Living on the edge: Effects of body size, group density and microhabitat selection on escape behaviour of southern leopard frogs Lithobates sphenocephalus
Models of optimal escape strategy predict that animals should move away when the costs of fleeing (metabolic and opportunity costs) are outweighed by the costs of remaining. These theoretical models predict that more vulnerable individuals should be more reactive, moving away when an approaching thr...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Current Zoology Editorial Office
2014
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13755 |
| _version_ | 1848748430859436032 |
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| author | Bateman, Bill Fleming, P. |
| author_facet | Bateman, Bill Fleming, P. |
| author_sort | Bateman, Bill |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Models of optimal escape strategy predict that animals should move away when the costs of fleeing (metabolic and opportunity costs) are outweighed by the costs of remaining. These theoretical models predict that more vulnerable individuals should be more reactive, moving away when an approaching threat is further away. We tested whether escape behaviour (including ‘escape calling’) of Lithobates sphenocephalus approached by a human was influenced by body size or the initial microhabitat that the individual was found in. Irrespective of their size, frogs in the open tended to remain immobile, enhancing their crypsis. Frogs in cover showed different responses according to their body size, but, contrary to our initial predictions, larger frogs showed greater responsiveness (longer flight initiation distance and distances fled) than small frogs. Small frogs tended to remain closer to water and escaped into water, while larger individuals were more likely to jump to terrestrial cover and call during escape. Density of frogs near the focal animal had no effect on escape behaviour. This study indicates a range of escape responses in this species and points to the importance of divergent escape choices for organisms which live on the edge of different environments [Current Zoology 60 (6): 712–718, 2014]. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:04:55Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-13755 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:04:55Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | Current Zoology Editorial Office |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-137552017-01-30T11:39:18Z Living on the edge: Effects of body size, group density and microhabitat selection on escape behaviour of southern leopard frogs Lithobates sphenocephalus Bateman, Bill Fleming, P. Distance fled Rana sphenocephala Flight initiation distance (FID) Alarm call Microhabitat selection Models of optimal escape strategy predict that animals should move away when the costs of fleeing (metabolic and opportunity costs) are outweighed by the costs of remaining. These theoretical models predict that more vulnerable individuals should be more reactive, moving away when an approaching threat is further away. We tested whether escape behaviour (including ‘escape calling’) of Lithobates sphenocephalus approached by a human was influenced by body size or the initial microhabitat that the individual was found in. Irrespective of their size, frogs in the open tended to remain immobile, enhancing their crypsis. Frogs in cover showed different responses according to their body size, but, contrary to our initial predictions, larger frogs showed greater responsiveness (longer flight initiation distance and distances fled) than small frogs. Small frogs tended to remain closer to water and escaped into water, while larger individuals were more likely to jump to terrestrial cover and call during escape. Density of frogs near the focal animal had no effect on escape behaviour. This study indicates a range of escape responses in this species and points to the importance of divergent escape choices for organisms which live on the edge of different environments [Current Zoology 60 (6): 712–718, 2014]. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13755 Current Zoology Editorial Office restricted |
| spellingShingle | Distance fled Rana sphenocephala Flight initiation distance (FID) Alarm call Microhabitat selection Bateman, Bill Fleming, P. Living on the edge: Effects of body size, group density and microhabitat selection on escape behaviour of southern leopard frogs Lithobates sphenocephalus |
| title | Living on the edge: Effects of body size, group density and microhabitat selection on escape behaviour of southern leopard frogs Lithobates sphenocephalus |
| title_full | Living on the edge: Effects of body size, group density and microhabitat selection on escape behaviour of southern leopard frogs Lithobates sphenocephalus |
| title_fullStr | Living on the edge: Effects of body size, group density and microhabitat selection on escape behaviour of southern leopard frogs Lithobates sphenocephalus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Living on the edge: Effects of body size, group density and microhabitat selection on escape behaviour of southern leopard frogs Lithobates sphenocephalus |
| title_short | Living on the edge: Effects of body size, group density and microhabitat selection on escape behaviour of southern leopard frogs Lithobates sphenocephalus |
| title_sort | living on the edge: effects of body size, group density and microhabitat selection on escape behaviour of southern leopard frogs lithobates sphenocephalus |
| topic | Distance fled Rana sphenocephala Flight initiation distance (FID) Alarm call Microhabitat selection |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13755 |