Unpublished conference/Abstract (Scientific congresses and symposiums)
Effect of drying on paedomorphosis in Triturus alpestris
Denoël, Mathieu; Joly, Pierre; Poncin, Pascal
20001st International Scientific Meeting of the Biology and Ecology of Alpine Amphibians and Reptiles
Peer reviewed
 

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Keywords :
Congress
Abstract :
[en] Paedomorphosis consists in the retention of larval characters in adult individuals. It has been observed in several species of newts and salamanders. Optimality models were proposed to explain why it occurs in a large range of aquatic habitats. These models predict that paedomorphs can be advantaged in two situations as contrasted as favourable habitats (paedomorph advantage) or harsh habitats where the newts can benefit of delaying metamorphosis provided that competition with metamorphosed individuals is relaxed (best-of-a-bad-lot hypothesis). This last tactic implies that the habitats are stable enough to ensure the survival of individuals that can not leave the pond. In this respect, our aim was to describe behaviour of paedomorphic Alpine newts (Triturus alpestris) dealing with lake drying. We studied a population from an Alpine lake that splits into two parts during summer, one of them drying then totally. We analyzed age structures by means of skeletochronology and capture-marking-recapture. Paedomorphs and metamorphs showed similar age structures with sexual maturity occurring at 4-5 years, suggesting that most paedomorphs did not metamorphose. CMR data revealed that a great proportion of the paedomorphs marked in the drying part of the lake did not metamorphose and survived to drying. We also carried out laboratory experiments using two-compartiments aquaria to simulate lake drying. These experiments proved that paedomorphic newts could cross terrestrial habitats to reach a pond. Thus paedomorphic newts can migrate on land while keeping their larval attributes rather than metamorphosing when their pond is drying up. Such a tactic appears adaptive because polymorphism in such a deep lake reduces competition between individuals (pers. obs.).
Disciplines :
Zoology
Author, co-author :
Denoël, Mathieu  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Joly, Pierre;  Université Claude Bernard - Lyon 1 - UCLB
Poncin, Pascal ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Language :
English
Title :
Effect of drying on paedomorphosis in Triturus alpestris
Publication date :
2000
Event name :
1st International Scientific Meeting of the Biology and Ecology of Alpine Amphibians and Reptiles
Event place :
Nazarje, Slovenia
Event date :
1-3 September 2000
Audience :
International
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Funders :
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture [BE]
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since 31 August 2010

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