Morphological and life history responses to predators in larvae of seven anurans
(2000) In Oikos 88(1). p.169-180- Abstract
- Amphibian larvae often face two major sources of mortality: pond desiccation and predation. Tadpoles of seven anuran species with different preferences for type of breeding habitat, on a hydroperiod scale, were tested for responses to the presence of predators by raising them experimentally in the presence and absence of a separately caged invertebrate predator that was fed on conspecific tadpoles. The species typically breeding in temporary or semi-permanent ponds (Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Rana dalmatina and Hyla arborea) - where invertebrate predator populations are predicted to vary considerably spatiotemporally - all showed marked induced increases in tail fin depth in response to predator presence. These species also tended to... (More)
- Amphibian larvae often face two major sources of mortality: pond desiccation and predation. Tadpoles of seven anuran species with different preferences for type of breeding habitat, on a hydroperiod scale, were tested for responses to the presence of predators by raising them experimentally in the presence and absence of a separately caged invertebrate predator that was fed on conspecific tadpoles. The species typically breeding in temporary or semi-permanent ponds (Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Rana dalmatina and Hyla arborea) - where invertebrate predator populations are predicted to vary considerably spatiotemporally - all showed marked induced increases in tail fin depth in response to predator presence. These species also tended to respond by reduced growth rates. The representative of the most ephemeral habitats, Bufo calamita, did not respond in any of these traits. Its congeneric, Bufo bufo, a toxic inhabitant of permanent ponds and lakes, tended to respond to predator presence by reducing its growth rate, though not by a tail depth increase. I argue that the rather poor swimming performance in Bufo tadpoles may opt for defences other than locomotor ability. The palatable, permanent pond species Pelobates fuscus did not alter either its growth rate or tail morphology. Possible explanations for this result are discussed. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/146074
- author
- Lardner, Björn LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2000
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Oikos
- volume
- 88
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 169 - 180
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:0034091620
- ISSN
- 1600-0706
- DOI
- 10.1034/j.1600-0706.2000.880119.x
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Animal Ecology (Closed 2011) (011012001)
- id
- 5147aaf2-dec9-41dc-a97d-191853505b3f (old id 146074)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:06:54
- date last changed
- 2022-01-26 22:57:31
@article{5147aaf2-dec9-41dc-a97d-191853505b3f,
abstract = {{Amphibian larvae often face two major sources of mortality: pond desiccation and predation. Tadpoles of seven anuran species with different preferences for type of breeding habitat, on a hydroperiod scale, were tested for responses to the presence of predators by raising them experimentally in the presence and absence of a separately caged invertebrate predator that was fed on conspecific tadpoles. The species typically breeding in temporary or semi-permanent ponds (Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Rana dalmatina and Hyla arborea) - where invertebrate predator populations are predicted to vary considerably spatiotemporally - all showed marked induced increases in tail fin depth in response to predator presence. These species also tended to respond by reduced growth rates. The representative of the most ephemeral habitats, Bufo calamita, did not respond in any of these traits. Its congeneric, Bufo bufo, a toxic inhabitant of permanent ponds and lakes, tended to respond to predator presence by reducing its growth rate, though not by a tail depth increase. I argue that the rather poor swimming performance in Bufo tadpoles may opt for defences other than locomotor ability. The palatable, permanent pond species Pelobates fuscus did not alter either its growth rate or tail morphology. Possible explanations for this result are discussed.}},
author = {{Lardner, Björn}},
issn = {{1600-0706}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{169--180}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Oikos}},
title = {{Morphological and life history responses to predators in larvae of seven anurans}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2000.880119.x}},
doi = {{10.1034/j.1600-0706.2000.880119.x}},
volume = {{88}},
year = {{2000}},
}