B. bufo tadopoles behavior

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B. bufo tadopoles behavior

Postby Michal Szkudlarek » Sun May 27, 2012 6:34 pm

Hello
Tadpoles of common toad are characterized by behavior involving swimming in one direction along the bank of the pond by all tadpoles. Does anyone know why they display such ability to form organized order?
Greetings
Michał
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Re: B. bufo tadopoles behavior

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Tue May 29, 2012 9:33 am

Michal Szkudlarek wrote:Hello
Tadpoles of common toad are characterized by behavior involving swimming in one direction along the bank of the pond by all tadpoles. Does anyone know why they display such ability to form organized order?
Greetings
Michał


Tadpoles exhibit schooling for more or less the same reasons as fish, with some (rather subtle) differences. Just google "tadpoles" and "schooling" and you'll find some relevant reading material.
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Re: B. bufo tadopoles behavior

Postby Michal Szkudlarek » Sat Jun 02, 2012 2:36 pm

So they form ring constantly swimming in one direction along shoreline because they have bad abilities to localize food directly, so to find food they follow odor of compounds which other tadpole produces during feeding?
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Re: B. bufo tadopoles behavior

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:36 pm

Defence in numbers
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Re: B. bufo tadopoles behavior

Postby Michal Szkudlarek » Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:47 pm

I don't understand Your sentence Jeroen. Thus why non-toxic tadpoles does not display it?
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Re: B. bufo tadopoles behavior

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:56 pm

Aggregating in large numbers decreases individual mortality. Simple "Attenborough stuff" ;)
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Re: B. bufo tadopoles behavior

Postby Michal Szkudlarek » Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:09 pm

Why You think so? Can You give an example?
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Re: B. bufo tadopoles behavior

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:11 pm

Michal Szkudlarek wrote:Why You think so? Can You give an example?


Basic ecology, really. If you hide inside a flock/herd/school/..., the chances for an individual to become predated are considerably lower in contrast to running/swimming around solo.
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Re: B. bufo tadopoles behavior

Postby Michal Szkudlarek » Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:15 pm

But we are talking about toxic species.
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Re: B. bufo tadopoles behavior

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:17 pm

Michal Szkudlarek wrote:But we are talking about toxic species.


Are we? Ever seen Dytiscus marginalis having its fun with Bufo tadpoles?
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