Aposematic polytypism, having multiple aposematic (warning coloration) signals among populations, is a perplexing phenomenon because in order to fascilitate predator learning, selection should favor little variation in signal. Poison Frogs (Dendrobatidae), however, show polytypism in many species, so the question remains as to what evolutionary forces would promote such variation.

 

Recent research suggests that colors are honest indicators of toxicity for birds (the hypothesized predators driving this evolution), which means that the brighter the color, the more toxic the frog. Poison Frogs derive their toxicity from dietary items, which would suggest that different colored frogs are selecting different prey items. To examine this, I have collected stomachs of thirteen different populations of the highly polytypic Strawberry Poison Frog (Oophaga pumilio) and am in the process of analysize toxins (using both GC-MS and LC-MS processes) and identifying prey contents using next generation Illumina DNA sequencing technology.