December 06, 2013
Abstract: Ammonium as a Suspect Disturbance Cue in Xenopus laevis
Jennifer Rundquist ‘ 13
Hamline University
Biology Senior Seminar
Animals must weigh the risks of predation against the need to reproduce and find food. One way animals reduce their risk of predation is by early recognition of predators. Alarm cues are released by an individual when they are injured by a predator and a conspecific will respond in order to reduce their risk of predation. This is seen in many species of fish and amphibians (Pollock et al., 2005 and Brown et al., 2005). Another way to reduce the risk of predation is by the use of disturbance cues. Disturbance cues are released by an individual when the animal is disturbed, but uninjured, by a predator and a conspecific will respond in order to reduce their risk of predation. Ammonium has been implicated as the disturbance cue in some species of fish and crustaceans (Hazlett et al., 1990 and Kiesecker et al. 1999). Xenopus laevis have been shown to respond to water from disturbed conspecifics and so do respond to disturbance cues (Liz Gunderson, 2007, Hamline Honors Thesis). This study found that X. laevis release more ammonium when disturbed then when relaxed. This indicates that ammonium may be the disturbance cue for X. laevis.
Abstract: Using tree swallows as biomoniters in determining the effect of mercury on reproduction
Madeline Frey ‘ 13
Hamline University
Biology Senior Seminar
Text to be submitted later
