Chemical defenses shift with the seasonal vertical migration of a Panamanian poison frog

Dendrobatid poison frogs sequester lipophilic alkaloids from their arthropod prey to use as a form of chemical defense. Some dendrobatid frogs seasonally migrate between the leaf litter of the forest floor in the dry season to the canopy in the wet season, which may yield differences in prey (arthropods) and therefore alkaloid availability over space and time. Here, we document a seasonal vertical migration ofAndinobates fulguritus(the yellow-bellied poison frog) from ground to canopy between dry and wet seasons. We observed turnover in alkaloid composition between seasons and found that dry season frogs contained a lower relative quantity of alkaloids; however, there was no change in alkaloid richness between seasons. The 77 alkaloids of 13 structural classes identified in this population appear to be derived mostly from mites and ants, though the two most common alkaloids were mite derived. Our observed shifts in defensive profiles are consistent with well-documented turnover in mite and ant communities between seasons and vertical strata. As climate change is expected to lengthen and strengthen dry seasons in many tropical regions, our results suggest that arboreal poison frogs forced to the ground for longer periods of time may see a shift in the abundance of alkaloids, possibly decreasing their defensive potential. This study provides further predictions for the wide-reaching effects of climate change, even as nuanced as charismatic poison frogs losing their poisons. in Spanish is available with online material.

Automated summary

This study documents a seasonal vertical migration of yellow-bellied poison frogs between ground and canopy, with turnover in alkaloid composition but no change in overall richness between seasons. The findings suggest that climate change may alter alkaloid availability for arboreal poison frogs, potentially decreasing their defensive potential.