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Betancourth-Cundar M, Canoine V, Fusani L, Cadena CD. Does testosterone underly the interplay between male traits and territorial behavior in neotropical poison frogs? Horm Behav 2024; 162:105547. [PMID: 38677262 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The ability of individual animals to defend a territory as well as various phenotypic and behavioral traits may be targets of sexual selection used by males to evaluate their competitors or by females to choose males. A frequent question in animal behavior is whether male traits and characteristics of their territory are correlated and what are the mechanisms that may mediate such associations when they exist. Because hormones link phenotype to behavior, by studying the role of testosterone in territoriality one may come closer to understanding the mechanisms mediating correlations or lack thereof between characteristics of territories and of males. We evaluated whether variation in characteristics of territories (size and quality) are correlated with variation in morphology, coloration, testosterone, heterozygosity, and calls in two species of poison frogs. The Amazonian frog Allobates aff. trilineatus exhibits male care and defends territories only during the breeding season, while the endangered frog Oophaga lehmanni displays maternal care and defends territories throughout the year. We found that morphological traits (body length, weight, thigh size), call activity, and testosterone levels correlated with size and various indicators of quality of the territory. However, the direction of these correlations (whether positive or negative) and which specific morphological, acoustic traits or testosterone level variables covaried depended on the species. Our findings highlight an endocrine pathway as part of the physiological machinery that may underlie the interplay between male traits and territorial behavior. We were able to identify some male traits related to territory attributes, but whether females choose males based on these traits requires further research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Virginie Canoine
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leonida Fusani
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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2
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Ringler E, Dellefont K, Peignier M, Canoine V. Water-borne testosterone levels predict exploratory tendency in male poison frogs. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 346:114416. [PMID: 38000762 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Hormones play a fundamental role in mediating social behaviors of animals. However, it is less well understood to what extent behavioral variation between individuals can be attributed to variation in underlying hormonal profiles. The goal of the present study was to infer if individual androgen levels, and/or the modulation thereof, can explain among-individual variation in aggressiveness, boldness and exploration. We used as a model the dart-poison frog Allobates femoralis and took repeated non-invasive water-borne hormonal samples of individual males before (baseline) and after (experimental) a series of behavioral tests for assessing aggression, boldness, and exploratory tendency. Our results show that androgen levels in A. femoralis are quite stable across the reproductive season. Repeatability in wbT baseline levels was high, while time of day, age of the frog, and trial order did not show any significant impact on measured wbT levels. In general, experimental wbT levels after behavioral tests were lower compared to the respective baseline levels. However, we identified two different patterns with regard to androgen modulation in response to behavioral testing: individuals with low baseline wbT tended to have increased wbT levels after the behavioral testing, while individuals with comparatively high baseline wbT levels rather showed a decrease in hormonal levels after testing. Our results also suggest that baseline wbT levels are linked to the personality trait exploration, and that androgen modulation is linked to boldness in A. femoralis males. These results show that differences in hormonal profiles and/or hormonal modulation in response to social challenges can indeed explain among-individual differences in behavioral traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Katharina Dellefont
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mélissa Peignier
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Virginie Canoine
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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3
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Peignier M, Araya-Ajoy YG, Ringler M, Ringler E. Personality traits differentially affect components of reproductive success in a Neotropical poison frog. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231551. [PMID: 37727087 PMCID: PMC10509575 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual reproductive success has several components, including the acquisition of mating partners, offspring production, and offspring survival until adulthood. While the effects of certain personality traits-such as boldness or aggressiveness-on single components of reproductive success are well studied, we know little about the composite and multifaceted effects behavioural traits can have on all the aspects of reproductive success. Behavioural traits positively linked to one component of reproductive success might not be beneficial for other components, and these effects may differ between sexes. We investigated the influence of boldness, aggressiveness, and exploration on the number of mating partners, mating events, and offspring surviving until adulthood in males and females of the Neotropical poison frog Allobates femoralis. Behavioural traits had different-even opposite-effects on distinct components of reproductive success in both males and females. For example, males who displayed high levels of aggressiveness and exploration (or low levels of aggressiveness and exploration) managed to attract high number of mating partners, while males with low levels of boldness, low levels of aggressiveness, and high levels of exploration had the most offspring surviving until adulthood. Our results therefore suggest correlational selection favouring particular combinations of behavioural traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Peignier
