Presentation Type

Poster

Keywords

poison frog, behavior, neotropical, conspecific, physical stress signals

Department

Biology

Major

Biology

Abstract

Amphibian declines have been a major focus of the scientific community for nearly three decades. Many studies describe the leading causes of amphibian decline related to disease, with chytridiomycosis as the most notable example. However, little is known about behavioral conspecific interactions among ill or stressed amphibians, particularly neotropical species. Previous observational research on poison frogs determined that stressed Dendrobates auratus flip onto their backs in a reaction that is similar to fainting in other species. In this study, we examine conspecific interactions of green-and-black poison frogs (D. auratus) with “healthy” and “sick” model frogs, in order to determine a difference in interaction time between an upright healthy D. auratus model and an inverted sick D. auratus model. Our data show that there is no difference between the interaction time and physical touch of live D. auratus frogs with upright or inverted model frogs (P > 0.05 for both). These data suggest that D. auratus frogs may not discriminate between healthy or ill conspecifics, even though they may recognize physical conspecific cues that signal illness. Thus, deadly diseases like chytridiomycosis that spread through water and direct contact with infected individuals, will continue to kill off native amphibian species that are beneficial for species diversity and community stability in nature.

The effect of physical stress signals on conspecific interactions in green-and-black poison frogs (Dendrobates auratus)

Faculty Mentor

Lee B. Kats

Location

Waves Cafeteria

Start Date

23-3-2018 2:00 PM

End Date

23-3-2018 3:30 PM

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Mar 23rd, 2:00 PM Mar 23rd, 3:30 PM

The effect of physical stress signals on conspecific interactions in green-and-black poison frogs (Dendrobates auratus)

Waves Cafeteria

Amphibian declines have been a major focus of the scientific community for nearly three decades. Many studies describe the leading causes of amphibian decline related to disease, with chytridiomycosis as the most notable example. However, little is known about behavioral conspecific interactions among ill or stressed amphibians, particularly neotropical species. Previous observational research on poison frogs determined that stressed Dendrobates auratus flip onto their backs in a reaction that is similar to fainting in other species. In this study, we examine conspecific interactions of green-and-black poison frogs (D. auratus) with “healthy” and “sick” model frogs, in order to determine a difference in interaction time between an upright healthy D. auratus model and an inverted sick D. auratus model. Our data show that there is no difference between the interaction time and physical touch of live D. auratus frogs with upright or inverted model frogs (P > 0.05 for both). These data suggest that D. auratus frogs may not discriminate between healthy or ill conspecifics, even though they may recognize physical conspecific cues that signal illness. Thus, deadly diseases like chytridiomycosis that spread through water and direct contact with infected individuals, will continue to kill off native amphibian species that are beneficial for species diversity and community stability in nature.

The effect of physical stress signals on conspecific interactions in green-and-black poison frogs (Dendrobates auratus)