The silence of the Frogs: costs and benefits of cannibalism in a species threatened by a deadly disease
Main funder
Funder's project number: 345974
Funds granted by main funder (€)
- 197 790,00
Funding program
Project timetable
Project start date: 01/09/2021
Project end date: 31/08/2023
Summary
"You are what you eat". Cannibalism is common among animals because eating conspecifics confers nutritional benefits that can make the difference between survival and death. However, cannibals should recognise their kin; if not, they decrease the amount of family genes passed onto the next generation, and are more likely to acquire infectious diseases. Here, we will study the cannibalistic behaviour between tadpoles of an Amazonian frog species which devotedly cares of its offspring, and which develops in unstable environments that can suddenly dry out. This project aims is to establish if cannibalism confers benefits that make tadpoles more likely to survive until metamorphosis, and have larger size and better performance when they start terrestrial life; but also to determine if cannibals pay the cost of acquiring infectious diseases more easily. Our study will provide new insights into the spread mechanisms of a disease that is largely responsible for amphibian declines worldwide.
Principal Investigator
Primary responsible unit
Follow-up groups
Related publications and other outputs
- Visual environment of rearing sites affects larval response to perceived risk in poison frogs (2023) Fouilloux, Chloe A.; et al.; A1; OA
- What Amphibians Can Teach us About the Evolution of Parental Care (2023) Ringler, Eva; et al.; A2
- Tadpole Responses to Environments With Limited Visibility : What We (Don’t) Know and Perspectives for a Sharper Future (2022) Fouilloux, Chloe A.; et al.; A1; OA
