Herbicide exposure affects the chemical recognition of a non native predator in common toad tadpoles (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bufo bufo</Emphasis>) |
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Authors: | Anne-Lise Mandrillon Philippe Saglio |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratoire d’Ecologie Aquatique, Unité Mixte de Recherche Ecobiologie et Qualité des Hydrosystèmes Continentaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 65, rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France |
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Abstract: | Summary. In amphibians and fishes, evidence is increasing that chemical cues from injured conspecifics can play a role in the chemical
labelling and learned recognition of unfamiliar predators. In this laboratory study, we tested the prediction that prior chemical
exposure to a non-native predator feeding on conspecific tadpoles will subsequently allow tadpoles of the common toad (Bufo bufo) to recognize the chemical cues specifically released by this starved predator. Furthermore, we investigated the vulnerability
of this chemically-mediated process to herbicide contamination. With these aims in view, groups of tadpoles were kept either
unexposed or exposed for ten days to chemical cues from Turkish crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) previously fed on tadpoles, both in uncontaminated water and in the presence of four sublethal concentrations of amitrole
(0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg.l−1). We then assessed the effects of the six conditioning treatments on general activity and behavioural response to chemical
cues from starved crayfish. Larval treatments did not affect the general activity of the tadpoles. By contrast, the treatments
had significant effects on the behavioural response to the test solution prepared form starved crayfish. The only tadpoles
to show an antipredator behavioural response to the chemical stimulation from starved crayfish belonged to the groups derived
from chemical exposure to tadpole-fed crayfish in uncontaminated water and in contaminated water with the lowest concentration
of amitrole (0.01 mg.l−1). Conversely, this chemical stimulation produced no behavioural change in the control group or in the groups derived from
exposure to tadpole-fed crayfish in contaminated water containing 0.1, 1 and 10 mg.l−1 of amitrole. This study demonstrates that chemical cues released during the predator’s feeding activity can subsequently
be used by common toad tadpoles in the recognition of an unfamiliar predator. In addition, our results show that the presence
of sublethal amitrole concentrations can impair this recognition process. Such a pesticide effect might be especially detrimental
for amphibian populations threatened by invasive predators. |
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Keywords: | Bufo bufo tadpoles acquired predator recognition chemical cues Astacus leptodactylus amitrole |
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