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Variation in anti-parasite behaviour and infection among larval amphibian species

  • Behavioral ecology - Original research
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Abstract

Along with immune defences, many animals exhibit effective anti-parasite behaviours such as parasite avoidance and removal that influence their susceptibility to infection. Host ecology and life history influence investment into comparatively fixed defences such as innate immunity but may affect the strength of anti-parasite behaviours as well. We investigated activity levels in five different species of larval amphibian with varying life histories and ecology in control, novel food stimulus, and trematode parasite (Echinoparyphium sp.) threat conditions. There was a significant interaction of species and treatment given that American toad (Bufo americanus), wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus), and bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) tadpoles generally increased their activity when parasite infectious stages were present while grey tree frogs (Hyla versicolor) and northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens) did not, even though activity was negatively related to infection. In addition, there was considerable variation among species in their susceptibility to parasitism, with infection prevalence ranging from 17 % in bullfrog tadpoles to 70 % in wood frogs. However, amphibian life history (larval and adult traits) was not related to parasitism or level of anti-parasite behaviour at the species level. Consequently, we suggest that future investigations include more species with a range of life history traits and also consider host ecology, particularly if conspicuous anti-parasite behaviours are more likely in amphibian species that experience a relatively low risk of predation.

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Acknowledgments

We thank D. Szuroczki and B. Pickering for aid in obtaining amphibian eggs and larvae as well as the anonymous reviewer of an earlier manuscript for helpful comments. This work was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC Discovery Grant no. 386691-2010) and the Brandon University Research Council to J. K., as well as NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards to J. C. R. and H. L. M.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada

    Janet Koprivnikar

  2. Department of Biology, Brandon University, 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6A9, Canada

    Julia C. Redfern & Hannah L. Mazier

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  1. Janet Koprivnikar
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  2. Julia C. Redfern
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  3. Hannah L. Mazier
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Correspondence to Janet Koprivnikar.

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Communicated by David Marcogliese.

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Koprivnikar, J., Redfern, J.C. & Mazier, H.L. Variation in anti-parasite behaviour and infection among larval amphibian species. Oecologia 174, 1179–1185 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-013-2857-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-013-2857-7

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