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Yimen G. Araya-Ajoy
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Max Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics, University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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4
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Peignier M, Bégué L, Ringler M, Szabo B, Ringler E. Regardless of personality, males show similar levels of plasticity in territory defense in a Neotropical poison frog. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3435. [PMID: 36859425 PMCID: PMC9977724 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30546-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal personality traits are sometimes linked to an individual's degree of plasticity, with certain personality types being more plastic than others. In territorial species, consistently high levels of aggression might increase the risk of harmful fights, while consistently low aggression might lead to the loss of a territory. Consequently, reacting plastically with an appropriate territorial response should be beneficial to avoid these risks. An integrative investigation of both personality traits and plasticity can help us better understand the dynamics of aggressive interactions during male-male competition. Here, we used a free-ranging Neotropical poison frog population to investigate the role of plasticity in male territorial aggression towards intruders. We conducted repeated standardized territorial intrusion experiments mimicking frogs of different body sizes via playback calls with different peak frequencies. We found individual repeatability for the latency to reach and approach a simulated intruder and observed that both aggressive and less aggressive males decreased their level of aggression towards big intruders. However, our results do not support a correlation between personality and plasticity in the context of male territory defense during the breeding season. We discuss how such a correlation between personality and plasticity might be conditional on the costs and benefits across contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Peignier
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland.
| | - Lauriane Bégué
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
| | - Max Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
- Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics, University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Birgit Szabo
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
| | - Eva Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
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5
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Gould J, Taylor J, Davies B, Donelly R, Schmahl K, Bugir CK, Beranek CT, McGregor J, Mahony SV, Seeto R, Upton R, McHenry C, Callen A. Tadpole fingerprinting: Using tail venation patterns to photo‐identify tadpole individuals of a threatened frog. AUSTRAL ECOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John Gould
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - James Taylor
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - Bryce Davies
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - Rachael Donelly
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - Kate Schmahl
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - Cassandra K. Bugir
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - Chad T. Beranek
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
- FAUNA Research Alliance Kahibah New South Wales Australia
| | - Jess McGregor
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - Stephen V. Mahony
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - Rebecca Seeto
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - Rose Upton
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - Colin McHenry
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
| | - Alex Callen
- Conservation Science Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Callaghan New South Wales Australia
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Escoda L, Hawlitschek O, González-Esteban J, Castresana J. Methodological challenges in the genomic analysis of an endangered mammal population with low genetic diversity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21390. [PMID: 36496459 PMCID: PMC9741620 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25619-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, populations of various species with very low genetic diversity have been discovered. Some of these persist in the long term, but others could face extinction due to accelerated loss of fitness. In this work, we characterize 45 individuals of one of these populations, belonging to the Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus). For this, we used the ddRADseq technique, which generated 1421 SNPs. The heterozygosity values of the analyzed individuals were among the lowest recorded for mammals, ranging from 26 to 91 SNPs/Mb. Furthermore, the individuals from one of the localities, highly isolated due to strong barriers, presented extremely high inbreeding coefficients, with values above 0.7. Under this scenario of low genetic diversity and elevated inbreeding levels, some individuals appeared to be almost genetically identical. We used different methods and simulations to determine if genetic identification and parentage analysis were possible in this population. Only one of the methods, which does not assume population homogeneity, was able to identify all individuals correctly. Therefore, genetically impoverished populations pose a great methodological challenge for their genetic study. However, these populations are of primary scientific and conservation interest, so it is essential to characterize them genetically and improve genomic methodologies for their research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lídia Escoda
