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Liedtke HC, Lopez-Hervas K, Galván I, Polo-Cavia N, Gomez-Mestre I. Background matching through fast and reversible melanin-based pigmentation plasticity in tadpoles comes with morphological and antioxidant changes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12064. [PMID: 37495600 PMCID: PMC10371988 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39107-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Facultative colour change is widespread in the animal kingdom, and has been documented in many distantly related amphibians. However, experimental data testing the extent of facultative colour change, and associated physiological and morphological implications are comparatively scarce. Background matching in the face of spatial and temporal environmental variation is thought to be an important proximate function of colour change in aquatic amphibian larvae. This is particularly relevant for species with long larval periods such as the western spadefoot toad, Pelobates cultripes, whose tadpoles spend up to six months developing in temporary waterbodies with temporally variable vegetation. By rearing tadpoles on different coloured backgrounds, we show that P. cultripes larvae can regulate pigmentation to track fine-grained differences in background brightness, but not hue or saturation. We found that colour change is rapid, reversible, and primarily achieved through changes in the quantity of eumelanin in the skin. We show that this increased eumelanin production and/or maintenance is also correlated with changes in morphology and oxidative stress, with more pigmented tadpoles growing larger tail fins and having an improved redox status.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Christoph Liedtke
- Ecology Evolution and Development Group. Biological Station of Doñana - CSIC, 41092, Seville, Spain.
| | - Karem Lopez-Hervas
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann Str. 2, 24306, Plön, Germany
| | - Ismael Galván
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, CSIC, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Polo-Cavia
- Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ivan Gomez-Mestre
- Ecology Evolution and Development Group. Biological Station of Doñana - CSIC, 41092, Seville, Spain
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Phenotypic Plasticity in Juvenile Frogs That Experienced Predation Pressure as Tadpoles Does Not Alter Their Locomotory Performance. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12030341. [PMID: 36979033 PMCID: PMC10045024 DOI: 10.3390/biology12030341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Anuran species can respond to environmental changes via phenotypic plasticity, which can also result in ecological impacts across the life history of such species. We investigated the effects of predation pressure (i.e., the non-consumption effect) from the dragonfly larva (Anax parthenope) on the phenotypical change of tadpoles into juvenile frogs (specifically the black-spotted pond frog, Pelophylax nigromaculatus), and also analyzed the impact of morphological changes on locomotory performance after metamorphosis. The experiments on predator impact were conducted in the laboratory. Body length, weight, development timing, and metamorphosis timing in the presence of dragonfly nymphs were measured in both tadpoles and juvenile frogs. The body and tail shapes of the tadpoles, as well as the skeletal shape of the juvenile frogs, were analyzed using landmark-based geometric morphometrics. Furthermore, the locomotory performance of the juvenile frogs was tested by measuring their jumping and swimming speeds. Tadpoles that had grown with predators possessed smaller bodies, deeper tail fins, and slower development rates, and they waited longer periods of time before commencing metamorphosis. Having said this, however, the effect of predator cues on the body length and weight of juvenile frogs was not found to be significant. These juvenile frogs possessed longer limbs and narrower skulls, with subtle morphological changes in the pelvis and ilium, but there was no subsequent difference in their swimming and jumping speeds. Our results showed that the changes in anatomical traits that can affect locomotor performance are so subtle that they do not affect the jumping or swimming speeds. Therefore, we support the view that these morphological changes are thus by-products of an altered tadpole period, rather than an adaptive response to predator-escape ability or to post-metamorphosis life history. On the other hand, delayed metamorphosis, without an increase in body size, may still be disadvantageous to the reproduction, growth, and survival of frogs in their life history following metamorphosis.
