Rapid Evolution of Antipredator Defenses in Frogs

This study examines how coexistence time shapes antipredator responses of the Iberian water frog (Pelophylax perezi) to the invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). We collected eggs from five frog populations differing in historical exposure to P. clarkii and raised tadpoles in the presence/absence of caged crayfish. Our results suggest that, while naive P. perezi populations responded behaviorally to P. clarkii, the strong predation pressure imposed by the crayfish has induced the evolution of different antipredator defenses in populations with longer coexistence time. These responses suggest that strong selection by invasive predators may drive rapid evolutionary change in invaded communities.