Olfactory cues elicit species-specific locomotive responses in poison frog tadpoles

TL;DR

Poison frog tadpoles from different species react uniquely to smell cues, showing species-specific behaviors in response to environmental signals.

Contribution

The study reveals species-specific olfactory responses in poison frog tadpoles linked to their life history strategies.

Findings

A. femoralis tadpoles spent more time near an injury cue compared to control.

R. imitator tadpoles increased movement in response to high amino acid concentrations.

Abstract

Amphibian species rear their larvae in distinct environments that may influence how they respond to different sensory stimuli. Here, we investigated the olfactory-mediated locomotive responses of two poison frog species (
Allobates femoralis
and
Ranitomeya imitator
) that vary in life history strategies. We found that
A. femoralis
tadpoles spent more time near an injury cue compared to control, while
R. imitator
tadpoles increased their movement in response to high concentrations of amino acids. These experiments were done in an undergraduate laboratory course, demonstrating how simple behavior assays conducted in a classroom setting can provide practical research experiences and new insights into animal behavior.

Figures