that males do not directly discriminate between related and unrelated offspring. Alloparenting has been widely investigated in different vertebrates, except for amphibians. Thus, our study sheds light on the roles of alloparenting for offspring survival and mating success in this group.
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14
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Weiss L, Manzini I, Hassenklöver T. Olfaction across the water-air interface in anuran amphibians. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:301-325. [PMID: 33496878 PMCID: PMC7873119 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03377-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Extant anuran amphibians originate from an evolutionary intersection eventually leading to fully terrestrial tetrapods. In many ways, they have to deal with exposure to both terrestrial and aquatic environments: (i) phylogenetically, as derivatives of the first tetrapod group that conquered the terrestrial environment in evolution; (ii) ontogenetically, with a development that includes aquatic and terrestrial stages connected via metamorphic remodeling; and (iii) individually, with common changes in habitat during the life cycle. Our knowledge about the structural organization and function of the amphibian olfactory system and its relevance still lags behind findings on mammals. It is a formidable challenge to reveal underlying general principles of circuity-related, cellular, and molecular properties that are beneficial for an optimized sense of smell in water and air. Recent findings in structural organization coupled with behavioral observations could help to understand the importance of the sense of smell in this evolutionarily important animal group. We describe the structure of the peripheral olfactory organ, the olfactory bulb, and higher olfactory centers on a tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Differences and similarities between the olfactory systems of anurans and other vertebrates are reviewed. Special emphasis lies on adaptations that are connected to the distinct demands of olfaction in water and air environment. These particular adaptations are discussed in light of evolutionary trends, ontogenetic development, and ecological demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Weiss
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Physiology and Molecular Biomedicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 38, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Ivan Manzini
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Physiology and Molecular Biomedicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 38, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Hassenklöver
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Physiology and Molecular Biomedicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 38, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
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15
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Müller C, Caspers BA, Gadau J, Kaiser S. The Power of Infochemicals in Mediating Individualized Niches. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:981-989. [PMID: 32723498 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Infochemicals, including hormones, pheromones, and allelochemicals, play a central role in mediating information and shaping interactions within and between individuals. Due to their high plasticity, infochemicals are predestined mediators in facilitating individualized niches of organisms. Only recently it has become clear that individual differences are essential to understand how and why individuals realize a tiny subset of the species' niche. Moreover, individual differences have a central role in both ecological adjustment and evolutionary adaptation in a rapidly changing world. Here we highlight that infochemicals act as key signals or cues and empower the realization of the individualized niche through three proposed processes: niche choice, niche conformance, and niche construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Müller
- Chemical Ecology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Barbara A Caspers
- Behavioral Ecology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jürgen Gadau
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstraße 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestr. 13, 48149 Münster, Germany
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16
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Schulte LM, Ringler E, Rojas B, Stynoski JL. Developments in Amphibian Parental Care Research: History, Present Advances, and Future Perspectives. HERPETOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS 2020. [DOI: 10.1655/herpmonographs-d-19-00002.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Schulte
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 13, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Eva Ringler
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bibiana Rojas
- University of Jyvaskyla, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jennifer L. Stynoski
- Colorado State University, Department of Biology, 200 W. Lake Street, Fort Collins, CO, 48823 USA
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17
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Ospina-L AM, Navarro-Salcedo P, Rios-Soto JA, Duarte-Marín S, Vargas-Salinas F. Temporal patterns, benefits, and defensive behaviors associated with male parental care in the glassfrog Centrolene savagei. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2019.1682056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana M. Ospina-L
- Colección de Sonidos Ambientales, Instituto Alexander von Humboldt, Villa de Leyva, Colombia
| | - Paula Navarro-Salcedo
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación EECO, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | - Julián A. Rios-Soto
- Secretaría de Gestión Rural y Desarrollo Sostenible, Filandia, Quindío, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Duarte-Marín
