Changes in Anti-Predatory Behavior after Corticosterone Treatment in Rana clamitans Tadpoles
Persistent URL
Author(s)
DeJesus, Emilio
Date Issued
December 8, 2015
Abstract
The hormone corticosterone has an inhibitive effect on growth in tadpoles. This protein, when given in excess, causes tadpoles to grow shorter than normal. Tadpoles have a standard method for responding to a predator, increasing distance from the predator and reducing movement. This response may or may not be affected by internal hormone levels and tail length. In this experiment, I manipulated corticosterone levels in tadpoles of the green frog, Rana clamitans, in order to study the anti-predatory behavioral changes caused by the excess hormone. Tadpoles were housed in one of two levels corticosterone solution or in fresh water before being presented with a predator, Anax junius, the common green darner dragonfly larvae. There was a marginally significant (p = 0.0675) effect of the CORT on tadpole distance from the predator. Low CORT tadpoles maintained a farther distance from the Anax than the control tadpoles, while the high CORT tadpoles maintained a closer distance than the controls. Results suggest a non-linear threshold effect of CORT on anti-predator behavior in green frog tadpoles.
Major
Neuroscience
First Reader(s)
Mumme, Ronald L.
Other Reader(s)
Clark, Rodney D.
Department
Neuroscience
Type of Publication
Senior Project Paper
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Name
2015_16_DeJesus_Changes.pdf
Description
Senior Project
Size
161.7 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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