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1 September 2009 Induced Morphological Plasticity in Lowland Leopard Frog Larvae (Rana yavapaiensis) Does Not Confer a Survival Advantage against Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
J. Alan Sosa, Michael J. Ryan, MARTIN A. SCHLAEPFER
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Abstract

Tadpoles can generally increase their probability of survival in the presence of known predators by reducing their foraging activities or modifying their tail shape to increase swimming speed or lure attacks away from the head. However, it is unknown to what extent tadpoles can induce such behavioral and morphological plasticity in response to introduced predators. Lowland Leopard Frogs (Rana yavapaiensis) are native to Arizona and are currently declining because of a variety of factors including introduced predators such as the Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus). We reared Lowland Leopard Frog tadpoles in the presence of tadpole-fed Green Sunfish or in control tanks and tested whether Lowland Leopard Frog tadpoles alter their behaviors or body shape in response to the visual and chemical cues of this predator. We found that tadpoles reared in the presence of Green Sunfish were 90% less active and had significantly different body shapes (including 5% deeper tail fins, 3% larger tail muscle height, and 3% smaller tail muscle area) than tadpoles reared in control tanks. In a subsequent survival experiment with sunfish predators, however, the survival rates did not differ between the two groups of tadpoles. Thus, our results suggest that Lowland Leopard Frog tadpoles perceive Green Sunfish as potential predators, but the induced morphological changes and the experience of prior exposure do not confer a survival advantage.

J. Alan Sosa, Michael J. Ryan, and MARTIN A. SCHLAEPFER "Induced Morphological Plasticity in Lowland Leopard Frog Larvae (Rana yavapaiensis) Does Not Confer a Survival Advantage against Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)," Journal of Herpetology 43(3), 460-468, (1 September 2009). https://doi.org/10.1670/08-081R1.1
Accepted: 1 November 2008; Published: 1 September 2009
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