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| Tadpoles show behavioral and physiological coping response to traffic noise |
| Megan M. Flanagan, Hannah J. Stottlemyre, Caitlin R. Gabor. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, United States |
Our study investigated the impact of elevated traffic noise on growth, activity, and stress hormones in two species of tadpoles, Acris crepitans and Rana berlandieri. Tadpoles were exposed either early or later in development to traffic noise or a white noise control. Early exposure to traffic noise led to differences in mass, activity, and corticosterone release rates compared to later exposures. Tadpoles initially exposed to traffic noise experienced mass loss, with A. crepitans recovering mass but not R. berlandieri. R. berlandieri increased movement when transitioned to the white noise treatment after early exposure to traffic noise, while A. crepitans showed no significant change in activity. Additionally, A. crepitans displayed higher corticosterone release rates than R. berlandieri, and both species exhibited elevated corticosterone with earlier noise exposure. Given that R. berlandieri allocated more energy to activity, while A. crepitans prioritized growth these findings suggest that tadpoles employ different coping strategies in noise-polluted environments. We hypothesize that these alternative strategies are influenced by their differing life histories. |