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Behavioural preference for low levels of UV-B radiation in two neotropical frog species from Costa Rica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

Joseph A. DeMarchi ,
Andrew Britton ,
Kaylee O'Donnell  and
Ralph A. Saporito
Joseph A. DeMarchi
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio 44118, USA
Andrew Britton
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio 44118, USA
Kaylee O'Donnell
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio 44118, USA
Ralph A. Saporito*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio 44118, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Email: rsaporito@jcu.edu
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Abstract:

Tropical frogs experience damaging effects from exposure to UV-B radiation, and some diurnally active, conspicuous species exhibit avoidance behaviours to high levels of UV-B. To determine if similar behaviours are present in other diurnal frogs, we experimentally compared UV-B avoidance in two common species of neotropical diurnal frogs – Oophaga pumilio, an aposematic poison frog and Craugastor bransfordii, a cryptic leaf-litter frog – in response to different levels of UV-B. Wild-caught frogs were tested in experimental arenas fitted with filters that permitted two different levels of UV-B (low: 14% vs. high: 84% UV-B). Both species spent significantly more time under the low UV-B filter, suggesting that behavioural preferences for lower levels of UV-B are common to different diurnal species. Furthermore, male O. pumilio significantly preferred lower levels of UV-B, whereas females did not exhibit a preference for lower UV-B, which may suggest differences in UV-B exposure or sensitivity and/or alternative mechanism(s) to avoid UV-B between sexes. Although limited in scope, the findings of our study suggest that UV-B avoidance may be a behavioural adaptation common to all diurnal frogs.

Keywords

Craugastor bransfordiidendrobatidOophaga pumilioultraviolet-B
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 34 , Issue 5 , September 2018 , pp. 336 - 340
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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