Nuance in the Narrative of a Brown Poison Frog: Environmental Alkaloids and Specialized Foraging in a Presumed Toxin-Free and Diet-Generalized Species

Journal of Chemical Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 51(2)

Published: March 12, 2025

Language: Английский

Passive accumulation of alkaloids in inconspicuously colored frogs refines the evolutionary paradigm of acquired chemical defenses

eLife, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: Aug. 2, 2024

Understanding the origins of novel, complex phenotypes is a major goal in evolutionary biology. Poison frogs family Dendrobatidae have evolved novel ability to acquire alkaloids from their diet for chemical defense at least three times. However, taxon sampling has been biased towards colorful species, without similar attention paid inconspicuous ones that are often assumed be undefended. As result, our understanding how this group incomplete. Here, we provide new data showing that, contrast previous studies, species each undefended poison frog clade measurable yet low amounts alkaloids. We confirm dendrobatids regularly consume mites and ants, which known sources Thus, suggest insufficient explain defended phenotype. Our support existence phenotypic intermediate between toxin consumption sequestration — passive accumulation differs it involves no derived forms transport storage mechanisms results levels accumulation. discuss concept its potential role origin defenses other toxin-sequestering organisms. In light ideas pharmacokinetics, incorporate old into an model could help acquired animals insight molecular processes govern fate ingested toxins.

Language: Английский

Non-destructive sampling of poison frogs for toxin analysis in forensic casework

Forensic Science International Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100414 - 100414

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский