INVESTIGADORES
PEROTTI Maria gabriela
artículos
Título:
Risk of predation and behavioural response in three anuran species: influence of tadpole size and predator type
Autor/es:
JARA, F. AND M.G. PEROTTI
Revista:
HYDROBIOLOGIA
Editorial:
SPRINGER
Referencias:
Lugar: Bruselas; Año: 2010 vol. 644 p. 313 - 324
ISSN:
0018-8158
Resumen:
Many species alter their activity, microhabitatuse, morphology and life history in response topredators. Predation risk is related to predator size andpalatability of prey among others factors. We analyzedthe predation risk of three species of tadpolesthat occur in norwestern Patagonia, Argentina: Pleurodemathaul, Pleurodema bufoninum and Rhinellaspinulosa. We sampled aquatic insect predators in 18ponds to determine predator–tadpole assemblage inthe study area. In laboratory conditions, we analysedthe predation rate imposed by each predator on eachtadpole species at different tadpole sizes. Finally, wetested whether tadpoles alter their activity in thepresence of chemical and visual cues from predators.Small P. thaul and P. bufoninum tadpoles were themost vulnerable prey species, while small R. spinulosatadpoles were only consumed by water bugs.Dragonflies and water bugs were the most dangeroustadpole predators. Small P. thaul tadpoles reducedtheir activity when they were exposed to all predators,while large tadpoles only reduced the activity in thepresence of large predators (dragonfly larvae andwater bugs). Small P. bufoninum tadpoles reduced theactivity when they were exposed to beetle larvae anddragonfly larvae, while large tadpoles only reducedactivity when they were exposed to larger predators(water bugs and dragonfly larvae). R. spinulosatadpoles were the less sensitive to presence ofpredators, only larger tadpoles responded significantlyto dragonfly larvae by reducing their activity. Weconclude that behavioural responses of these anuranspecies were predator-specific and related to the riskimposed by each predator.