Presentation Type
Poster
Keywords
UVB Avoidance in Dendrobates azereus Tadpoles
Department
Biology
Major
Biology
Abstract
Most frogs are nocturnal, but dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) are diurnal and lack scales or hair that would protect them from UVB rays. Previous studies have demonstrated that adult dart frogs avoid UVB light. The purpose of this experiment was to test whether dart frog larvae would avoid UVB light when compared to local nocturnal treefrog larvae. For the experiment we used tadpoles of Dendrobates azureus and Pseudacris regilla. The tadpoles were put in tubs with a submerged shelter and exposed to 3 lighting conditions: UVB, no light and visible light. The tadpoles were exposed to only one lighting condition each trial. They were exposed to these conditions for 6 hours and observations were taken every half hour to note if tadpoles were under the shelter or out in the open. The results demonstrated that both species of tadpoles did not appear to increase shelter use when exposed to no light or visible light. However, for the UVB condition dart frog tadpoles used shelter significantly more than P. regilla tadpoles. In conclusion this experiment demonstrates that dart frog tadpoles are appear more sensitive to UVB than local treefrog tadpoles.
Faculty Mentor
Lee Kats
Funding Source or Research Program
Summer Undergraduate Research in Biology
Location
Waves Cafeteria
Start Date
23-3-2018 2:00 PM
End Date
23-3-2018 3:30 PM
Included in
UVB Avoidance in Dendrobates azereus Tadpoles
Waves Cafeteria
Most frogs are nocturnal, but dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) are diurnal and lack scales or hair that would protect them from UVB rays. Previous studies have demonstrated that adult dart frogs avoid UVB light. The purpose of this experiment was to test whether dart frog larvae would avoid UVB light when compared to local nocturnal treefrog larvae. For the experiment we used tadpoles of Dendrobates azureus and Pseudacris regilla. The tadpoles were put in tubs with a submerged shelter and exposed to 3 lighting conditions: UVB, no light and visible light. The tadpoles were exposed to only one lighting condition each trial. They were exposed to these conditions for 6 hours and observations were taken every half hour to note if tadpoles were under the shelter or out in the open. The results demonstrated that both species of tadpoles did not appear to increase shelter use when exposed to no light or visible light. However, for the UVB condition dart frog tadpoles used shelter significantly more than P. regilla tadpoles. In conclusion this experiment demonstrates that dart frog tadpoles are appear more sensitive to UVB than local treefrog tadpoles.