- grid.507636.10000 0004 0424 5398Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oliver Hawlitschek
- grid.507636.10000 0004 0424 5398Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.517093.90000 0005 0294 9006Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Zoological Museum, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Jose Castresana
- grid.507636.10000 0004 0424 5398Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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7
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Pašukonis A, Serrano-Rojas SJ, Fischer MT, Loretto MC, Shaykevich DA, Rojas B, Ringler M, Roland AB, Marcillo-Lara A, Ringler E, Rodríguez C, Coloma LA, O'Connell LA. Contrasting parental roles shape sex differences in poison frog space use but not navigational performance. eLife 2022; 11:e80483. [PMID: 36377473 PMCID: PMC9665844 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in vertebrate spatial abilities are typically interpreted under the adaptive specialization hypothesis, which posits that male reproductive success is linked to larger home ranges and better navigational skills. The androgen spillover hypothesis counters that enhanced male spatial performance may be a byproduct of higher androgen levels. Animal groups that include species where females are expected to outperform males based on life-history traits are key for disentangling these hypotheses. We investigated the association between sex differences in reproductive strategies, spatial behavior, and androgen levels in three species of poison frogs. We tracked individuals in natural environments to show that contrasting parental sex roles shape sex differences in space use, where the sex performing parental duties shows wider-ranging movements. We then translocated frogs from their home areas to test their navigational performance and found that the caring sex outperformed the non-caring sex only in one out of three species. In addition, males across species displayed more explorative behavior than females and androgen levels correlated with explorative behavior and homing accuracy. Overall, we reveal that poison frog reproductive strategies shape movement patterns but not necessarily navigational performance. Together this work suggests that prevailing adaptive hypotheses provide an incomplete explanation of sex differences in spatial abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrius Pašukonis
- Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University Life Sciences CenterVilniusLithuania
- CEFE, Univ MontpellierMontpellierFrance
- Department of Biology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Shirley Jennifer Serrano-Rojas
- Department of Biology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del CuscoCuscoPeru
| | | | - Matthias-Claudio Loretto
- Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Life Sciences, Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-PlatzFreisingGermany
- Berchtesgaden National Park, DoktorbergBerchtesgadenGermany
| | | | - Bibiana Rojas
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Max Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of BernHinterkappelenSwitzerland
- Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics, University of Music and Performing Arts GrazGrazAustria
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Alexandre B Roland
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, CNRS - Paul Sabatier UniversityToulouseFrance
| | - Alejandro Marcillo-Lara
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State UniversityStillwaterUnited States
- Centro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de AnfibiosQuitoEcuador
| | - Eva Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of BernHinterkappelenSwitzerland
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Camilo Rodríguez
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Luis A Coloma
- Centro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de AnfibiosQuitoEcuador
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Humphries JE, Lanctôt CM, Robert J, McCallum HI, Newell DA, Grogan LF. Do immune system changes at metamorphosis predict vulnerability to chytridiomycosis? An update. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 136:104510. [PMID: 35985564 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2022.104510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Amphibians are among the vertebrate groups suffering great losses of biodiversity due to a variety of causes including diseases, such as chytridiomycosis (caused by the fungal pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans). The amphibian metamorphic period has been identified as being particularly vulnerable to chytridiomycosis, with dramatic physiological and immunological reorganisation likely contributing to this vulnerability. Here, we overview the processes behind these changes at metamorphosis and then perform a systematic literature review to capture the breadth of empirical research performed over the last two decades on the metamorphic immune response. We found that few studies focused specifically on the immune response during the peri-metamorphic stages of amphibian development and fewer still on the implications of their findings with respect to chytridiomycosis. We recommend future studies consider components of the immune system that are currently under-represented in the literature on amphibian metamorphosis, particularly pathogen recognition pathways. Although logistically challenging, we suggest varying the timing of exposure to Bd across metamorphosis to examine the relative importance of pathogen evasion, suppression or dysregulation of the immune system. We also suggest elucidating the underlying mechanisms of the increased susceptibility to chytridiomycosis at metamorphosis and the associated implications for population persistence. For species that overlap a distribution where Bd/Bsal are now endemic, we recommend a greater focus on management strategies that consider the important peri-metamorphic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine E Humphries
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia; Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia; Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, 2480, Australia.
