The role of images of conspecifics as visual cues in the development and behavior of larval anurans |
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Authors: | Irena Rot-Nikcevic Christopher N Taylor Richard J Wassersug |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Dalhousie University, 5850 College St., Halifax, B3H 1X5 Nova Scotia, Canada |
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Abstract: | Tadpoles can alter their behavior, morphology, and life history in response to habitat change. Although chemical signals from
conspecifics or predators play an important role in tadpole habitat assessment, little is known about the role of visual cues
and the extent to which tadpoles rely on their vision for intraspecific social assessment. The aim of our experiments was
to determine whether larval anurans use visual images of other tadpoles as indicators of density and to analyze how, and to
what extent, images of conspecifics alone affect tadpole development, growth, and behavior. To assess this, we raised both
Rana sylvatica and Bufo americanus tadpoles in aquaria with either quarter- or half-mirrored walls. Both physically increased density and increased density
simulated with mirrors decreased tadpole growth and developmental rates, and increased activity in Rana tadpoles. Bufo tadpoles did not significantly alter their growth and development in response to visually increased density. Only true, i.e.,
physically, increased density had an effect on growth and activity in Bufo tadpoles. Our data show that images of conspecifics are used as visual cues by Rana tadpoles and can induce phenotypically plastic changes in several traits. This response to visual cues is taxon-specific.
An erratum to this article can be found at |
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Keywords: | Tadpoles Visual Cues Development Growth Behavior |
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