Article (Scientific journals)
Pond drying cues and their effects on growth and metamorphosis in a fast developing amphibian
Székely, Diana; Denoël, Mathieu; Székely, Paul et al.
2017In Journal of Zoology, 303 (2), p. 129-135
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Keywords :
metamorphosis; tadpole; niche shift; drought; drying cues; water level; hydroperiod; temporary water; arid lands; aridity; Ecuador; Ceratophrys stolzmanni; Pacific horned frog; life-history trait; growth; determinants; experiment; desiccation risk
Abstract :
[en] The hydroperiod of breeding habitats imposes a strong selection on amphibians and pond-breeding species usually exhibit a high degree of plasticity in the duration of larval period. However, the potential for phenotypic plasticity in fast developing species was investigated only in a small number of anurans, and the specific response to environmental cues such as low water versus decreasing water level, as well as the effects of such cues on particular developmental stages, are even less understood. In this context, we investigated the plastic response to pond desiccation in a neotropical species (Ceratophrys stolzmanni) by raising tadpoles in three water level treatments: constant high, constant low and decreasing. The growth rates were the highest reported for amphibian tadpoles (up to 0.3g/day) and the time to metamorphosis was short in all treatments, with the fastest developing tadpole metamorphosing in only 16 days after egg deposition. Individuals from the constant high water level treatment had a higher growth rate than those in the other two treatments, whereas decreasing and constant low water levels had similar effects on development, speeding up metamorphosis. In turn, this involved a cost as these tadpoles had a lower body size and mass at metamorphosis than the ones raised in constant high water levels. The final stages of metamorphosis, when tadpoles are the most vulnerable, were shorter in tadpoles exposed to a decreasing water level, allowing them to leave water quickly. Our experiment demonstrates that phenotypic plasticity is maintained even in environments devoid of permanent aquatic habitats. Ceratophryd tadpoles are able to shorten their developmental time when they perceive a risk of desiccation and react similarly to cues coming from the two unfavorable water conditions showing their adaptation to ephemeral and unpredictable breeding habitats.
Research center :
AFFISH-RC - Applied and Fundamental FISH Research Center - ULiège
FOCUS - Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch - ULiège
Disciplines :
Zoology
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Animal production & animal husbandry
Author, co-author :
Székely, Diana ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Form. doct. sc. (biol. orga. & écol. - paysage)
Denoël, Mathieu  ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Székely, Paul;  Ovidius University Constanța > Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences > Constanța
Cogalniceanu, Dan;  Ovidius University Constanța > Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Language :
English
Title :
Pond drying cues and their effects on growth and metamorphosis in a fast developing amphibian
Publication date :
October 2017
Journal title :
Journal of Zoology
ISSN :
0952-8369
eISSN :
1469-7998
Publisher :
Blackwell Publishing
Volume :
303
Issue :
2
Pages :
129-135
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
WBI - Wallonie-Bruxelles International [BE]
SENESCYT - Secretaría de Educación Superior Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación [EC]
CCCDI-UEFISCDI
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since 02 May 2017

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