An indomitable invader Physiological tolerance across diverse early-life stressors in an invasive treefrog


SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING (VAM)
January 3 – Febuary 28, 2021

Meeting Abstract


42-4  Sat Jan 2  An indomitable invader? Physiological tolerance across diverse early-life stressors in an invasive treefrog Wilcoxen, TE*; Albin, M; Giannuzzi, K; Koch, N; Lukens, E; Phillips, A; Spence, J; Millikin University ; Millikin University ; Millikin University ; Millikin University ; Millikin University ; Millikin University ; Millikin University twilcoxen@millikin.edu

One of the hallmarks of successful biological invasions is ecological release from the factors that regulate an organism’s population in their native range. However, species that possess traits that allow them to tolerate a broad range of novel stressors also tend to be successful invaders. One of the most successful invasive amphibian species in the Florida peninsula is the Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis). While much of its success in the invasive range can be attributed to competitive advantage and direct predation upon competitors, our research team and others have demonstrated that tolerance to a diverse set of stressors is likely a major contributor to Cuban Treefrog success in Florida. While some of these studies have focused on adult treefrog tolerance, our work has primarily focused on tadpole responses to stressors. Through a series of experiments, we have found Cuban Treefrog tadpoles to be resistant, or generally non-responsive, to tail damage, elevated salinity, water acidification, temperatures below those experienced in their current invasive range, environmentally-relevant levels of cypermethrin, and direct elevation of corticosterone levels. Taken together, these experiments reveal Cuban Treefrog tolerance to a broad range of environmental conditions that are known stressors with deleterious effects in other amphibian species.

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