Prey selection by tiger frog larvae (<i>Hoplobatrachus chinensis</i>) of two sympatric anuran species’ tadpoles

Li WEI; Zhi-Hua LIN; Ren-You ZHAO; Shi-Tong CHEN

doi:10.11813/j.issn.0254-5853.2013.3.0209

Volume 34 Issue 3

May 2013

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Article Navigation > Zoological Research > 2013 > 34(3): 209-213

Li WEI, Zhi-Hua LIN, Ren-You ZHAO, Shi-Tong CHEN. Prey selection by tiger frog larvae (Hoplobatrachus chinensis) of two sympatric anuran species’ tadpoles. Zoological Research, 2013, 34(3): 209-213. doi: 10.11813/j.issn.0254-5853.2013.3.0209

Citation:

Li WEI, Zhi-Hua LIN, Ren-You ZHAO, Shi-Tong CHEN. Prey selection by tiger frog larvae (Hoplobatrachus chinensis) of two sympatric anuran species’ tadpoles. Zoological Research, 2013, 34(3): 209-213. doi: 10.11813/j.issn.0254-5853.2013.3.0209

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Prey selection by tiger frog larvae (Hoplobatrachus chinensis) of two sympatric anuran species’ tadpoles

doi: 10.11813/j.issn.0254-5853.2013.3.0209

1.
College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui 323000, China
2.
Jiulong National wetland Park management office, Lishui 323000, China

Received Date: 2013-01-04
Rev Recd Date: 2013-01-25
Publish Date: 2013-06-08

Abstract

Abstract

We examined the prey selection and behavioral responses of tiger frog Hoplobatrachus chinensis larvae exposed to unpalatable and palatable sympatric prey tadpoles, Bufo melanostictus and Pelophylax nigromaculatus. We found that after a short exposure to the toxic toad tadpoles B. melanostictus, predators may learn to decrease going after unpalatable prey, subsequently it seems they may express short-term behavioral memory in order to avoid the toxic prey. In general, H. chinensis showed no preference for either any of the two prey species, which may be the result of P. nigromaculatus using behavioral performance and chemical defense as antipredatation strategies. These results facilitate further investigation of other aspects of the behavioral ecology of these three anuran species and hint at some potentially interesting possibilities of memory in choice of prey which may suggest further study.
- Anura,
- Prey selection,
- Hoplobatrachus chinensis,
- Bufo melanostictus,
- Pelophylax nigromaculatus

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References(44)

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