Alien species impact native amphibians through various direct effects, including predation, and pose a significant threat to naïve prey populations. In this study, we exposed tadpoles of three brown frog species ( Rana dalmatina , Rana latastei , and Rana temporaria ) to the olfactory cues of two alien predators, the pond slider ( Trachemys scripta ) and red swamp crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii ), and compared their responses...

Chemical cues released upon injury play a crucial role in mediating antipredator responses in many aquatic species. Prey populations capable of exploiting information from different sources may enhance their fitness, although the factors determining this ability are not always clear. In this study, we investigated the antipredator responses to both conspecific and heterospecific injury cues (i.e., alarm cues) in three brown fr...

Geckos of clade III of the Tarentola mauritanica species complex are widespread throughout southern Europe and northern Africa. We investigated the genetic variability of the Italian populations by performing a widespread sampling throughout the mainland and the two main islands of Sicily and Sardinia. We analysed 199 newly generated sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and 269 nuclear genotypes inferred from nine micr...

When exposed to predation risk, some amphibian species show innate responses, while others recognize their predators by learning. To explore the role played by each mechanism in the assessment of predation risk, we investigated the effects of embryonic and larval exposure to predator chemical cues on tadpole defensive responses, including behavioural, morphological and life history traits. In the first experiment, agile frog (...

Microplastics (MPs) are nowadays abundant, persistent, and ubiquitous in the environment, representing a new threat for terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems. Although anuran populations and species are globally declining, the effect of MP exposure on this taxon has been poorly investigated. With the aim of assessing the effects of microplastic exposure on the defensive responses of Italian agile frog ( Rana latastei...