Efficacy of the coloration of Brachycephalus rotenbergae (Anura: Brachycephalidae) as an aposematic signal for visually oriented predators

• Grant number: 23/09363-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Taran Grant
• Grantee: Milena Lambert Rezende
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/15425-0 - A multi-disciplinary approach to the study of amphibian diversification: phase 2, AP.JP2

Abstract

Some animals avoid predation through aposematic signals, which can be chemical, acoustic, or visual. The use of coloration as an aposematic signal involves displaying bright and contrasting colors and patterns on their bodies, indicating the presence of defensive chemical compounds. This coloration warns potential predators about their profitability, indicating to the predator that they could pose some risk to its survival. Many species of Brachycephalus exhibit conspicuous coloration ranging from yellow to orange in association with the presence of tetrodotoxin. This study aims to experimentally evaluate whether the coloration of Brachycephalus rotenbergae functions as an aposematic signal for visually oriented predators. To test this hypothesis, a field predation experiment will be conducted using replicas made of non-toxic modeling clay, representing the species (orange) and a cryptic frog (brown). Through the impressions found on the models, it will be possible to identify and count the predators of the species.