Antipredator responses of native amphibian tadpoles to the presence of invasive alien African clawed frogs

Biological invasions are a primary driver of global environmental changes. Invasive alien species can affect ecosystem dynamics, including interspecific relationships such as competition and predation. Although widely recognized, the impacts of invasive predators on native prey remain sparsely documented, particularly in amphibians. African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, which is native to South Africa, has successfully established populations in western France and has expanded its range in recent decades. African clawed frog is known to prey on native amphibians; however, the indirect effects of predation risk remain unknown. Using 10 min video recordings, whether Pelophylax spp. tadpoles, which is a native frog common in French wetlands, showed antipredator responses to the invasive African clawed frog was tested. These responses were compared with those to other predators, including native Odonata larvae and alien red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Native tadpoles displayed the greatest distance from the predator, and they were more aggregated (with a smaller nearest neighbour distance) when exposed to African clawed frogs compared with other predators. However, the time individuals spent swimming and exploring as well as the average speed during exploration did not differ among predators. This study focuses on the ability of native tadpoles to recognize and respond to invasive predators, emphasizing the ecological challenges faced by native populations.