Stress hormones and the fitness consequences associated with the transition to a novel diet in larval amphibians

Cris C Ledón-Rettig; David W Pfennig; Erica J Crespi

doi:10.1242/jeb.034066

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Stress hormones and the fitness consequences associated with the transition to a novel diet in larval amphibians

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Stress hormones and the fitness consequences associated with the transition to a novel diet in larval amphibians

Cris C Ledón-Rettig, David W Pfennig and Erica J Crespi

Journal of experimental biology, Vol.212(Pt 22), pp.3743-3750

11/2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.034066

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/116252

PMID: 19880737

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Abstract

Predatory Behavior

Selection, Genetic

Stress, Physiological

Adaptation, Physiological - physiology

Feeding Behavior

Random Allocation

Anura - physiology

Biological Evolution

Animals

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

Diet

Hormones - metabolism

Anostraca

Corticosterone - metabolism

Larva - physiology

Closely related species often specialize on different types of prey, but little is known about the fitness consequences of making an evolutionary transition to a novel diet. Spadefoot toad larvae provide a unique opportunity to reconstruct these evolutionary events. Although most anuran larvae feed on detritus or plankton, Spea larvae have also evolved the ability to consume large anostracan fairy shrimp. To investigate the changes that may have accompanied the shift to shrimp prey, we compared shrimp-induced physiological responses of Spea larvae with those of its sister genus, Scaphiopus, that has not made this transition. Although Spea larvae performed equally well on either diet, shrimp-fed Scaphiopus larvae experienced reduced growth and developmental rates, as well as elevated levels of the stress hormone corticosterone when compared with those that ate the ancestral detritus diet. These results suggest that ancestral Spea likely experienced reduced fitness when they first adopted a carnivorous feeding strategy.

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Title: Stress hormones and the fitness consequences associated with the transition to a novel diet in larval amphibians
Creators: Cris C Ledón-Rettig - Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 27599, USA. ledonret@email.unc.edu
David W Pfennig
Erica J Crespi
Publication Details: Journal of experimental biology, Vol.212(Pt 22), pp.3743-3750
Academic Unit: Biological Sciences, School of
Publisher: England
Identifiers: 99900547674101842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article