Jump to main content
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Search
Search
Main menu
Environmental Topics
Laws & Regulations
About EPA
Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Contact Us
Print
Feedback
Export to File
Search:
This record has one attached file:
Add More Files
Attach File(s):
Display Name for File*:
Save
Citation
Tags
HERO ID
8048185
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Behavioural responses to predator chemical cues and local variation in antipredator performance in Rana temporaria tadpoles
Author(s)
Laurila, A
Year
2000
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Oikos
ISSN:
0030-1299
EISSN:
1600-0706
Volume
88
Issue
1
Page Numbers
159-168
DOI
10.1034/j.1600-0706.2000.880118.x
Web of Science Id
WOS:000085424600018
Abstract
Antipredator behaviour is an important factor influencing survival probability of prey animals, and it may evolve rapidly as a response to changes in predator regime. I studied antipredator behaviour of common frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles from thrice populations that differ in predator regimes. In the first experiment, tadpoles obtained from four natural matings in each population were subjected to chemical cues from either European perch (Perca fluviatilis) or from larvae of the dragonfly Aeshna juncea. Tadpoles decreased their activity in response to both predators, but the spatial behaviour of tadpoles differed between the two predator treatments. In general, there were no differences in behaviours among the populations, but in three out of four studied behaviours there were differences between parentages within the populations suggesting that these behaviours may be genetically determined. The lack of a significant Predator x Population interaction suggests no differences in plastic antipredator behaviour among the populations, while the lack of significant Predator x Parentage interaction suggests no genetic variance within the populations for plastic antipredator behaviour. In the second experiment, tadpoles from the three populations were exposed to predation by a free-ranging A: juncea. In line with the first experiment, there were no differences in survival rate between the populations. R. temporaria tadpoles seem to rely heavily on plastic antipredator behaviour as their main response to predator chemical cues. There was very little indication of local behavioural differentiation and the possible reasons for the lack of divergence among populations are discussed.
Home
Learn about HERO
Using HERO
Search HERO
Projects in HERO
Risk Assessment
Transparency & Integrity