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación EECO, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | - Fernando Vargas-Salinas
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación EECO, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
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18
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Melnik K, Menke M, Rakotoarison A, Vences M, Schulz S. Identification and Synthesis of Luteolide, a Highly Branched Macrolide Semiochemical from the Mantellid Frog Gephyromantis luteus. Org Lett 2019; 21:2851-2854. [PMID: 30945870 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b00852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Luteolide is a 10-membered aliphatic macrolactone, (4 R,8 S,9 S)-4,8-dimethylundecan-9-olide ((-) -17), released by the femoral gland of males of the mantellid frog Gephyromantis luteus. Its structure was established using NMR, MS, and chiral GC and confirmed by stereoselective synthesis of different stereoisomers. Among the approximately 20 current macrolides known from the Mantellidae, luteolide is the first example of a volatile macrolide furnishing three stereogenic centers and an ethyl side chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Melnik
- Technische Universität Braunschweig , Institute of Organic Chemistry , Hagenring 30 , 38106 Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Markus Menke
- Technische Universität Braunschweig , Institute of Organic Chemistry , Hagenring 30 , 38106 Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Andolalao Rakotoarison
- Technische Universität Braunschweig , Zoological Institute , Mendelssohnstraße 4 , 38106 Braunschweig , Germany.,Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale , Université d'Antananarivo , BP 906 , Antananarivo 101 , Madagascar
| | - Miguel Vences
- Technische Universität Braunschweig , Zoological Institute , Mendelssohnstraße 4 , 38106 Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Technische Universität Braunschweig , Institute of Organic Chemistry , Hagenring 30 , 38106 Braunschweig , Germany
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19
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Nursery crowding does not influence offspring, but might influence parental, fitness in a phytotelm-breeding frog. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2642-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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20
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Smith GR, Harmon JJ. Differential oviposition and offspring success of gray treefrogs in the presence of an invasive fish. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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21
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Goyes Vallejos J, Grafe TU, Wells KD. Factors influencing tadpole deposition site choice in a frog with male parental care: An experimental field study. Ethology 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johana Goyes Vallejos
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
| | - T. Ulmar Grafe
- Department of Biology, Faculty of ScienceUniversiti Brunei Darussalam Gadong Brunei Darussalam
| | - Kentwood D. Wells
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut
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22
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Ringler E, Szipl G, Harrigan RJ, Bartl-Binder P, Mangione R, Ringler M. Hierarchical decision-making balances current and future reproductive success. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:2289-2301. [PMID: 29633409 PMCID: PMC5969290 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Parental decisions in animals are often context‐dependent and shaped by fitness trade‐offs between parents and offspring. For example, the selection of breeding habitats can considerably impact the fitness of both offspring and parents, and therefore, parents should carefully weigh the costs and benefits of available options for their current and future reproductive success. Here, we show that resource‐use preferences are shaped by a trade‐off between parental effort and offspring safety in a tadpole‐transporting frog. In a large‐scale in situ experiment, we investigated decision strategies across an entire population of poison frogs that distribute their tadpoles across multiple water bodies. Pool use followed a dynamic and sequential selection process, and transportation became more efficient over time. Our results point to a complex suite of environmental variables that are considered during offspring deposition, which necessitates a highly dynamic and flexible decision‐making process in tadpole‐transporting frogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Ringler
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georgine Szipl
- Core Facility KLF for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ryan J Harrigan
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Perta Bartl-Binder
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rosanna Mangione
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Haus des Meeres Aqua Terra Zoo GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Max Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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23
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Simple observations with complex implications: What we have learned and can learn about parental care from a frog that feeds its young. ZOOL ANZ 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2017.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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24
