Ontogenetic modulation of risk perception and decision making in larval anurans

To select cost-effective defensive responses, prey need to fine-tune defensive responses by integrating reliable information about predation risk with their own physiological state and energetic needs. While it is difficult to assess the actual perceived level of risk, we hypothesized that stage-related variation in defensive responses to different predation cue concentrations may offer valuable insight into decision making under predation risk. To test this hypothesis, we examined Italian agile frog (Rana latastei) tadpoles’ sensitivity to both fed and fasted predator cues at varying concentrations (1:1, 1:10, 1:100, 1:500) and two developmental stages (26-28 and 30-31 Gosner stages). Younger tadpoles responded similarly to both types of cues, by markedly lowering activity levels when exposed at 1:1 and 1:10 cues, while no significant difference from the control was recorded at low cue concentrations. Older tadpoles in contrast, showed heightened sensitivity to fed predator cues, respo..., , # Ontogenetic Modulation of Risk Perception and Decision Making in Larval Anurans

## Overview

This dataset contains behavioural measurements of larval amphibians (Rana latastei) used to investigate how developmental stage modulates antipredator responses to predator chemical cues. The experiment tested the combined effects of predator diet, cue concentration, and ontogeny on activity and movement. The data support the findings reported in the manuscript Ontogenetic Modulation of Risk Perception and Decision Making in Larval Anurans.

## Files and Variables

### **Data file**

* `data.txt`: Tab-delimited text file containing all behavioral data.

### **Variables**

* `id`: Unique identifier for each individual tadpole.
* `date`: Date of the video recording.
* `session`: Developmental stage (1 = one week post-hatching; 2 = three weeks post-hatching).
* `cod_video`: Identifier of the video file.
* `tub`: Identifier of the tub within the experimental arena.
* `clutch`: Identifier of the c...,