Locomotor performance in an invasive species: cane toads from the invasion front have greater endurance, but not speed, compared to conspecifics from a long-colonised area

Cane toads (Bufo marinus) are now moving about 5 times faster through tropical Australia than they did a half-century ago, during the early phases of toad invasion. Radio-tracking has revealed higher daily rates of displacement by toads at the invasion front compared to those from long-colonised areas: toads from frontal populations follow straighter paths, move more often, and move further per displacement than do toads from older (long-established) populations. Are these higher movement rates of invasion-front toads associated with modified locomotor performance (e.g. speed, endurance)? In an outdoor raceway, toads collected from the invasion front had similar speeds, but threefold greater endurance, compared to conspecifics collected from a long-established population. Thus, increased daily displacement in invasion-front toads does not appear to be driven by changes in locomotor speed. Instead, increased dispersal is associated with higher endurance, suggesting that invasion-front toads tend to spend more time moving than do their less dispersive conspecifics. Whether this increased endurance is a cause or consequence of behavioural shifts associated with rapid dispersal is unclear. Nonetheless, shifts in endurance between frontal and core populations of this invasive species point to the complex panoply of traits affected by selection for increased dispersal ability on expanding population fronts.     

The extra-limital spread of an invasive species via 'stowaway' dispersal: toad to nowhere?

The mechanisms by which invasive species spread through new areas can influence the spatial scale of their impact. Although previous research has focused on 'natural' dispersal rates following initial introductions, human-aided inadvertent dispersal by 'stowaways' on commercial and domestic transport is thought to be a major contributor to long-distance dispersal. Few data exist to support this assumption. Cane toads Bufo marinus were introduced to north-eastern Australia in 1935, and have since dispersed rapidly through the tropics. Based on information accumulated by community groups in Sydney, 400 km south of the cane toads' current Australian distribution, we document high rates of translocation (at least 50 toads arriving in Sydney per year). Most toads were translocated on commercial truck transport carrying landscaping and building materials from the current range of the cane toads in New South Wales and Queensland, and resulted in highly clumped locations of toad arrival reflecting primary truck transport destinations. Most introductions involved single toads (68 of 102 translocation events), but some introductions involved two to 19 animals. Adults of both sexes were represented equally but juveniles were rarely detected. High rates of translocation of adult toads of both sexes suggest that the eventual distribution of cane toads in Australia may be limited by the animals' bioclimatic tolerances rather than by an inability to reach suitable habitats, even in areas far distant from the toads' current range.     

Ventilatory Chemosensory Drive Is Blunted in the mdx Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the DMD gene resulting in an absence of dystrophin in neurons and muscle. Respiratory failure is the most common cause of mortality and previous studies have largely concentrated on diaphragmatic muscle necrosis and respiratory failure component. Here, we investigated the integrity of respiratory control mechanisms in the mdx mouse model of DMD. Whole body plethysmograph in parallel with phrenic nerve activity recordings revealed a lower respiratory rate and minute ventilation during normoxia and a blunting of the hypoxic ventilatory reflex in response to mild levels of hypoxia together with a poor performance on a hypoxic stress test in mdx mice. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed low PaO₂ and pH and high PaCO₂ in mdx mice. To investigate chemosensory respiratory drive, we analyzed the carotid body by molecular and functional means. Dystrophin mRNA and protein was expressed in normal mice carotid bodies however, they are absent in mdx mice. Functional analysis revealed abnormalities in Dejours test and the early component of the hypercapnic ventilatory reflex in mdx mice. Together, these results demonstrate a malfunction in the peripheral chemosensory drive that would be predicted to contribute to the respiratory failure in mdx mice. These data suggest that investigating and monitoring peripheral chemosensory drive function may be useful for improving the management of DMD patients with respiratory failure.     

