Mogali, S. M., B. A. Shanbhag & S. K. Saidapur

Behavioural responses of predator-naïve, predator-experienced and wild-caught Sphaerotheca breviceps tadpoles to kairomones from the carnivorous tadpoles of Hoplobatrachus tigerinus. pp. 147-152.

Abstract. The behavioural responses of predator-naïve (laboratory-born), predator-experienced (laboratory-born but with short-term experience with predators), and wild-caught (with long-term experience with predators in natural settings) tadpoles of Sphaerotheca breviceps to carnivorous predatory tadpoles of Hoplobatrachus tigerinus was studied in the laboratory. The predator’s stimulus solution (kairomones) was used to simulate predation threat. All S. breviceps tadpoles (i.e., predator-naïve, predator-experienced and wild-caught) exhibited behavioural antipredator responses, i.e., reduced swimming activity and time spent swimming, and had a higher burst speed in response to water-borne kairomonal cues of predators. Wild-caught tadpoles showed stronger responses than predator-naïve and predator-experienced tadpoles and the latter exhibited stronger responses than predator-naïve tadpoles. Our study thus suggests that antipredator behaviour in these tadpoles is basically innate. Furthermore, the enhanced antipredator behaviour of wild-caught tadpoles indicates that learning is involved.

Key words. Amphibia, Anura, antipredator behaviour, chemical cues, prey, predator, tadpole.