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Pašukonis A, Loretto MC, Hödl W. Map-like navigation from distances exceeding routine movements in the three-striped poison frog ( Ameerega trivittata). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.169714. [PMID: 29217629 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.169714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Most animals move in dense habitats where distant landmarks are limited, but how they find their way around remains poorly understood. Poison frogs inhabit the rainforest understory, where they shuttle tadpoles from small territories to widespread pools. Recent studies revealed their excellent spatial memory and the ability to home back from several hundred meters. It remains unclear whether this homing ability is restricted to the areas that had been previously explored or whether it allows the frogs to navigate from areas outside their direct experience. Here, we used radio-tracking to study the navigational performance of three-striped poison frog translocated outside the area of their routine movements (200-800 m). Translocated frogs returned to their home territory via a direct path from all distances and with little difference in orientation accuracy, suggesting a flexible map-like navigation mechanism. These findings challenge our current understanding of both the mechanisms and the sensory basis of amphibian orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrius Pašukonis
- University of Vienna, Department of Cognitive Biology, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | | | - Walter Hödl
- University of Vienna, Department of Integrative Zoology, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna 1090, Austria
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25
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Beck KB, Loretto MC, Ringler M, Hödl W, Pašukonis A. Relying on known or exploring for new? Movement patterns and reproductive resource use in a tadpole-transporting frog. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3745. [PMID: 28875083 PMCID: PMC5580388 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals relying on uncertain, ephemeral and patchy resources have to regularly update their information about profitable sites. For many tropical amphibians, widespread, scattered breeding pools constitute such fluctuating resources. Among tropical amphibians, poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) exhibit some of the most complex spatial and parental behaviors—including territoriality and tadpole transport from terrestrial clutches to ephemeral aquatic deposition sites. Recent studies have revealed that poison frogs rely on spatial memory to successfully navigate through their environment. This raises the question of when and how these frogs gain information about the area and suitable reproductive resources. To investigate the spatial patterns of pool use and to reveal potential explorative behavior, we used telemetry to follow males of the territorial dendrobatid frog Allobates femoralis during tadpole transport and subsequent homing. To elicit exploration, we reduced resource availability experimentally by simulating desiccated deposition sites. We found that tadpole transport is strongly directed towards known deposition sites and that frogs take similar direct paths when returning to their home territory. Frogs move faster during tadpole transport than when homing after the deposition, which probably reflects different risks and costs during these two movement phases. We found no evidence for exploration, neither during transport nor homing, and independent of the availability of deposition sites. We suggest that prospecting during tadpole transport is too risky for the transported offspring as well as for the transporting male. Relying on spatial memory of multiple previously discovered pools appears to be the predominant and successful strategy for the exploitation of reproductive resources in A. femoralis. Our study provides for the first time a detailed description of poison frog movement patterns during tadpole transport and corroborates recent findings on the significance of spatial memory in poison frogs. When these frogs explore and discover new reproductive resources remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina B Beck
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany.,Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Max Ringler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.,Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Hödl
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrius Pašukonis
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
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26
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Bucciarelli GM, Green DB, Shaffer HB, Kats LB. Individual fluctuations in toxin levels affect breeding site fidelity in a chemically defended amphibian. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 283:rspb.2016.0468. [PMID: 27194704 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Behaviours that influence habitat selection strongly determine species movement patterns. One component of animal behaviour that largely influences movement patterns and habitat choice is site fidelity. California newts (family Salamandridae) demonstrate remarkable site fidelity, typically homing to the same pool of a stream each breeding season. Individuals often occupy a specific pool throughout the breeding season, but some males shift among breeding pools, altering their set of potential mates, competitors, and predators. In this study, we measured dermal concentrations of the chemical defence compound tetrodotoxin (TTX) in recaptured male California newts (Taricha torosa) over five breeding seasons to evaluate whether relative TTX concentrations are associated with breeding site fidelity in the field. Our five years of field sampling indicates that TTX concentrations of individuals and group means fluctuate tremendously, implying that TTX is not a stable phenotypic trait. Despite such fluctuations, we found that an individual's relative TTX concentration explains fidelity to a breeding pool and suggests that newts may be able to assess both their own concentrations of TTX and that of conspecifics to make decisions about remaining in or abandoning a breeding pool. These results provide us a novel dimension to chemical defence phenotypes in nature and their ecological consequences, potentially requiring a re-evaluation of the coevolutionary dynamics of predation pressure on toxin-laden organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary M Bucciarelli
