Episode 136. The Poison Frog Paradox - with Karl Loeffler- Henry

AmphibiCast

Aposematism and chemical defense are common traits among many species of amphibian. California Newts, Dart frogs, and Fire Bellied Toads are prime examples. But, if we look at the three, we notice that not all are colored equally despite all being toxic. California newts and some species of dart frog for example, both produce lethal toxins; but why is one brightly colored all over and why is one brightly colored on its underside only? Is aposematism a better adaptation than camouflage and if so why do some species exhibit both traits?
And to confuse matters further, how do we make sense of the following poison frog paradox? -"A frog is poisonous and bad to eat. It's evolved bright warning colors so that predators will avoid it. But wait! In order for the predator to learn that the frog is poisonous doesn't it have to eat one first anyway?" How does that make any sense!
Well, if you feel confused by the poison frog paradox, this is the episode for you! This week I am joined by Dr. Karl Loeffler-Henry and we discuss how he was able to solve this paradox by studying how aposematism evolved and what the tradeoffs are. We discuss his paper, "Evolutionary transitions from camouflage to aposematism. Hidden signals play a pivotal role," and we talk about how brightly colored organisms survive long enough to warn predators when they are easier to predate than their cryptic peers. Dr. Karl Loeffler-Henry goes on to describe how high degrees of aposematism facilitate speciation, which may partially explain why there are so many different locales of dart frogs.

To learn more about this week's topic and Dr. Loeffler-Henry's work, Visit:
https://carleton.ca/biology/people/karl-loeffler-henry/
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ade5156
This Week's episode is sponsored by Gray Ghost Creations. For unique wildlife, reptile, amphibian, and arachnid art visit:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrayGhostCreations
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About this week's guest:
Dr. Karl Loeffler-Henry is a postdoctoral fellow in the Sherratt Lab. His research focuses on how natural selection influences animal coloration. He explores evolutionary questions using a variety of tools including computer-based simulations, phylogenetic comparative analysis, theoretical models, behavioral experiments and biomechanical comparisons.