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Effects of predation risk on the sensory asymmetries and defensive strategies of Bufotes balearicus tadpoles. Anim Cogn 2023; 26:491-501. [PMID: 36100805 PMCID: PMC9950214 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-022-01687-5] [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: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Lateralization consists of the differential use of bilateral organs or limbs and is well described in many taxa and in several contexts. Common ecological frameworks where it can be observed are foraging and predatory ones, with benefits related to both visual and auditory lateralization such as faster response or increasing neural processing ability. Anuran amphibians are considered relevant models for investigating lateralization, due to their great ecological variety and the possibility of easily being raised under laboratory conditions. By adopting the "rotational preference test", we used Balearic green toad tadpoles to test the effects of behavioural defensive responses triggered by different predator types (native vs alien, i.e. dragonfly larvae Aeshna cyanea and adult red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii) and diets (fasted vs. tadpole-fed predators) on their lateralization. We recorded tadpoles' responses to five different chemical cues: clean water (control treatment), fasted dragonfly larvae and crayfish, and tadpole-fed dragonfly larvae and crayfish. Green toad tadpoles did not show a bias in a predominant direction, although lateralization occurred at the individual level, as shown by the intensity index (LA). Perceived predation risk was the highest in tadpoles exposed to the combined chemical cues of conspecific prey and native predators, which elicited both changes in the intensity of lateralization and a marked reduction in tadpoles' activity level. Our results suggest that contextual predation threat may induce very rapid changes in the expression of asymmetries at the individual level, and might play a role as part of the complex defensive strategies adopted by prey in the attempt to escape predators.
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Scribano G, Gazzola A, Winkler A, Balestrieri A, Grioni A, Lastrico G, Tremolada P, Pellitteri-Rosa D. Anti-predator behavioral responses of Italian agile frog tadpoles (Rana latastei) exposed to microplastics. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:13688-13696. [PMID: 36136197 PMCID: PMC9898332 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23131-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are nowadays abundant, persistent, and ubiquitous in the environment, representing a new threat for terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems. Although anuran populations and species are globally declining, the effect of MP exposure on this taxon has been poorly investigated. With the aim of assessing the effects of microplastic exposure on the defensive responses of Italian agile frog (Rana latastei) tadpoles, we exposed them to three different concentrations (1, 7, and 50 mg L-1) of a mixture of plastic polymers (HPDE, PVC, PS, and PES) for 2 weeks. Then, we measured the total distance covered by individual tadpoles before and after exposure to tadpole-fed dragonfly larvae (Aeshna cyanea) cues. As expected, predation risk sharply lowered the total distance travelled by tadpoles; however, MP concentration did not affect their defensive performances. We also collected data on tadpole development, activity, and mortality. In contrast with previous experiments, neither tadpole growth nor mortality varied with MP concentration. Our results indicate that the intensity of MP effects on growth and development may depend on tadpole size, with large tadpoles being less susceptible to the negative effects of MP exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Scribano
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, I-27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrea Gazzola
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, I-27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Winkler
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, I-20133, Via Celoria, 26, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Balestrieri
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, I-27100, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, I-20133, Via Celoria, 26, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Grioni
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, I-27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuditta Lastrico
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, I-20133, Via Celoria, 26, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Tremolada
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, I-20133, Via Celoria, 26, Milan, Italy.
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He Y, Zhu K, Zhao K, He L, Candolin U, Xu J, Zhang H. Ineffective integration of multiple anti-predator defenses in a rotifer: a low-cost insurance? Behav Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
To maximize survival, prey often integrates multiple anti-predator defenses. How the defenses interact to reduce predation risk is, however, poorly known. We used the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus to investigate how morphological (spines) and behavioral (floating) defenses are integrated against a common predatory rotifer, Asplanchna brightwellii, and if their combined use improves survival. To this end, we assessed the cost of the behavioral defense and the efficiency of both defenses, individually and combined, as well as their mutual dependency. The results show that the behavioral defense is costly in reducing foraging activity, and that the two defenses are used simultaneously, with the presence of the morphological defense enhancing the use of the behavioral defense, as does the pre-exposure to predator cues. However, while the morphological defense reduces predation risk, the behavioral defense does not, thus, adding the costly behavioral defense to the morphological defense does not improve survival. It is likely that the cost of the behavioral defense is low given its reversibility—compared to the cost of misidentifying the predator species—and that this has promoted the adoption of both defenses, as general low-cost insurance rather than as a tailored strategy toward specific predators. Thus, the optimal strategy in the rotifer appears to be to express both morphological and behavioral defenses when confronted with the cues of a potential predator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan He
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology of China, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Wuhan 430072 , China
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, University of Helsinki , Helsinki, PO Box 65, 00014 , Finland
| | - Konghao Zhu
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology of China, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Wuhan 430072 , China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Kangshun Zhao
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology of China, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Wuhan 430072 , China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Liang He
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization of Ministry of Education, Nanchang University , Nanchang 330031 , China
| | - Ulrika Candolin
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, University of Helsinki , Helsinki, PO Box 65, 00014 , Finland
| | - Jun Xu
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology of China, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Wuhan 430072 , China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology of China, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Wuhan 430072 , China
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Guadin B, Gazzola A, Balestrieri A, Scribano G, Martín J, Pellitteri-Rosa D. Effects of a group-living experience on the antipredator responses of individual tadpoles. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Knight K. Italian agile frog tadpoles can learn to evade crayfish terror. J Exp Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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