Challenges of invasion front: Water balance, stress and immunity in Sclerophrys gutturalis

• Grant number: 18/23661-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: January 15, 2019
• End date: April 14, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
• Grantee: Adriana Maria Giorgi Barsotti
• Supervisor: John Measey
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Associated to the scholarship: 16/05024-3 - Hidric stress and immune response in frogs (Rhinella ornata) inhabiting Atlantic Forest fragments, BP.DR

Abstract

Invasive species are recognized as one of the main threats to vertebrate populations, as they can develop mechanisms that increase their fitness in new conquered environments. In this way, they can be strong competitors exploiting the same resources as the local population and contributing to the loss of biodiversity. Among the mechanisms involved that aid in the ability of invasive species is the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Studies have shown that Rhienlla marina individuals with higher levels of corticosterone exhibit greater movement-related survival than individuals with lower levels. In South Africa, the species bufonidae Sclerophrys gutturalis was introduced in a periurban area with different climatic characteristics (colder and drier) from those in which native populations occur, and show the phenotypic plasticity to deal with the new challenges, such as improved locomotor performance in lower levels of hydration. In this way, we aim to broaden the understanding of the adjustments made by this species to increase their fitness in new environments, through the evaluation of stress response, immunocompetence and water search behavior.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GIORGI BARSOTTI, ADRIANA MARIA; MADELAIRE, CARLA BONETTI; WAGENER, CARLA; TITON JR, BRAZ; MEASEY, JOHN; GOMES, FERNANDO RIBEIRO. Challenges of a novel range: Water balance, stress, and immunity in an invasive toad. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, v. 253, MAR 2021. (18/00406-0, 14/16320-7, 18/23661-6)

MADELAIRE, CARLA B.; BARSOTTI, ADRIANA M. G.; WAGENER, CARLA; SUGANO, YURI Y. VIEIRA; BAXTER-GILBERT, JAMES; GOMES, FERNANDO R.; MEASEY, JOHN. Challenges of dehydration result in a behavioral shift in invasive toads. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY, v. 74, n. 7, JUN 14 2020. (18/23661-6, 18/00406-0, 14/16320-7)