Thursday, August 15, 2019: 4:00 PM
L006, Kentucky International Convention Center
Background/Question/Methods
Predation and competition often interact to affect individual growth and survivorship of prey species. Temperature is an abiotic factor that can regulate species interactions including the nonconsumptive effects of predators and competition. In this study, I examined the behavioral and developmental responses of green frog tadpoles (Lithobates clamitans) to the interactive effects of temperature, conspecific density, and water-borne predator chemical cues (dragonfly larvae, Macromia illinoiensis) in a split-plot experiment. I predicted that tadpoles in warmer water at lower density would grow and develop faster than those in colder water at higher density, that predator cues would lead to deeper tail fins and be lower activity compared to no cue treatments, and those in no predator treatments.
Results/Conclusions
Behavioral trials revealed that tadpoles moved and foraged less in the presence of nonconsumptive predators. However, lower activity levels did not slow growth. Lower temperatures did slow tadpole growth, but there was no evidence of an interaction with nonconsumptive predators or competition. Performance trials revealed no difference in survivorship among treatments. The combination of temperature variation and predators do not appear to be coupled for these species.
Predation and competition often interact to affect individual growth and survivorship of prey species. Temperature is an abiotic factor that can regulate species interactions including the nonconsumptive effects of predators and competition. In this study, I examined the behavioral and developmental responses of green frog tadpoles (Lithobates clamitans) to the interactive effects of temperature, conspecific density, and water-borne predator chemical cues (dragonfly larvae, Macromia illinoiensis) in a split-plot experiment. I predicted that tadpoles in warmer water at lower density would grow and develop faster than those in colder water at higher density, that predator cues would lead to deeper tail fins and be lower activity compared to no cue treatments, and those in no predator treatments.
Results/Conclusions
Behavioral trials revealed that tadpoles moved and foraged less in the presence of nonconsumptive predators. However, lower activity levels did not slow growth. Lower temperatures did slow tadpole growth, but there was no evidence of an interaction with nonconsumptive predators or competition. Performance trials revealed no difference in survivorship among treatments. The combination of temperature variation and predators do not appear to be coupled for these species.