Thesis
Geographic variation in foraging behavior and physiology of the wood frog, Lithobates sylvaticus
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103789
Abstract
Determining the ways in which ecological and evolutionary processes generate and maintain behavioral variation within and between populations is a central aim of behavioral biologists. While population-level variation in behavioral types or personalities has been well documented, the relative contributions of local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity are difficult to distinguish and few empirical studies have attempted to disentangle their effects. The present study examines variation in behavior during a novel open-field foraging assay in individuals from 14 populations of the wide-ranging wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) reared in common garden conditions. At approximately 12 weeks of age, a total of 127 froglets were placed in an unfamiliar container with familiar cricket prey, and behavior (such as locomotion, striking at prey, cricket avoidance, and time to first movement) was recorded for 15 minutes. Hierarchical cluster analysis resolved 7 unique behavioral types with behaviors assorting independently between clusters. Principle components analysis demonstrated a latitudinal cline of behaviors associated with feeding and locomotion; northern animals displayed more exploratory behavior and moderate striking, while southern animals were largely inactive but struck at prey more frequently. The assortment of behavioral type by geographic origin indicates the potential for local adaptation of behavior in wood frogs. A subset of tadpoles from each population was reared at high-density, and frogs from this environment altered the expression of behaviors, but in different ways depending on geographic origin. This demonstrates that behavioral variation is determined by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental conditions experienced during early life. Geographic differences in body size at metamorphosis and growth rate were also observed, however these factors were not associated with behavioral types. This study reveals the multifaceted nature of anuran personality and raises novel hypotheses about the processes that generate variation in behavior.
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Details
- Title
- Geographic variation in foraging behavior and physiology of the wood frog, Lithobates sylvaticus
- Creators
- Margaret Kaye Unkefer
- Contributors
- Erica J. Crespi (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Biological Sciences, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525069501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis