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Risk of predation and behavioural response in three anuran species: influence of tadpole size and predator type

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Abstract

Many species alter their activity, microhabitat use, morphology and life history in response to predators. Predation risk is related to predator size and palatability of prey among others factors. We analyzed the predation risk of three species of tadpoles that occur in norwestern Patagonia, Argentina: Pleurodema thaul, Pleurodema bufoninum and Rhinella spinulosa. We sampled aquatic insect predators in 18 ponds to determine predator–tadpole assemblage in the study area. In laboratory conditions, we analysed the predation rate imposed by each predator on each tadpole species at different tadpole sizes. Finally, we tested whether tadpoles alter their activity in the presence of chemical and visual cues from predators. Small P. thaul and P. bufoninum tadpoles were the most vulnerable prey species, while small R. spinulosa tadpoles were only consumed by water bugs. Dragonflies and water bugs were the most dangerous tadpole predators. Small P. thaul tadpoles reduced their activity when they were exposed to all predators, while large tadpoles only reduced the activity in the presence of large predators (dragonfly larvae and water bugs). Small P. bufoninum tadpoles reduced the activity when they were exposed to beetle larvae and dragonfly larvae, while large tadpoles only reduced activity when they were exposed to larger predators (water bugs and dragonfly larvae). R. spinulosa tadpoles were the less sensitive to presence of predators, only larger tadpoles responded significantly to dragonfly larvae by reducing their activity. We conclude that behavioural responses of these anuran species were predator-specific and related to the risk imposed by each predator.

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Acknowledgements

This research was performed under the institutional Animal Care guidelines established by Argentinean animal protection law and Administración de Parques Nacionales, Argentina. Animals for this study were collected with the permission of Administración de Parques Nacionales, Argentina. We thank J. Muzon and S. Mazzucconi for identifying insect species. We are grateful to an anonymous reviewer and M. Tejedo for all comments that improved this manuscript. We also thank G. Dayton and D. Saenz for their assistance with editing and providing useful comments and suggestions. This work was supported by Universidad Nacional del Comahue (B940), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (PIP 6451) and Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 01-13550).

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  1. Laboratorio de Fotobiología-INIBIOMA (CONICET), Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, 8400, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina

    Fabián Gastón Jara & María Gabriela Perotti

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  1. Fabián Gastón Jara
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Correspondence to Fabián Gastón Jara.

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Jara, F.G., Perotti, M.G. Risk of predation and behavioural response in three anuran species: influence of tadpole size and predator type. Hydrobiologia 644, 313–324 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0196-9

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