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - David B Green
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90263, USA
| | - H Bradley Shaffer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Lee B Kats
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90263, USA
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27
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Schulte LM, Mayer M. Poison frog tadpoles seek parental transportation to escape their cannibalistic siblings. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. M. Schulte
- Department of Biogeography Trier University Trier Germany
| | - M. Mayer
- Department of Biogeography Trier University Trier Germany
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28
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Pollard CJ, Stockwell MP, Bower DS, Garnham JI, Pickett EJ, Darcovich K, O'meara J, Clulow J, Mahony MJ. Removal of an exotic fish influences amphibian breeding site selection. J Wildl Manage 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carla J. Pollard
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of Newcastle, University DriveCallaghan2308, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Michelle P. Stockwell
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of Newcastle, University DriveCallaghan2308, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Deborah S. Bower
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of Newcastle, University DriveCallaghan2308, New South WalesAustralia
| | - James I. Garnham
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of Newcastle, University DriveCallaghan2308, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Evan J. Pickett
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of Newcastle, University DriveCallaghan2308, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Kerry Darcovich
- Sydney Olympic Park Authority8 Australia Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park, 2127New South WalesAustralia
| | - Jenny O'meara
- Sydney Olympic Park Authority8 Australia Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park, 2127New South WalesAustralia
| | - John Clulow
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of Newcastle, University DriveCallaghan2308, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Michael J. Mahony
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of Newcastle, University DriveCallaghan2308, New South WalesAustralia
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29
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Penfold S, Dayananda B, Webb JK. Chemical cues influence retreat-site selection by flat rock spiders. BEHAVIOUR 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many animals use chemical cues to detect conspecifics and predators. On sandstone outcrops, flat rock spidersMorebilus plagusiusandPolyrachisants use sun-exposed rocks as nest sites, and defend rocks from intruders. We investigated whether chemical cues influenced retreat-site selection by spiders. In the field, spiders showed significant avoidance of rocks used by ants. In laboratory trials, we gave spiders the choice between conspecific-scented and unscented refuges, and ant-scented and unscented refuges. In conspecific scent trials, spiders showed no avoidance of spider scented refuges during the night, but significantly more spiders chose unscented refuges as their diurnal retreat-site. In ant scent trials, spiders made more visits to unscented refuges than ant-scented refuges during the night, and significantly more spiders chose unscented refuges as their diurnal retreat site. Our results demonstrate that spiders can detect chemical cues from ants and conspecifics, and that such cues influence retreat-site selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Penfold
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Buddhi Dayananda
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Jonathan K. Webb
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
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30
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Winandy L, Legrand P, Denoël M. Habitat selection and reproduction of newts in networks of fish and fishless aquatic patches. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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31
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Cayuela H, Lengagne T, Joly P, Léna JP. Females trade off the uncertainty of breeding resource suitability with male quality during mate choice in an anuran. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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32
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Reproductive Decisions in Anurans: A Review of How Predation and Competition Affects the Deposition of Eggs And Tadpoles. Bioscience 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biw149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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33
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Pašukonis A, Trenkwalder K, Ringler M, Ringler E, Mangione R, Steininger J, Warrington I, Hödl W. The significance of spatial memory for water finding in a tadpole-transporting frog. Anim Behav 2016; 116:89-98. [PMID: 28239185 PMCID: PMC5321284 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The ability to associate environmental cues with valuable resources strongly increases the chances of finding them again, and thus memory often guides animal movement. For example, many temperate region amphibians show strong breeding site fidelity and will return to the same areas even after the ponds have been destroyed. In contrast, many tropical amphibians depend on exploitation of small, scattered and fluctuating resources such as ephemeral pools for reproduction. It remains unknown whether tropical amphibians rely on spatial memory for effective exploitation of their reproductive resources. Poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) routinely