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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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Tang X, Xi L, Niu Z, Jia L, Bai Y, Wang H, Ma M, Chen Q. Does a Moderately Warming Climate Compensate for the Negative Effects of UV-B Radiation on Amphibians at High Altitudes? A Test of Rana kukunoris Living on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11060838. [PMID: 35741359 PMCID: PMC9220193 DOI: 10.3390/biology11060838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Both the warming climate and ultraviolet-B radiation are notable environmental factors affecting tadpole development. However, the phenotypes of tadpoles living at high altitudes may be improved by moderately warming temperatures, reducing or eliminating the negative effects of oxidative damage caused by cool temperatures or strong ultraviolet-B radiation. To verify this hypothesis, Rana kukunoris tadpoles, which live at high altitudes, were exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation and ultraviolet-B radiation-free environments at 14 (cool temperature) and 22 °C (warm temperature), respectively. Ultraviolet-B radiation and a warm temperature had opposite influences on several traits of the tadpoles, and the moderate temperature could compensate for or override the negative effects of ultraviolet-B radiation by increasing the tadpoles’ preferred body temperature and critical tolerance temperature, thus enhancing the locomotion ability and thermal sensitivity of their antioxidant systems. The dark skin coloration and aggregation behavior of R. kukunoris tadpoles may also be effective strategies for allowing them to resist ultraviolet-B radiation and helping them to better adapt to a warming environment with stronger ultraviolet-B radiation. Thus, a moderate degree of warming may increase the capacity of living organisms to adapt to environmental changes and thus have positive effects on the development of tadpoles living at high altitudes. Abstract Both the warming climate and ultraviolet-B radiation (UVBR) are considered to be notable environmental factors affecting amphibian population decline, with particular effects on tadpole development. However, the phenotypes of tadpoles living at high altitudes may be improved by moderately warming temperatures, reducing or eliminating the negative effects of oxidative damage caused by cool temperatures or strong UVBR at high altitudes. To verify this hypothesis, Rana kukunoris tadpoles, which live at high altitudes, were used to test the effect of the interaction of temperature and UVBR on their development and antioxidant systems in a fully factorial design. The tadpoles were exposed to UVBR and UVBR-free environments at 14 (cool temperature) and 22 °C (warm temperature), respectively. UVBR and a warm temperature had opposite influences on several traits of the tadpoles, including their survival, developmental rate, individual size, preferred body temperature, thermal tolerance temperature, oxidative damage, and enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant systems. The moderate temperature could compensate for or override the negative effects of UVBR by increasing the tadpoles’ preferred body temperature and critical tolerance temperature, thus enhancing the locomotion ability and thermal sensitivity of their antioxidant systems. Furthermore, the dark skin coloration and aggregation behavior of R. kukunoris tadpoles may also be effective strategies for allowing them to resist UVBR and helping them to better adapt to a warming environment with stronger UVBR. Thus, it is possible that a moderate degree of warming may increase the capacity of living organisms to adapt to environmental changes and thus have positive effects on the development of tadpoles living at high altitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Tang
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; (L.X.); (Z.N.); (L.J.)
- Correspondence: (X.T.); (Q.C.)
| | - Lu Xi
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; (L.X.); (Z.N.); (L.J.)
| | - Zhiyi Niu
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; (L.X.); (Z.N.); (L.J.)
| | - Lun Jia
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; (L.X.); (Z.N.); (L.J.)
| | - Yucheng Bai
- Linxia People’s Hospital, Linxia 731199, China;
| | - Huihui Wang
- Institute of Solid Mechanics, College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
| | - Miaojun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Animal and Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China; (L.X.); (Z.N.); (L.J.)
- Correspondence: (X.T.); (Q.C.)
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van Oppen YB, Milder-Mulderij G, Brochard C, Wiggers R, de Vries S, Krijnen WP, Grzegorczyk MA. Modeling dragonfly population data with a Bayesian bivariate geometric mixed-effects model. J Appl Stat 2022; 50:2171-2193. [PMID: 37434627 PMCID: PMC10332241 DOI: 10.1080/02664763.2022.2068513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
We develop a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) for bivariate count responses for statistically analyzing dragonfly population data from the Northern Netherlands. The populations of the threatened dragonfly species Aeshna viridis were counted in the years 2015-2018 at 17 different locations (ponds and ditches). Two different widely applied population size measures were used to quantify the population sizes, namely the number of found exoskeletons ('exuviae') and the number of spotted egg-laying females were counted. Since both measures (responses) led to many zero counts but also feature very large counts, our GLMM model builds on a zero-inflated bivariate geometric (ZIBGe) distribution, for which we show that it can be easily parameterized in terms of a correlation parameter and its two marginal medians. We model the medians with linear combinations of fixed (environmental covariates) and random (location-specific intercepts) effects. Modeling the medians yields a decreased sensitivity to overly large counts; in particular, in light of growing marginal zero inflation rates. Because of the relatively small sample size (n = 114) we follow a Bayesian modeling approach and use Metropolis-Hastings Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations for generating posterior samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulan B. van Oppen
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Groningen University, GroningenNetherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - Wim P. Krijnen
- Bernoulli Institute, Groningen University, Groningen, Netherlands
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