Correction: The Behavioral Response of Larval Amphibians (Ranidae) to Threats from Predators and Parasites.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Dietary antioxidants enhance immunocompetence in larval amphibians.

Dietary antioxidants have been shown to confer a variety of benefits through their ability to counter oxidative stress, including increased immunocompetence and reduced susceptibility to both infectious and non-infectious diseases. However, little is known about the effects of dietary antioxidants on immune function in larval amphibians, a group experiencing worldwide declines driven by factors that likely involve altered immunocompetence. We investigated the effects of dietary antioxidants (quercetin, vitamin E, and β-carotene) on two components of the immune system, as well as development and growth.

The behavioral response of larval amphibians (Ranidae) to threats from predators and parasites.

Organisms are exposed to strong selective pressures from several sources, including predators and pathogens. Response to such interacting selective pressures may vary among species that differ in life history and ecology in predictable ways. We consider the impact of multiple enemies (fish predators and trematode parasites) on the behavior of larvae of three anuran species (Lithobates (=Rana) sylvaticus, L.

Presence of Ribeiroia ondatrae in the developing anuran limb disrupts retinoic acid levels.

The widespread reports of malformed frogs have sparked interest worldwide to try and determine the causes of such malformations. Ribeiroia ondatrae is a digenetic trematode, which has been implicated as one such cause, as this parasite encysts within the developing tadpole hind limb bud and inguinal region causing dramatic limb malformations. Currently, the mechanisms involved in parasite-induced limb deformities remain unclear.

The role of trematode parasites in larval anuran communities: an aquatic ecologist's guide to the major players.

Conservation strategies depend on our understanding of the ecosystem and community dynamics. To date, such understanding has focused mostly on predator-prey and competitor interactions. It is increasingly clear, however, that parasite-host interactions may represent a large, and important, component of natural communities.