| | - Chantal M Lanctôt
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia; Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia
| | - Jacques Robert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 14642, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Hamish I McCallum
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia; Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia
| | - David A Newell
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, 2480, Australia
| | - Laura F Grogan
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia; Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia
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9
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Betancourth-Cundar M, Palacios-Rodriguez P. Reproductive behaviors promote ecological and phenotypic sexual differentiation in the critically endangered Lehmann’s poison frog. Evol Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-022-10207-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AbstractTerritoriality and parental care are complex reproductive behaviors found in many taxa from insects to mammals. Parental care can be carried out by the female, the male, or both, depending on the species. Territoriality, in contrast, is predominantly displayed by males. Different selective pressures imposed on individuals from the sex performing territorial or parental care behaviors may also lead to sexual differentiation in other life-history traits. Due to their territorial behavior and their diversity of parental care behaviors, Neotropical poison frogs are an excellent study system to investigate whether behavioral traits can influence sexual differentiation in intrinsic or extrinsic traits of individuals. Here, we evaluate whether territorial and parental care behaviors mediate sexual differentiation in ecological (habitat use) and phenotypic (coloration, morphology) traits in the critically endangered Lehmann’s poison frog (Oophaga lehmanni), a species in which males defend territories while females provide parental care. We found sex differences in habitat use and morphological traits, but not in coloration. Males use trunks and green leaves as perches more frequently and are found on higher substrates, than females. We found no sex differences in body size, but females have longer arms than males, which is probably associated with their parental duties (climbing trees to feed the tadpoles). Altogether, our results provide evidence that selection pressures act differently on male and female traits, and that territoriality and parental care may promote the evolution of sexual differentiation in dendrobatids. Long-term wildlife observations are essential to identify important life-history traits and to evaluate hypotheses about the behavioral ecology and conservation of this and other vertebrate species.
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10
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Exploring links between personality traits and their social and non-social environments in wild poison frogs. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03202-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
An animal’s behavioral phenotype comprises several traits, which are hierarchically structured in functional units. This is manifested in measured behaviors often being correlated, partly reflecting the need of a coordinated functional response. Unfortunately, we still have limited understanding whether consistent differences in animal behaviors are due to underlying physiological constraints or a result of plastic adaptation to their current environment. Therefore, characterizing the spatial distribution of behaviors can provide important insights into causes and consequences of behavioral variation. In the present study, we quantified behaviors in a wild, free-ranging population of the Neotropical frog Allobates femoralis. We investigated how these behaviors were linked to the frogs’ natural and social environment and quantified the extent to which these behaviors consistently differed among individuals (i.e., animal personality). We assessed levels of aggressiveness, exploration, and boldness by measuring several underlying behaviors expressed in a set of experimental assays, and found evidence for consistent among-individual differences along these axes. Contrary to our expectation, there was no relationship between individual behaviors and their natural environment, but we found a plastic response of males to changes in female density, which might reflect how individuals cope with their socio-ecological environment.
Significance statement
How are behavioral phenotypes distributed across space? Here, we studied an entire free-ranging population of poison frogs, and investigated if the personality traits aggressiveness, exploration, and boldness are linked to the frogs’ natural or social environment. We found that behavioral traits were non-randomly distributed across the population, suggesting that the spatial arrangement of behavioral traits reflects how individuals cope with their complex natural and social environment.
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11
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Chaloupka S, Peignier M, Stückler S, Araya-Ajoy Y, Walsh P, Ringler M, Ringler E. Repeatable Territorial Aggression in a Neotropical Poison Frog. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.881387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intra-specific aggressive interactions play a prominent role in the life of many animals. While studies have found evidence for repeatability in boldness, activity, and exploration in amphibians, we know relatively little about consistent among-individual variation in aggressiveness, despite its importance for male-male competition and territoriality. Amphibians, and Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) in particular, are highly suitable for investigating among-individual variation in aggressiveness, as most species exhibit strong territoriality in at least one of the sexes. In the present study, we aimed to fill this gap in knowledge, by investigating within- and between-individual variation in territorial aggression in a semi-natural population of the Neotropical poison frog Allobates femoralis (Dendrobatidae) in French Guiana. We conducted repeated, standardized behavioral tests to assess if the level of territorial aggression is consistent within and different between individuals. Further, we tested a possible link between body size and level of territorial aggression. We found moderate repeatability in territorial aggressiveness, but no link to age and/or body size. In conclusion, our study represents the first documentation of repeatable aggressive behavior in a territorial context in amphibians.
