Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/22772
Title: | The role of biotic and abiotic cues in stimulating aggregation by larval cane toads (Rhinella marina) | Contributor(s): | Raven, Camilla (author); Shine, Richard (author); Greenlees, Matthew (author); Schaerf, Timothy (author)![]() |
Publication Date: | 2017 | DOI: | 10.1111/eth.12645 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/22772 | Abstract: | Tadpoles of the cane toad (Rhinella marina) form dense aggregations in the field, but the proximate cues eliciting this behavior are not well understood. We sampled water‐bodies in the Northern Territory of Australia, finding that the density of cane toad tadpoles increased with increasing temperature. Furthermore, we conducted laboratory experiments to explore the roles of biotic factors (attraction to conspecifics; chemical cues from an injured conspecific; food) and spatially heterogeneous abiotic factors (light levels, water depth, physical structure) to identify the cues that induce tadpole aggregation. Annulus and binary choice trials demonstrated weak but significant attraction between conspecifics. Tadpoles decreased swimming speeds, but did not increase grouping in response to cues from an injured conspecific. Larvae aggregated in response to abiotic cues (high levels of illumination and proximity to physical structures) and were strongly attracted to feeding conspecifics. Overall, aggregation by cane toad tadpoles is likely driven by weak social attraction coupled with a shared preference for specific abiotic features, creating loose aggregations that are then reinforced by movement toward feeding conspecifics. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | Ethology, 123(10), p. 724-735 | Publisher: | Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co KGaA | Place of Publication: | Germany | ISSN: | 1439-0310 0179-1613 |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 060201 Behavioural Ecology 060801 Animal Behaviour 010202 Biological Mathematics |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: | 310301 Behavioural ecology 310901 Animal behaviour 490102 Biological mathematics |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 970101 Expanding Knowledge in the Mathematical Sciences 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: | 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences 280118 Expanding knowledge in the mathematical sciences |
Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
---|---|
Appears in Collections: | Journal Article School of Science and Technology |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format |
---|
SCOPUSTM
Citations
8
checked on Sep 30, 2023
Page view(s)
1,576
checked on Oct 1, 2023
Items in Research UNE are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.