shuttle their tadpoles from terrestrial clutches to dispersed aquatic deposition sites. We investigated the role of spatial memory for relocating previously discovered deposition sites in an experimental population of the brilliant-thighed poison frog, Allobates femoralis, a species with predominantly male tadpole transport. We temporarily removed an array of artificial pools that served as the principal tadpole deposition resource for the population. In parallel, we set up an array of sham sites and sites containing conspecific tadpole odour cues. We then quantified the movement patterns and site preferences of tadpole-transporting males by intensive sampling of the area and tracking individual frogs. We found that tadpole-carrier movements were concentrated around the exact locations of removed pools and most individuals visited several removed pool sites. In addition, we found that tadpole-transporting frogs were attracted to novel sites that contained high concentrations of conspecific olfactory tadpole cues. Our results suggest that A. femoralis males rely heavily on spatial memory for efficient exploitation of multiple, widely dispersed deposition sites once they are discovered. Additionally, olfactory cues may facilitate the initial discovery of the new sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrius Pašukonis
- University of Vienna, Department of Cognitive Biology, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Max Ringler
- University of Vienna, Department of Integrative Zoology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- University of Vienna, Department of Integrative Zoology, Vienna, Austria; University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Messerli Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rosanna Mangione
- University of Vienna, Department of Integrative Zoology, Vienna, Austria; Haus des Meeres - Aqua Terra Zoo GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jolanda Steininger
- University of Vienna, Department of Integrative Zoology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ian Warrington
- University of Vienna, Department of Cognitive Biology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Hödl
- University of Vienna, Department of Integrative Zoology, Vienna, Austria
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Bromeliad Selection by Phyllodytes luteolus(Anura, Hylidae): The Influence of Plant Structure and Water Quality Factors. J HERPETOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1670/14-166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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35
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Winandy L, Darnet E, Denoël M. Amphibians forgo aquatic life in response to alien fish introduction. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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36
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Schulte LM, Krauss M, Lötters S, Schulze T, Brack W. Decoding and Discrimination of Chemical Cues and Signals: Avoidance of Predation and Competition during Parental Care Behavior in Sympatric Poison Frogs. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129929. [PMID: 26132416 PMCID: PMC4488855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of chemical communication and the discrimination between evolved functions (signals) and unintentional releases (cues) are among the most challenging issues in chemical ecology. The accurate classification of inter- or intraspecific chemical communication is often puzzling. Here we report on two different communication systems triggering the same parental care behavior in the poison frog Ranitomeya variabilis. This species deposits its tadpoles and egg clutches in phytotelmata and chemically recognizes and avoids sites with both predatory conspecific and non-predatory heterospecific tadpoles (of the species Hyloxalus azureiventris). Combining chemical analyses with in-situ bioassays, we identified the molecular formulas of the chemical compounds triggering this behavior. We found that both species produce distinct chemical compound combinations, suggesting two separate communication systems. Bringing these results into an ecological context, we classify the conspecific R. variabilis compounds as chemical cues, advantageous only to the receivers (the adult frogs), not the emitters (the tadpoles). The heterospecific compounds, however, are suggested to be chemical signals (or cues evolving into signals), being advantageous to the emitters (the heterospecific tadpoles) and likely also to the receivers (the adult frogs). Due to these assumed receiver benefits, the heterospecific compounds are possibly synomones which are advantageous to both emitter and receiver ‒ a very rare communication system between animal species, especially vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Schulte
- Department of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Lötters
- Department of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany
| | - Tobias Schulze
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- Department of Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
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37
