Morphological and Behavioral Effects of Multiple Predator and Prey Cues on Wood Frog Tadpoles (Rana sylvatica)

Copeland, Veronica

Morphological and Behavioral Effects of Multiple Predator and Prey Cues on Wood Frog Tadpoles (Rana sylvatica)

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10456/26289

Author(s)

Copeland, Veronica

Date Issued

April 2, 2012

Abstract

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of a single genome to produce alternative forms of morphology, physiology and behavior in an organism. Previous studies indicate that different predators elicit different types of morphological plasticity in tadpoles. The purpose of this study was to determine how tadpole morphology changes in the presence of two different predators, specifically the green darner dragonfly nymph (Anax junius) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Also tested was whether or not the cue of an attacked wood frog tadpole (Rana sylvatica) would overcome the predator cues and cause the tadpoles to assume a different morphology and behavior. Based on the results of previous research, I hypothesized that the attacked wood frog tadpole cues would cause greater morphological and behavioral responses than predator only cues. Thus, I also hypothesized that when tadpoles are placed in the presence of multiple predators; the morphological and behavioral response that the tadpoles will exhibit will correspond to the predator that is the greatest natural threat. I found that wood frog tadpoles in cattle tanks did not exhibit any significant shifts in body metrics with both predators present, versus no predators and single predators. There was a date effect indicating that the tadpoles grew during the experiment. One explanation for the absence of responses is that the experiment was initiated too late in the tadpole development; i.e., phenotypic plasticity in tail lengths, tail heights, tail widths, and body lengths may be difficult to detect unless predator cues are initiated before the tadpoles emerge from eggs.

First Reader(s)

Wissinger, Scott