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12
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Reyne M, Helyar S, Aubry A, Emmerson M, Marnell F, Reid N. Combining spawn egg counts, individual photo-ID and genetic fingerprinting to estimate the population size and sex ratio of an endangered amphibian. Integr Zool 2020; 16:240-254. [PMID: 33137231 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, 41% of the world's amphibian species are threatened with extinction, making them more threatened than any other vertebrate group nowadays. Given the global amphibian crisis, comprehensive understanding of demographics and population trends of declining and threatened species is essential for effective management and conservation strategies. Counting egg spawns is widely used to assess population abundance in pond breeding anurans. However, it is unknown how such counts translate into robust population size estimations. We monitored the breeding activity of the Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita), combining egg string counts and individual photo-identification with Capture-Mark-Recapture population size and operational sex ratio estimation. Male Natterjack toads were identified by the pattern of natural markings with repeated ID of the same individual confirmed for 10% of the samples using genetic fingerprinting. We identified 647 unique individuals within a closed study population at Caherdaniel, Co Kerry. Population estimates derived from egg string counts estimated a breeding population of 368 females (95% CI 353-384) and Capture-Mark-Recapture estimated a breeding population of 1698 males (95% CI 1000-2397). The female:male sex ratio was conservatively estimated at 1:5 (95% CI 1:3-1:6) where 62% ± 6% of females were assumed to spawn. These substantially departed from any priori assumption of 1:1 which could have underestimated the breeding population by up to 72%. Where amphibian absolute population size estimation is necessary, methods should include empirical survey data on operational sex ratios and not rely on assumptions or those derived from the literature which may be highly population and/or context-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Reyne
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Sarah Helyar
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.,Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS), Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Aurélie Aubry
- Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Hillsborough, UK
| | - Mark Emmerson
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.,Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS), Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Ferdia Marnell
- National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Neil Reid
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.,Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS), Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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13
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Fouilloux CA, Garcia-Costoya G, Rojas B. Visible implant elastomer (VIE) success in early larval stages of a tropical amphibian species. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9630. [PMID: 32864207 PMCID: PMC7425637 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals are often difficult to distinguish at an individual level, and being able to identify individuals can be crucial in ecological or behavioral studies. In response to this challenge, biologists have developed a range of marking (tattoos, brands, toe-clips) and tagging (banding, collars, PIT, VIA, VIE) methods to identify individuals and cohorts. Animals with complex life cycles are notoriously hard to mark because of the distortion or loss of the tag across metamorphosis. In amphibians, few studies have attempted larval tagging and none have been conducted on a tropical species. Here, we present the first successful account of VIE tagging in early larval stages (Gosner stage 25) of the dyeing poison frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) coupled with a novel anesthetic (2-PHE) application for tadpoles that does not require buffering. Mean weight of individuals at time of tagging was 0.12 g, which is the smallest and developmentally youngest anuran larvae tagged to date. We report 81% tag detection over the first month of development, as well as the persistence of tags across metamorphosis in this species. Cumulative tag retention vs tag observation differed by approximately 15% across larval development demonstrating that "lost" tags can be found later in development. Tagging had no effect on tadpole growth rate or survival. Successful application of VIE tags on D. tinctorius tadpoles introduces a new method that can be applied to better understand early life development and dispersal in various tropical species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe A Fouilloux
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | | | - Bibiana Rojas
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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14
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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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15
