Metabolic responses of tadpoles to chemical predation cues

What is it about?

Prey have different responses to predators: morphological, physiological, and behavioral. One physiological response is respiration rate, so we measured the indirect effects of dragonfly larvae (predator) on the respiration rate of tadpoles of the Arabian toad (prey) over time and at different predator concentrations.

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Why is it important?

The respiration rate of predator-exposed tadpoles varied initially, but was 56.3% of controls after 26 days. In the dose–response experiment, the respiration rate of all predator-exposed tadpole groups was reduced by between 19.1 and 27.2% after 21 days. The study demonstrates a mechanism by which tadpoles may be able to adjust their physiology to partially offset the costs of lower energy intake due to predator avoidance.