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Erich M, Ringler M, Hödl W, Ringler E. Brood-partitioning behaviour in unpredictable environments: hedging the bets? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2015; 69:1011-1017. [PMID: 25983381 PMCID: PMC4425806 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-015-1913-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Spreading reproduction across time or space can optimize fitness by minimizing the risks for offspring survival in varying and unpredictable environments. Poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) are characterized by complex spatial and reproductive behaviour, such as territoriality, prolonged courtship and parental care. The partitioning of larvae from terrestrial clutches across several water bodies is mainly known from species with carnivorous tadpoles that allocate their tadpoles in very small pools, where limited food availability is accompanied by an increased risk of cannibalism. However, little is known about the deposition behaviour of non-carnivorous species that use medium-sized to large pools. In the present study, we investigated whether the Neotropical poison frog Allobates femoralis exhibits brood-partitioning behaviour when males transport tadpoles 3 weeks after oviposition. We sampled 30 artificial water bodies for tadpoles, which we genotyped at seven highly polymorphic microsatellite loci. Based on the reconstructed pedigree, we show that A. femoralis males distribute larvae of single and of successive clutches across several water bodies. The number of pools used was significantly associated with the number of clutches per male. Ninety-three percent of the males that were assigned to more than one clutch spread their tadpoles across several water bodies. Given the highly variable and unpredictable biotic and abiotic conditions in tropical rainforest, at the spatial scale of the study species’ behaviour, we interpret this behaviour as bet-hedging to improve offspring survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Erich
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Max Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Hödl
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria ; Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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38
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Woodley S. Chemosignals, hormones, and amphibian reproduction. Horm Behav 2015; 68:3-13. [PMID: 24945995 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2014] [Revised: 05/24/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This article is part of a Special Issue "Chemosignals and Reproduction". Amphibians are often thought of as relatively simple animals especially when compared to mammals. Yet the chemosignaling systems used by amphibians are varied and complex. Amphibian chemosignals are particularly important in reproduction, in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Chemosignaling is most evident in salamanders and newts, but increasing evidence indicates that chemical communication facilitates reproduction in frogs and toads as well. Reproductive hormones shape the production, dissemination, detection, and responsiveness to chemosignals. A large variety of chemosignals have been identified, ranging from simple, invariant chemosignals to complex, variable blends of chemosignals. Although some chemosignals elicit straightforward responses, others have relatively subtle effects. Review of amphibian chemosignaling reveals a number of issues to be resolved, including: 1) the significance of the complex, individually variable blends of courtship chemosignals found in some salamanders, 2) the behavioral and/or physiological functions of chemosignals found in anuran "breeding glands", 3) the ligands for amphibian V2Rs, especially V2Rs expressed in the main olfactory epithelium, and 4) the mechanism whereby transdermal delivery of chemosignals influences behavior. To date, only a handful of the more than 7000 species of amphibians has been examined. Further study of amphibians should provide additional insight to the role of chemosignals in reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Woodley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States.
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39
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Larval deposition behaviour and maternal investment of females reflect differential habitat adaptation in a genetically diverging salamander population. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-014-1853-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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40
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The anuran vocal sac: a tool for multimodal signalling. Anim Behav 2014; 97:281-288. [PMID: 25389375 PMCID: PMC4222773 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Revised: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Although in anurans the predominant mode of intra- and intersexual communication is vocalization, modalities used in addition to or instead of acoustic signals range from seismic and visual to chemical. In some cases, signals of more than one modality are produced through or by the anuran vocal sac. However, its role beyond acoustics has been neglected for some time and nonacoustic cues such as vocal sac movement have traditionally been seen as an epiphenomenon of sound production. The diversity in vocal sac coloration and shape found in different species is striking and recently its visual properties have been given a more important role in signalling. Chemosignals seem to be the dominant communication mode in newts, salamanders and caecilians and certainly play a role in the aquatic life phase of anurans, but airborne chemical signalling has received less attention. There is, however, increasing evidence that at least some terrestrial anuran species integrate acoustic, visual and chemical cues in species recognition and mate choice and a few secondarily mute anuran species seem to fully rely on volatile chemical cues produced in glands on the vocal sac. Within vertebrates, frogs in particular are suitable organisms for investigating multimodal communication by means of experiments, since they are tolerant of disturbance by observers and can be easily manipulated under natural conditions. Thus, the anuran vocal sac might be of great interest not only to herpetologists, but also to behavioural biologists studying communication systems. Our view of anuran communication has changed drastically during the last few decades. Anurans use diverse communication strategies often directly related to the vocal sac. Distinctive vocal sac shapes, sizes and colours suggest functional diversity. Evidence increases that the vocal sac also plays a role in chemical signalling. The anuran vocal sac may be of great interest for studies on communication systems.
