Abstract
AbstractThe ability of anuran larvae to efficiently locate food is essential for their growth and development, but little is known about the sensory modalities they use to find food. We experimentally assessed the role of visual and chemical cues in finding food in tadpoles of the invasive species Lithobates catesbeianus. In the two‐choice experiment, using rectangular containers that offer visual and/or chemical food cues on opposite ends, tadpoles chose the side where the chemical cues of the food were present consistently. The visual cues alone showed an initial transient attraction of tadpoles, which disappeared after a few minutes, suggesting that tadpoles are potentially capable of seeing contrasting objects, at least, at a close range and in clear waters and daylight conditions. We also evaluated the foraging behaviour and the capability of tadpoles to find food in an open field experiment under two different lighting conditions: natural daylight and darkness. Results showed that tadpoles find food faster in dark conditions, confirming that chemical cues alone are sufficient for tadpoles of this species to find food. Moreover, the time spent feeding and the number of tadpoles simultaneously exploiting the food patch were greater in darkness suggesting that environments with low visibility conditions could favour the establishment of L. catesbeianus. Understanding the sensory modalities used by tadpoles of this invasive species to find food could help to understand the potential abilities to expand and establish in novel environments.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.