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Sonnleitner R, Ringler M, Loretto MC, Ringler E. Experience shapes accuracy in territorial decision-making in a poison frog. Biol Lett 2020; 16:20200094. [PMID: 32396784 PMCID: PMC7280039 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The trade-off between speed and accuracy affects many behavioural processes like predator avoidance, foraging and nest-site selection, but little is known about this trade-off relative to territorial behaviour. Some poison frogs are highly territorial and fiercely repel calling male intruders. However, attacks need to be conducted cautiously, as they are energetically costly and bear the risk of own injury or accidentally targeting the wrong individual. In this study, we investigated the speed–accuracy trade-off in the context of male territoriality during the breeding season in the brilliant-thighed poison frog, Allobates femoralis. In our experiment, we presented the call of an invisible ‘threatening’ intruder together with a visible ‘non-threatening’ intruder, using acoustic playback and a frog model, respectively. Contrary to our prediction, neither reaction time nor approach speed of the tested frogs determined the likelihood of erroneous attacks. However, younger individuals were more likely to attack the non-threatening model than older ones, suggesting that experience plays an essential role in identifying and distinguishing rivalling individuals in a territorial context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ria Sonnleitner
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Unit of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Max Ringler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Unit of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias-Claudio Loretto
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Eva Ringler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Unit of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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16
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Fischer MT, Ringler M, Ringler E, Pašukonis A. Reproductive behavior drives female space use in a sedentary Neotropical frog. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8920. [PMID: 32337103 PMCID: PMC7169969 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Longer-range movements of anuran amphibians such as mass migrations and habitat invasion have received a lot of attention, but fine-scale spatial behavior remains largely understudied. This gap is especially striking for species that show long-term site fidelity and display their whole behavioral repertoire in a small area. Studying fine-scale movement with conventional capture-mark-recapture techniques is difficult in inconspicuous amphibians: individuals are hard to find, repeated captures might affect their behavior and the number of data points is too low to allow a detailed interpretation of individual space use and time budgeting. In this study, we overcame these limitations by equipping females of the Brilliant-Thighed Poison Frog (Allobates femoralis) with a tag allowing frequent monitoring of their location and behavior. Neotropical poison frogs are well known for their complex behavior and diverse reproductive and parental care strategies. Although the ecology and behavior of the polygamous leaf-litter frog Allobates femoralis is well studied, little is known about the fine-scale space use of the non-territorial females who do not engage in acoustic and visual displays. We tracked 17 females for 6 to 17 days using a harmonic direction finder to provide the first precise analysis of female space use in this species. Females moved on average 1 m per hour and the fastest movement, over 20 m per hour, was related to a subsequent mating event. Traveled distances and activity patterns on days of courtship and mating differed considerably from days without reproduction. Frogs moved more on days with lower temperature and more precipitation, but mating seemed to be the main trigger for female movement. We observed 21 courtships of 12 tagged females. For seven females, we observed two consecutive mating events. Estimated home ranges after 14 days varied considerably between individuals and courtship and mating associated space use made up for ∼30% of the home range. Allobates femoralis females spent large parts of their time in one to three small centers of use. Females did not adjust their time or space use to the density of males in their surroundings and did not show wide-ranging exploratory behavior. Our study demonstrates how tracking combined with detailed behavioral observations can reveal the patterns and drivers of fine-scale spatial behavior in sedentary species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Max Ringler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrius Pašukonis
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
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17
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Patel NG, Das A. Shot the spots: A reliable field method for individual identification of Amolops formosus (Anura, Ranidae). HERPETOZOA 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/herpetozoa.33.e47279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural body patterns in amphibians are widely used for individual recognition. In this study, we photographed individuals of Amolops formosus for four days of sampling without handling them. We processed 301 photographs of dorsal blotch pattern in HotSpotter software and verified them visually for confirmation. We identified 160 unique individuals of A. formosus based on the images taken in the field, resulting in an abundance estimate of 180 individuals. The success rate in identifying individuals of A. formosus using the HotSpotter software was 94.3%. We tested the effect of image quality and distance on recognition efficiency. Poor image quality reduced the recognition efficiency of the software but with a careful user review it was possible to identify the individual. The difference between using only the software and software plus human confirmation was very small. This protocol is useful for rapid population estimation of frogs with natural body patterns.
