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Shared behavioral responses and predation risk of anuran larvae and adults exposed to a novel predator

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Abstract

Invasive species are a regional and global threat to biological diversity. In order to evaluate an invasive predator species’ potential to harm populations of native prey species, it is critical to evaluate the behavioral responses of all life stages of the native prey species to the novel predator. The invasion of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) into southern California provides an opportunity to evaluate the predation risk and behavioral responses of native amphibians. We performed predation trials and explored prey behavioral responses to determine how this invasive predator may impact native amphibian populations using Pacific chorus frogs (Pseudacris regilla) as a representative native California prey species. We found that X. laevis will readily prey upon larval and adult life stages of P. regilla. Behavior trials indicated that both larval and adult P. regilla exhibit prey response behaviors and will spatially avoid the novel invasive predator. The results suggest that native anurans may have a redundant predator response in both the larval and adult life stages, which could reduce the predatory impact of X. laevis but also drive emigration of native amphibians from invaded habitat.

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Acknowledgements

This research benefitted from access by Sandy Hedrick and Friends of the Santa Clara River to Hedrick Ranch Nature Area where experiments were performed and African clawed frogs were collected. We also thank Mike Booth and Steve Howard of United Water Conservation District for providing access to collect African clawed frogs. Thank you to Scott Cooper and Steve Rothstein for their input and advice. Funding provided by the Coastal Fund, University of California, Santa Barbara (WIN13-13).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

    Emily A. Wilson & Cheryl J. Briggs

  2. Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

    Tom L. Dudley

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  1. Emily A. Wilson
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  2. Tom L. Dudley
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  3. Cheryl J. Briggs
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Correspondence to Emily A. Wilson.

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Wilson, E.A., Dudley, T.L. & Briggs, C.J. Shared behavioral responses and predation risk of anuran larvae and adults exposed to a novel predator. Biol Invasions 20, 475–485 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1550-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1550-x

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