Plastics have become a pervasive global contaminant since the mid-20th century, causing harm to organisms at all levels. Preventative measures to reduce plastic pollution and awareness-raising campaigns about the damaging effects of plastic debris on the environment and its inhabitants are crucial; however, most plastic assessments focus on singular trophic levels. Microplastics, tiny plastic particles ranging from 25 μm to 5 mm, have emerged as a widespread form of pollution found in ecosystems worldwide. They can enter the environment directly or through the breakdown of larger plastic debris and are thought to be mistaken for food by foraging animals. This leads to microplastics circulating through ecosystems via direct and indirect consumption, ultimately impacting even higher-order predators. Here, we assess the impacts of microplastics on Chlorophyll a concentrations, algal community structure, copepod survivorship, and fish behavior in experimental trials, in addition to simulated top-predator foraging success on plastic-exposed fish. Our results indicate that microplastics have detrimental effects on algal growth and copepod survival. We also observed the trophic transmission of small plastic spheres from copepods to fish predators, highlighting a concerning pathway for microplastic pollution within aquatic ecosystems, where fish consumed plastics through direct and indirect means. Primary consumers, like copepods, face dual pressures from top-down forcing, as they are preferred over plastic particles as food sources, and bottom-up resource depletion, as algal food supplies can be limited by microplastic exposure. Our findings demonstrate the system-wide impacts that can occur when microplastics are included in food chains and underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the entry of plastic debris into aquatic ecosystems. 

Bioaccumulation, transfer, and impacts of microplastics in aquatic food chains

Understanding and predicting infection dynamics for an endangered amphibian using long-term surveys of wild and translocated frogs

Ten Principles from Evolutionary Ecology for the Effective Conservation of Reptiles and Amphibians

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; The behavioral responses of laboratory-reared and wild-caught tadpoles of Polypedates maculatus to predatory tadpoles of Hoplobatrachus tigerinus were studied in the laboratory. The predator’s diet-derived metabolites released in excreta of predator after consumption of P. maculatus tadpoles were used to simulate predation threat. Both laboratory-reared and wild-caught tadpoles of P. maculatus showed antipredator behavioral responses i.e., reduced swimming movements and overall time spent in swimming and had a higher burst speed in response to water borne dietary cues of predators. Further, the antipredator responses of wild-caught tadpoles were significantly higher than those exhibited by laboratory-reared tadpoles. The studythus shows that antipredator behavior in these tadpoles is innate. Further, an enhanced antipredator behavior of wild-caught tadpoles may suggest their prior experience with predators in natural waters.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; 

pdf/behavioral-responses-of-laboratory-reared-and-wild-caught-4mq51y0by7.pdf

Behavioral responses of laboratory-reared and wild-caught Polypedates maculatus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) tadpoles to dietary cues from the carnivorous tadpoles of Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Anura: Dicroglossidae)

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Understanding and Predicting Disease Dynamics for an Endangered Amphibian Using Long-Term Surveys of Wild and Translocated Frogs

Pre-release training is becoming a standard practice in conservation breeding and translocation programs for mammals and birds, but is still relatively neglected for herpetofauna, likely stemming from widespread beliefs that amphibians are “hard-wired” and are thus predicted to benefit little from experiential learning. However, experience during development can drive both morphological and behavioral modifications that could benefit post-translocation survival. Here, we developed an anti-predator training program for the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog Rana muscosa and evaluated its impact on morphometrics, developmental rates, behavior, and post-release outcomes. Using a controlled, balanced factorial experimental design, we exposed individuals at two developmental stages (tadpoles and post-metamorphic) to visual and olfactory cues from one of its principal predators, the two-striped garter snake Thamnophis hammondii. We found that exposure to predators during the tadpole stage impacted tadpole development, morphology, and behavior. However, we found no evidence that post-metamorphic behavior or post-release outcomes were influenced by tadpole predator exposure, either on its own or in interaction with post-metamorphic training treatments. Training of post-metamorphic frogs, however, yielded evidence of learning, with downstream effects on behavior and apparent survival after release into the wild. Our findings produce novel insights on the value of anti-predator training in amphibian conservation translocation programs, bolster recent evidence re-evaluating the importance of learning and developmental experience for amphibian species, and provide guidance for selecting optimal developmental windows for training. 

Early life experience with predators impacts development, behavior, and post‐translocation outcomes in an endangered amphibian

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Early life experience with predators impacts development, behavior, and post‐translocation outcomes in an endangered amphibian