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18
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Stückler S, Ringler M, Pašukonis A, Weinlein S, Hödl W, Ringler E. Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of the Prolonged Courtship in Brilliant-Thighed Poison Frogs, Allobates femoralis. HERPETOLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-19-00010.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Stückler
- 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
| | - Andrius Pašukonis
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Steffen Weinlein
- 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
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19
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Eakin C, Calhoun AJK, Hunter ML. Indicators of wood frog (
Lithobates sylvaticus
) condition in a suburbanizing landscape. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carly Eakin
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology University of Maine Orono Maine 04469 USA
| | - Aram J. K. Calhoun
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology University of Maine Orono Maine 04469 USA
| | - Malcolm L. Hunter
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology University of Maine Orono Maine 04469 USA
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20
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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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21
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Carroll EL, Bruford MW, DeWoody JA, Leroy G, Strand A, Waits L, Wang J. Genetic and genomic monitoring with minimally invasive sampling methods. Evol Appl 2018; 11:1094-1119. [PMID: 30026800 PMCID: PMC6050181 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The decreasing cost and increasing scope and power of emerging genomic technologies are reshaping the field of molecular ecology. However, many modern genomic approaches (e.g., RAD-seq) require large amounts of high-quality template DNA. This poses a problem for an active branch of conservation biology: genetic monitoring using minimally invasive sampling (MIS) methods. Without handling or even observing an animal, MIS methods (e.g., collection of hair, skin, faeces) can provide genetic information on individuals or populations. Such samples typically yield low-quality and/or quantities of DNA, restricting the type of molecular methods that can be used. Despite this limitation, genetic monitoring using MIS is an effective tool for estimating population demographic parameters and monitoring genetic diversity in natural populations. Genetic monitoring is likely to become more important in the future as many natural populations are undergoing anthropogenically driven declines, which are unlikely to abate without intensive adaptive management efforts that often include MIS approaches. Here, we profile the expanding suite of genomic methods and platforms compatible with producing genotypes from MIS, considering factors such as development costs and error rates. We evaluate how powerful new approaches will enhance our ability to investigate questions typically answered using genetic monitoring, such as estimating abundance, genetic structure and relatedness. As the field is in a period of unusually rapid transition, we also highlight the importance of legacy data sets and recommend how to address the challenges of moving between traditional and next-generation genetic monitoring platforms. Finally, we consider how genetic monitoring could move beyond genotypes in the future. For example, assessing microbiomes or epigenetic markers could provide a greater understanding of the relationship between individuals and their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L. Carroll
- Scottish Oceans Institute and Sea Mammal Research UnitUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Mike W. Bruford
- Cardiff School of Biosciences and Sustainable Places Research InstituteCardiff UniversityCardiff, WalesUK
| | - J. Andrew DeWoody
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and Department of Biological SciencesPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteINUSA
| | - Gregoire Leroy
- Animal Production and Health DivisionFood and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsRomeItaly
| | - Alan Strand
- Grice Marine LaboratoryDepartment of BiologyCollege of CharlestonCharlestonSCUSA
| | - Lisette Waits
- Department of Fish and Wildlife SciencesUniversity of IdahoMoscowIDUSA
| | - Jinliang Wang
- Institute of ZoologyZoological Society of LondonLondonUK
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22
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Brilliant-thighed poison frogs do not use acoustic identity information to treat territorial neighbours as dear enemies. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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23
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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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24
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Baylis SM, Sunnucks P, Clarke R. A model for first‐estimates of species‐specific, age‐specific mortality from centralized band‐recovery databases. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shane M. Baylis
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria 3800 Australia
| | - Paul Sunnucks
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria 3800 Australia
| | - Rohan Clarke
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria 3800 Australia
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25
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Abstract
Skin swabbing, a minimally invasive DNA sampling method recently proposed for adult amphibians, was tested on the dendrobatid frog Allobates femoralis. I compared DNA yield from skin swabs and toe clips by evaluating obtained DNA concentrations and purity of extracts, as well as amplification success using eleven polymorphic microsatellite loci. I also tested whether storing skin swabs for two months at −20°C affected the properties of the extract or microsatellite analysis. Results show that skin swabs of adult A. femoralis suffered from high contamination and yielded significantly lower DNA quality and quantity, resulting in insufficient genotyping success, than DNA obtained from toe clips. The relatively dry skin in dendrobatid frogs may have impeded the collection of sufficient viable cells, and the presence of skin alkaloids and microbiota in the frog mucus may lead to high contamination load of skin swabs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Ringler
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA.,Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.,Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