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Abstract
Parental care, including feeding and protection of young, is essential for the survival as well as mental and physical well-being of the offspring. A large variety of parental behaviors has been described across species and sexes, raising fascinating questions about how animals identify the young and how brain circuits drive and modulate parental displays in males and females. Recent studies have begun to uncover a striking antagonistic interplay between brain systems underlying parental care and infant-directed aggression in both males and females, as well as a large range of intrinsic and environmentally driven neural modulation and plasticity. Improved understanding of the neural control of parental interactions in animals should provide novel insights into the complex issue of human parental care in both health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Dulac
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Lauren A O'Connell
- FAS Center for System Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Zheng Wu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Starnberger I, Preininger D, Hödl W. From uni- to multimodality: towards an integrative view on anuran communication. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2014; 200:777-87. [PMID: 24973893 PMCID: PMC4138437 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-014-0923-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Revised: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Undeniably, acoustic signals are the predominant mode of communication in frogs and toads. Acoustically active species are found throughout the vast diversity of anuran families. However, additional or alternative signal modalities have gained increasing attention. In several anurans, seismic, visual and chemical communications have convergently evolved due to ecological constraints such as noisy environments. The production of a visual cue, like the inevitably moving vocal sac of acoustically advertising males, is emphasized by conspicuously coloured throats. Limb movements accompanied by dynamic displays of bright colours are additional examples of striking visual signals independent of vocalizations. In some multimodal anuran communication systems, the acoustic component acts as an alert signal, which alters the receiver attention to the following visual display. Recent findings of colourful glands on vocal sacs, producing volatile species-specific scent bouquets suggest the possibility of integration of acoustic, visual and chemical cues in species recognition and mate choice. The combination of signal components facilitates a broadened display repertoire in challenging environmental conditions. Thus, the complexity of the communication systems of frogs and toads may have been underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Starnberger
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria,
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43
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Mayer M, Schulte LM, Twomey E, Lötters S. Do male poison frogs respond to modified calls of a Müllerian mimic? Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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44
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Rojas B. Strange parental decisions: fathers of the dyeing poison frog deposit their tadpoles in pools occupied by large cannibals. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-013-1670-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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45
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Tumulty J, Morales V, Summers K. The biparental care hypothesis for the evolution of monogamy: experimental evidence in an amphibian. Behav Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/art116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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46
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Ringler E, Pašukonis A, Hödl W, Ringler M. Tadpole transport logistics in a Neotropical poison frog: indications for strategic planning and adaptive plasticity in anuran parental care. Front Zool 2013; 10:67. [PMID: 24209580 PMCID: PMC3828580 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-10-67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Individuals should aim to adjust their parental behaviours in order to maximize the success of their offspring but minimize associated costs. Plasticity in parental care is well documented from various bird, mammal and fish species, whereas amphibians were traditionally assumed as being highly instinct-bound. Therefore, little is known about ‘higher’ cognitive abilities of amphibians, such as strategic planning and behavioural flexibility. Dendrobatid frogs have evolved a remarkable diversity of parental behaviours. The most noticeable of these behaviours is tadpole transport, which is obligatory in almost all species. Nonetheless, there is limited knowledge about spatial and temporal patterns of tadpole transport and the possible existence of behavioural plasticity on the individual level. In this study, we investigated correlates of tadpole transport behaviour in a natural population of the dendrobatid frog Allobates femoralis during five years. Results Tadpole transport was predominantly observed during morning hours. Although tadpoles were carried almost exclusively by males (N = 119), we also observed ten females performing this task. The parentage analysis revealed that in all cases females transported their own offspring. In contrast, four tadpole-carrying males were not the genetic fathers of the larvae they were transporting. The average clutch size of 20 eggs and our observation of an average of 8 tadpoles on the back of transporting individuals indicate that frogs do not carry entire clutches at once, and/or that they distribute their larvae across several water bodies. Contrary to the predictions from a hypothetical random search for deposition sites, the number of transported tadpoles was higher in males that travelled over longer distances. Conclusions Our results suggest a strong selective pressure on males to shift the time invested in tadpole transport to periods of low intra-specific competition. The number of tadpoles on the back of the males significantly correlated with displacement distance from the respective home territories, indicating a strategic non-random tadpole transport rather than random search for suitable tadpole deposition sites during tadpole transport. The observation of females who occasionally transported larvae supports the prevalence of adaptive plasticity in parental behaviours even in a species with a rather low level of parental care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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47
