Defensive coloration is not a reliable indicator of fungal infection in aposematic poison frogs

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Lia Schlippe Justicia - , University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Author)
  • Carolin Dittrich - , Chair of Limnology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, University of Jyväskylä (Author)
  • Ossi Nokelainen - , University of Jyväskylä (Author)
  • Bibiana Rojas - , University of Jyväskylä, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Author)

Abstract

The expression of visual signals such as coloration can be altered by parasitic or pathogenic infections through multiple pathways, including resource reallocation, impaired tissue structure, and reduced pigment acquisition. These effects may compromise the functions of coloration and overall fitness. Conversely, the link between pigments and immunological defences can aid differently colored individuals in coping with infection. While the pigmentation-condition association has been widely studied in the context of sexual selection, far less is known about how pathogens affect defensive coloration, such as aposematic signals. Here, we investigated whether infection by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is reflected in characteristics of the melanin- and/or carotenoid-based coloration of the aposematic poison frog Dendrobates tinctorius in the wild. Using ddPCR to identify the frogs' infection status, and multispectral digital imaging to quantify their coloration traits, we show that neither type of coloration is a reliable indicator of Bd infection. Instead, body size influenced both infection outcomes and coloration, with sex-specific patterns suggesting potential ontogenetic or life-history trade-offs. Our findings highlight that the links between color expression and condition are more context- and taxa-dependent than often assumed, and suggest that, in D. tinctorius, defensive signals may remain stable despite pathogen exposure.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numberaraf137
JournalBehavioral ecology : the official journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology
Volume37
Issue number1
Early online date20 Nov 2025
Publication statusPublished - 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-4447-4481/work/197966069
Mendeley bd27ef74-4ee5-3121-b766-138cbfaeb213
PubMed 41403685
Scopus 105024998033

Keywords

Keywords

  • visual signal, Dendrobates tinctorius, carotenoids, chytrid fungus, pathogens, melanin, poison frog, Amazon