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26
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Pašukonis A, Beck KB, Fischer MT, Weinlein S, Stückler S, Ringler E. Induced parental care in a poison frog: a tadpole cross-fostering experiment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:3949-3954. [PMID: 28864563 PMCID: PMC5702076 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.165126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the external stimuli and natural contexts that elicit complex behaviours, such as parental care, is key in linking behavioural mechanisms to their real-life function. Poison frogs provide obligate parental care by shuttling their tadpoles from terrestrial clutches to aquatic nurseries, but little is known about the proximate mechanisms that control these behaviours. In this study, we used Allobates femoralis, a poison frog with predominantly male parental care, to investigate whether tadpole transport can be induced in both sexes by transferring unrelated tadpoles to the backs of adults in the field. Specifically, we asked whether the presence of tadpoles on an adult's back can override the decision-making rules preceding tadpole pick-up and induce the recall of spatial memory necessary for finding tadpole deposition sites. We used telemetry to facilitate accurate tracking of individual frogs and spatial analysis to compare movement trajectories. All tested individuals transported their foster-tadpoles to water pools outside their home area. Contrary to our expectation, we found no sex difference in the likelihood to transport or in the spatial accuracy of finding tadpole deposition sites. We reveal that a stereotypical cascade of parental behaviours that naturally involves sex-specific offspring recognition strategies and the use of spatial memory can be manipulated by experimental placement of unrelated tadpoles on adult frogs. As individuals remained inside their home area when only the jelly from tadpole-containing clutches was brushed on the back, we speculate that tactile rather than chemical stimuli trigger these parental behaviours. Summary: Placement of unrelated tadpoles on adult poison frogs triggers a cascade of parental behaviours involving tadpole transport and spatial memory use in both sexes, despite the asymmetric parental sex roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrius Pašukonis
- FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA .,Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Kristina Barbara Beck
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | | | - Steffen Weinlein
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Susanne Stückler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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27
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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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28
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Olah G, Heinsohn RG, Brightsmith DJ, Peakall R. The application of non-invasive genetic tagging reveals new insights into the clay lick use by macaws in the Peruvian Amazon. CONSERV GENET 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-017-0954-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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29
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Waples RS, Anderson EC. Purging putative siblings from population genetic data sets: a cautionary view. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:1211-1224. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robin S. Waples
- NOAA Fisheries; Northwest Fisheries Science Center; 2725 Montlake Blvd. East Seattle WA 98112 USA
| | - Eric C. Anderson
- NOAA Fisheries; Southwest Fisheries Science Center; 110 McAllister Way Santa Cruz CA 95060 USA
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30
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Rothstein AP, McLaughlin R, Acevedo-Gutiérrez A, Schwarz D. wisepair: a computer program for individual matching in genetic tracking studies. Mol Ecol Resour 2016; 17:267-277. [PMID: 27488501 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Individual-based data sets tracking organisms over space and time are fundamental to answering broad questions in ecology and evolution. A 'permanent' genetic tag circumvents a need to invasively mark or tag animals, especially if there are little phenotypic differences among individuals. However, genetic tracking of individuals does not come without its limits; correctly matching genotypes and error rates associated with laboratory work can make it difficult to parse out matched individuals. In addition, defining a sampling design that effectively matches individuals in the wild can be a challenge for researchers. Here, we combine the two objectives of defining sampling design and reducing genotyping error through an efficient Python-based computer-modelling program, wisepair. We describe the methods used to develop the computer program and assess its effectiveness through three empirical data sets, with and without reference genotypes. Our results show that wisepair outperformed similar genotype matching programs using previously published from reference genotype data of diurnal poison frogs (Allobates femoralis) and without-reference (faecal) genotype sample data sets of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra). In addition, due to limited sampling effort in the harbour seal data, we present optimal sampling designs for future projects. wisepair allows for minimal sacrifice in the available methods as it incorporates sample rerun error data, allelic pairwise comparisons and probabilistic simulations to determine matching thresholds. Our program is the lone tool available to researchers to define parameters a priori for genetic tracking studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Rothstein
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA
| | - Ryan McLaughlin
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA
| | | | - Dietmar Schwarz
- Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA
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31
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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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32
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Wang J. Individual identification from genetic marker data: developments and accuracy comparisons of methods. Mol Ecol Resour 2015; 16:163-75. [DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jinliang Wang
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; London NW1 4RY UK
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