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Schulte LM. Feeding or avoiding? Facultative egg feeding in a Peruvian poison frog (Ranitomeya variabilis). ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2013.850453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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48
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Starnberger I, Poth D, Peram PS, Schulz S, Vences M, Knudsen J, Barej MF, Rödel MO, Walzl M, Hödl W. Take time to smell the frogs: vocal sac glands of reed frogs (Anura: Hyperoliidae) contain species-specific chemical cocktails. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2013; 110. [PMID: 24277973 PMCID: PMC3837199 DOI: 10.1111/bij.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Males of all reed frog species (Anura: Hyperoliidae) have a prominent, often colourful, gular patch on their vocal sac, which is particularly conspicuous once the vocal sac is inflated. Although the presence, shape, and form of the gular patch are well-known diagnostic characters for these frogs, its function remains unknown. By integrating biochemical and histological methods, we found strong evidence that the gular patch is a gland producing volatile compounds, which might be emitted while calling. Volatile compounds were confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in the gular glands in 11 species of the hyperoliid genera Afrixalus, Heterixalus, Hyperolius, and Phlyctimantis. Comparing the gular gland contents of 17 specimens of four sympatric Hyperolius species yielded a large variety of 65 compounds in species-specific combinations. We suggest that reed frogs might use a complex combination of at least acoustic and chemical signals in species recognition and mate choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Starnberger
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Wien 1090, Austria
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Do poison frogs recognize chemical cues of the other sex or do they react to cues of stressed conspecifics? Behav Processes 2013; 100:32-5. [PMID: 23911857 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2013.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2013] [Revised: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Although anuran communication primarily takes place acoustically, chemical cues are also often used for intra- and intersexual communication in frogs. In the present study we analyzed the behavior of the poison frog Ranitomeya variabilis when presented chemical cues of same-sex or opposite-sex conspecifics. Chemical cues were obtained by keeping a single frog on a moist paper towel for about 47h. Afterwards two paper towels were offered to a test animal, one containing the chemical cues, the other containing rainwater only. We ran trials presenting female cues to males, males cues to males as well as male cues to females. The results of the trials were not significant in terms of intersexual communication. The overall response revealed a clear avoidance strategy which leads us to the assumption that disturbance cues unintentionally occurred during the experiment. The rather small size of the containers used to obtain chemical cues prior to the trials probably lead to confinement stress which consequently caused increased urination containing stress hormones that were detected by the test animals. This is the first proof of disturbance cues and their effects in adult anurans. The results of this study do not allow conclusions about inter- or intrasexual chemical communication of R. variabilis, but they allow implications and revisions for future experiments on this topic.
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A danger foreseen is a danger avoided: how chemical cues of different tadpoles influence parental decisions of a Neotropical poison frog. Anim Cogn 2013; 17:267-75. [PMID: 23852187 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-013-0659-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Revised: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The protection of offspring against predators and competitors is especially important in organisms using spatially separated breeding resources, impeding the offspring's chances to escape. One example of such isolated reproductive resources are phytotelmata (small water bodies in plant axils), exploited by the Neotropical poison frog Ranitomeya variabilis (Dendrobatidae) for both clutch and tadpole deposition. Because poison frog tadpoles are often cannibalistic, parents tend to avoid deposition with conspecifics. Previous studies have shown that this avoidance is based on chemical cues produced by conspecific tadpoles. Further, cues produced by phylogenetically less-related tadpoles (Bufonidae) were avoided for clutch but not tadpole depositions. We analyzed how the different responses to tadpole cues are triggered. We tested the reactions of parental R. variabilis to tadpole cues of species differing in two aspects: whether or not they are dendrobatids, and whether or not they reproduce in phytotelmata. We found that for clutch deposition, tadpole cues were always avoided, i.e., all tadpoles were treated by the frogs as if they pose a danger to the eggs. However, responses varied for tadpole depositions: while dendrobatid larvae living in phytotelmata were avoided, those breeding in streams were not. Non-poison frog tadpoles were ignored when associated with habitat other than phytotelmata, but they were preferred when living in phytotelmata. This suggests that both phylogeny and tadpole habitat are important triggers for the decisions made by R. variabilis. Only tadpoles using the same breeding resources are considered as relevant for the frog's own larvae (i.e., as a potential danger or food resource), while further decisions are related to evolutionary relationship.
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