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Vortex Formation and Foraging in Polyphenic Spadefoot Toad Tadpoles
Sepideh Bazazi1, Karin S Pfennig, Nils Olav Handegard
1Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
|November 28, 2012
Summary
Spadefoot toad tadpoles (Spea) form vortices to forage. Only Spea multiplicata tadpoles formed vortices, suggesting species-specific social behaviors and a collective strategy to enhance food availability.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Animal Behavior
- Ecology
Background:
- Animal aggregations display complex emergent properties.
- Spadefoot toad tadpoles (Spea) exhibit diet-dependent morphs (omnivorous/carnivorous).
- Omnivorous Spea multiplicata tadpoles are social, forming aggregates and vortices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively investigate collective vortex formation in spadefoot toad tadpoles.
- To determine factors influencing vortex formation and its adaptive significance.
Main Methods:
- Observation and quantitative analysis of tadpole behavior in aggregates.
- Comparison of vortex formation between Spea bombifrons and Spea multiplicata.
- Analysis of individual movement and tailbeat frequencies within and outside vortices.
Main Results:
- Only Spea multiplicata tadpoles formed vortices, indicating species-specific social interactions.
- Vortex formation probability increased with tadpole density and hunger.
- Individuals within vortices exhibited increased speed and tailbeat frequency, incurring energetic costs.
Conclusions:
- Vortex behavior in Spea multiplicata is a collective foraging strategy.
- This behavior actively modifies the environment to create and exploit resource patches.
- Social interactions and morph determination influence collective behaviors in spadefoot toads.
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