Differential gene expression mediates physiological responses to perceived predation risk in a developmentally plastic vertebrate, the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens)
Prey can respond to predation risk through developmental plasticity, generating anti-predator phenotypes. These inducible defenses arise from changes to the stress axis, and neuroendocrine-triggered gene regulation is a likely mechanism influencing such phenotypes. As tadpoles, amphibians improve th...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1539161/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849771387329183744 |
|---|---|
| author | Tucker W. Cambridge Michael E. Donaldson Leslie R. Kerr David Lesbarrères Jessica N. Longhi Jeffrey R. Row Barry J. Saville Dennis L. Murray |
| author_facet | Tucker W. Cambridge Michael E. Donaldson Leslie R. Kerr David Lesbarrères Jessica N. Longhi Jeffrey R. Row Barry J. Saville Dennis L. Murray |
| author_sort | Tucker W. Cambridge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Prey can respond to predation risk through developmental plasticity, generating anti-predator phenotypes. These inducible defenses arise from changes to the stress axis, and neuroendocrine-triggered gene regulation is a likely mechanism influencing such phenotypes. As tadpoles, amphibians improve their escape performance by modifying tail shape in response to perceived predation risk (PPR), and this process should involve tissue and developmentally specific gene regulation. We exposed Lithobates pipiens tadpoles to PPR from Aeshnidae predators and measured tail morphology and transcriptomic response across different tissues (head and tail) and development (pre-metamorphosis to pro-metamorphosis). We found that PPR induced plasticity in tail shape, and this response was suppressed when tadpoles were also exposed to a glucocorticoid synthesis inhibitor. Differential gene expression was associated with predation stress across head and tail tissue, and developmental stage. Predator-exposed tadpoles exhibited up-regulation of genes responsible for muscle tissue and nervous system development, primarily in tail tissue and in pre-metamorphosis. PPR broadly influenced pathways across tissues and metamorphosis, including developmental, endocrine, and immune system pathways. This study provides an important step in understanding transcriptomic responses during predator induced morphological change, and demonstrates that gene expression, as induced by perceived predation risk, is a prominent mechanism of developmental plasticity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e7747edd08fc40799310da495aedcfa7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-e7747edd08fc40799310da495aedcfa72025-08-20T03:02:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2025-03-011310.3389/fevo.2025.15391611539161Differential gene expression mediates physiological responses to perceived predation risk in a developmentally plastic vertebrate, the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens)Tucker W. Cambridge0Michael E. Donaldson1Leslie R. Kerr2David Lesbarrères3Jessica N. Longhi4Jeffrey R. Row5Barry J. Saville6Dennis L. Murray7Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, CanadaForensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, CanadaEnvironment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, CanadaForensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, CanadaPrey can respond to predation risk through developmental plasticity, generating anti-predator phenotypes. These inducible defenses arise from changes to the stress axis, and neuroendocrine-triggered gene regulation is a likely mechanism influencing such phenotypes. As tadpoles, amphibians improve their escape performance by modifying tail shape in response to perceived predation risk (PPR), and this process should involve tissue and developmentally specific gene regulation. We exposed Lithobates pipiens tadpoles to PPR from Aeshnidae predators and measured tail morphology and transcriptomic response across different tissues (head and tail) and development (pre-metamorphosis to pro-metamorphosis). We found that PPR induced plasticity in tail shape, and this response was suppressed when tadpoles were also exposed to a glucocorticoid synthesis inhibitor. Differential gene expression was associated with predation stress across head and tail tissue, and developmental stage. Predator-exposed tadpoles exhibited up-regulation of genes responsible for muscle tissue and nervous system development, primarily in tail tissue and in pre-metamorphosis. PPR broadly influenced pathways across tissues and metamorphosis, including developmental, endocrine, and immune system pathways. This study provides an important step in understanding transcriptomic responses during predator induced morphological change, and demonstrates that gene expression, as induced by perceived predation risk, is a prominent mechanism of developmental plasticity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1539161/fullperceived predation riskdevelopmental plasticityinducible defensesdifferential gene expressionstress |
| spellingShingle | Tucker W. Cambridge Michael E. Donaldson Leslie R. Kerr David Lesbarrères Jessica N. Longhi Jeffrey R. Row Barry J. Saville Dennis L. Murray Differential gene expression mediates physiological responses to perceived predation risk in a developmentally plastic vertebrate, the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution perceived predation risk developmental plasticity inducible defenses differential gene expression stress |
| title | Differential gene expression mediates physiological responses to perceived predation risk in a developmentally plastic vertebrate, the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) |
| title_full | Differential gene expression mediates physiological responses to perceived predation risk in a developmentally plastic vertebrate, the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) |
| title_fullStr | Differential gene expression mediates physiological responses to perceived predation risk in a developmentally plastic vertebrate, the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differential gene expression mediates physiological responses to perceived predation risk in a developmentally plastic vertebrate, the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) |
| title_short | Differential gene expression mediates physiological responses to perceived predation risk in a developmentally plastic vertebrate, the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) |
| title_sort | differential gene expression mediates physiological responses to perceived predation risk in a developmentally plastic vertebrate the northern leopard frog lithobates pipiens |
| topic | perceived predation risk developmental plasticity inducible defenses differential gene expression stress |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1539161/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tuckerwcambridge differentialgeneexpressionmediatesphysiologicalresponsestoperceivedpredationriskinadevelopmentallyplasticvertebratethenorthernleopardfroglithobatespipiens AT michaeledonaldson differentialgeneexpressionmediatesphysiologicalresponsestoperceivedpredationriskinadevelopmentallyplasticvertebratethenorthernleopardfroglithobatespipiens AT leslierkerr differentialgeneexpressionmediatesphysiologicalresponsestoperceivedpredationriskinadevelopmentallyplasticvertebratethenorthernleopardfroglithobatespipiens AT davidlesbarreres differentialgeneexpressionmediatesphysiologicalresponsestoperceivedpredationriskinadevelopmentallyplasticvertebratethenorthernleopardfroglithobatespipiens AT jessicanlonghi differentialgeneexpressionmediatesphysiologicalresponsestoperceivedpredationriskinadevelopmentallyplasticvertebratethenorthernleopardfroglithobatespipiens AT jeffreyrrow differentialgeneexpressionmediatesphysiologicalresponsestoperceivedpredationriskinadevelopmentallyplasticvertebratethenorthernleopardfroglithobatespipiens AT barryjsaville differentialgeneexpressionmediatesphysiologicalresponsestoperceivedpredationriskinadevelopmentallyplasticvertebratethenorthernleopardfroglithobatespipiens AT dennislmurray differentialgeneexpressionmediatesphysiologicalresponsestoperceivedpredationriskinadevelopmentallyplasticvertebratethenorthernleopardfroglithobatespipiens |