Larger Body Size at Metamorphosis Enhances Survival,Growth and Performance of Young Cane Toads (Rhinella marina)

Body size at metamorphosis is a key trait in species (such as many anurans) with biphasic life-histories. Experimental studies have shown that metamorph size is highly plastic, depending upon larval density and environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, food supply, water quality, chemical cues from conspecifics, predators and competitors). To test the hypothesis that this developmental plasticity is adaptive, or to determine if inducing plasticity can be used to control an invasive species, we need to know whether or not a metamorphosing anuran’s body size influences its subsequent viability. For logistical reasons, there are few data on this topic under field conditions. We studied cane toads (Rhinella marina) within their invasive Australian range. Metamorph body size is highly plastic in this species, and our laboratory studies showed that larger metamorphs had better locomotor performance (both on land and in the water), and were more adept at catching and consuming prey. In mark-recapture trials in outdoor enclosures, larger body size enhanced metamorph survival and growth rate under some seasonal conditions. Larger metamorphs maintained their size advantage over smaller siblings for at least a month. Our data support the critical but rarely-tested assumption that all else being equal, larger body size at metamorphosis is likely to enhance an individual’s long term viability. Thus, manipulations to reduce body size at metamorphosis in cane toads may help to reduce the ecological impact of this invasive species.     

Propagule size and parental care: the "safe harbor" hypothesis

Species that protect their offspring (by egg-brooding or live-bearing) produce larger (and hence fewer) propagules than do related species that do not protect their offspring. This result holds true in most animal groups showing parental care. Analysis of these data supports the hypothesis that propagule size evolves in response to relative survivorship rates during and after the propagule stage: natural selection is most likely to favor large egg size when the egg is a safe harbor.     

Impact of pre-sowing magnetic field exposure of seeds to stationary magnetic field on growth, reactive oxygen species and photosynthesis of maize under field conditions

Impact of pre-sowing exposure of seeds to static magnetic field were studied on 1 month old maize [Zea mays _. var: HQPM.1] plants under field conditions. Pre-standardized magnetic field strength of 100 mT (2 h) and 200 mT (1 h), which were proven best for improving different seedling parameters under laboratory condition, were used for this study. Magnetic field treatment altered growth, superoxide radical level, antioxidant enzymes and photosynthesis. Among the different growth parameters, leaf area and root length were the most enhanced parameters (78–40%, respectively), over untreated plants. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy study showed that superoxide radical was reduced and hydroxyl radical was unaffected after magnetic field treatment. With decrease in free radical content, antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and peroxidase were also reduced by 43 and 23%, respectively, in plants that emerged from magnetically treated seeds. Measurement of Chlorophyll a fluorescence by plant efficiency analyzer showed that the potential of processing light energy through photosynthetic machinery was enhanced by magnetic field treatment. Performance index of the plant enhanced up to two-fold and phenomenological leaf model showed more active reaction centers after magnetic field treatment. Among the two field strengths used, 200 mT (1 h) was more effective in altering all these parameters. It is concluded that pre-sowing magnetic field treatment can be effectively used for improving plant growth and development under field conditions.     

Does foraging mode influence life history traits? A comparative study of growth,maturation and survival of two species of sympatric snakes from south‐eastern Australia

Abstract Theory predicts that compared with active searchers, ambush foragers should have lower rates of energy intake, slower growth, and higher survival rates. We tested these predictions with data on two species of sympatric, saurophagous, small‐bodied, viviparous elapid snakes: the broad‐headed snake, Hoplocephalus bungaroides, and the small‐eyed snake, Rhinoplocephalus nigrescens. Demographic parameters and growth curves for both species were estimated from a long‐term (9 years) mark‐recapture study in Morton National Park, south‐eastern Australia. The ambush predator (H. bungaroides) displayed slower juvenile growth and later maturation (5 years for males, 6 years for females) than did the active forager (R. nigrescens, 3 years). Litter sizes were similar in both species, but reproductive frequency was higher in R. nigrescens (90–100%) than in H. bungaroides (50%). Juvenile survival was lower in the active searcher (31%) than in the ambush forager (55%), but adult survivorship was similar (74% vs 82%). Our results support the hypothesis that ambush foragers display ‘slow’ life history traits, but additional phylogenetically independent comparisons are needed to evaluate the generality of this pattern.