Maintenance of phenotypic plasticity is linked to oxidative stress in spadefoot toad larvae

Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to improve the match between their phenotype and heterogeneous environments. Theoretical models have argued that costs of maintaining sensory response machinery necessary for adaptive phenotypic are important determinants evolution plasticity. Despite recurrent arguments invoking putative metabolic associated with maintenance cellular machinery, no studies yet attempted quantify it from a molecular standpoint. Here we experimentally examine physiological differences across genotypes (sibships) spadefoot toad larvae different degrees in predator cues. We observed marked sibships developmental, growth morphological responses predators, tested whether increased was oxidative stress or immune suppression. more plastic experienced higher antioxidant enzymatic activity when reared absence cues, i.e. not expressing responses. The degree also lipid peroxidation slightly greater granulocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio. Higher highly suggests may be linked energy demanding processes. Our findings suggest having potential produce incur immunological costs. In long term, such erode individual fitness even constrain To our knowledge, this is first empirical evidence indicating existence cost