May future climate change promote the invasion of the marsh frog? An integrative thermo-physiological study.

Oecologia

Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians (LECA), Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS), University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.

Published: June 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • Climate change and invasive species significantly contribute to biodiversity loss, and their interaction could worsen this issue.
  • Invasive marsh frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus) show an impressive ability to tolerate a wide range of temperatures, allowing them to thrive in Western Europe, often surpassing their current environmental conditions.
  • Their capacity to withstand extreme temperature variations and enhanced performance at higher temperatures may enable marsh frogs to expand their range and invade new habitats effectively.

Article Abstract

Climate change and invasive species are two major drivers of biodiversity loss and their interaction may lead to unprecedented further loss. Invasive ectotherms can be expected to tolerate temperature variation because of a broad thermal tolerance and may even benefit from warmer temperatures in their new ranges that better match their thermal preference. Multi-trait studies provide a valuable approach to elucidate the influence of temperature on the invasion process and offer insights into how climatic factors may facilitate or hinder the spread of invasive ectotherms. We here used marsh frogs, Pelophylax ridibundus, a species that is invading large areas of Western Europe but whose invasive potential has been underestimated. We measured the maximal and minimal temperatures to sustain physical activity, the preferred temperature, and the thermal dependence of their stamina and jumping performance in relation to the environmental temperatures observed in their invasive range. Our results showed that marsh frogs can withstand body temperatures that cover 100% of the annual temperature variation in the pond they live in and 77% of the observed current annual air temperature variation. Their preferred body temperature and performance optima were higher than the average temperature in their pond and the average air temperature experienced under the shade. These data suggest that invasive marsh frogs may benefit from a warmer climate. Broad thermal tolerances, combined with high thermal preferences and traits maximised at high temperatures, may allow this species to expand their activity period and colonise underexploited shaded habitat, thereby promoting their invasion success.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-023-05402-0DOI Listing

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