Abstract
Changing patterns of precipitation and drought will dramatically influence the distribution and persistence of lentic habitats. Pond-breeding amphibians can often respond to changes in habitat by plastically shifting behavioral and developmental trait response. However, fitness tradeoffs inherent in life history strategies can carry over to impact development, behavior, and fitness in later life stages. In this experiment, we investigated carryover effects of hydroperiod permanence on the movement behavior of newly-metamorphosed juvenile Northern Red-legged Frogs (Rana aurora). Frogs were raised through metamorphosis in mesocosms under either permanent or ephemeral hydroperiod conditions. After metamorphosis, individuals were removed from the mesocosms, measured, uniquely tagged with elastomer, and moved to holding terrariums. Movement behavior was quantified under two terrain conditions: a physiologically-taxing, dry runway treatment, or a control, moist runway treatment. Individuals were given 30 minutes to move down the 1x20m enclosed structure before distance was measured. We applied a hurdle model to examine two distinct components of movement behavior: 1) the probability of moving away from the start location, and 2) movement distance. We found that hydroperiod condition had an indirect carryover effect on movement via the relationship between individual size and the propensity to move. Individuals from ephemeral mesocosm conditions metamorphosed at a smaller size but showed increased growth rates as compared to individuals from permanent hydroperiod conditions. Individual snout-vent length and runway condition (moist or dry) were significant predictors of both aspects of movement behavior. Larger individuals were more likely to move down the runway and able to move a farther distance than smaller individuals. In addition to the influence of size, dry runway conditions reduced the probability of individuals moving from the start location, but increased the distance traveled relative to the moist runway. The demonstrated cumulative impact of stressors suggests the importance of addressing direct, indirect, and carryover effects of stressors throughout ontogeny.
Highlights
Climate change is projected to influence many aspects of the environment, including temperature and storm intensity (Hughes, 2000)
Developmental plasticity has allowed some amphibian species with complex life histories to adjust trait response, such as development rate, antipredator behavior, and metamorphosis timing in response to a variety of aquatic environmental stressors
We found that 2 factors, individual R. aurora size and terrain condition, were the central predictors of individual movement behavior
Summary
Climate change is projected to influence many aspects of the environment, including temperature and storm intensity (Hughes, 2000). Climate change alters precipitation patterns, which are key in the predictability and variability of water cycling and storage (Williams et al, 2015; Smith et al, 2018). For animals such as aquatic insects and amphibians, with complex life histories that require movement between aquatic and terrestrial habitats, this variation can determine the success of individual development and survival (Robson et al, 2011; Suislepp et al, 2011; Cayuela et al, 2016). The true price of plasticity may only be understood when considering the entire life cycle
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