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Comparative Analysis of Anti-predator Behaviour and Life History Traits of the Tadpoles Exposed to Predation Risk and Corticosterone

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Abstract

Anuran tadpoles show behavioural and morphological alterations in the presence of predatory cues (perceived predation risk). Recent studies suggested the possible role of stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) in anti-predator responses. We speculated that the anti-predator responses of prey tadpoles exposed to predation risk and CORT will be similar if they are mediated through CORT. In the present study, we compared behavioural and life history responses of Duttaphrynus melanostictus tadpoles exposed to (i) predatory tadpoles of Hoplobatrachus crassus, and (ii) two concentrations (1 and 10 µg/L) of CORT. The results revealed that exposure of the tadpoles to predation risk and CORT have similar effects on behaviour and life history traits. Tadpoles exposed to predation risk and CORT did not alter behaviour in response to alarm cues. Tadpoles exposed to predation risk and different concentrations of CORT delayed metamorphosis with a reduction in size. CORT influenced metamorphosis and size of the tadpoles in concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that the presence of non-lethal predators affects life history traits possibly through the stress hormone.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB), Nagpur for issuing the permission to collect and maintain the animals in the laboratory for experimentation (MSBB/Desk-5/Appl/NOC/CR-275/1362/2015-16). In India, animals other than mammals do not come under the purview of institutional committee for animal ethics. Animal experimentations were performed following the ethical guidelines established for animal usage by Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune, India. We thank Mr. Ramnath Andhale for his help in collection and rearing of the tadpoles. The study was partially supported by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, DST-PURSE grant to the Department of Zoology, SPPU.

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  1. Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411007, India

    Samadhan Phuge, Sandip Tapkir, Vikas Bhand, Gurmeet Kour & Radhakrishna Pandit

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  1. Samadhan Phuge
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Phuge, S., Tapkir, S., Bhand, V. et al. Comparative Analysis of Anti-predator Behaviour and Life History Traits of the Tadpoles Exposed to Predation Risk and Corticosterone. Proc Zool Soc 73, 220–226 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12595-019-00320-7

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