Macroinvertebrates as tadpole food: importance and body size relationships

Abstract

Macroinvertebrates as food were recorded for three anurans tadpoles: Hyla saxicola (Bokermann, 1964) (Hylidae), Scinax machadoi (Bokermann & Sazima, 1973) (Hylidae), and Bufo rubescens (Lutz, 1925) (Bufonidae). These species are commonly found in the mountain streams at Serra do Cipó National Park, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Tadpoles were collected in pools of second-order reach in Mascates stream and third and fourth order reaches of Indaiá stream from March-October, 2003. Biometrical data were recorded before dissecting each individual and a feeding importance index was estimated. Eight taxa of chironomids and three taxa of mayfly exuviae were found in the guts, but no significantly differences were found between tadpole species (ANOVA, p > 0.05). The results support the drift transport hypothesis that predicts that tadpoles commonly ingest suspended matter in lotic ecosystems, are generalist feeders, and macroinvertebrates are probably incidental ingested.

Diet and food resource partition among benthic tadpoles of three anuran species in Atlantic Forest tropical streams

“…A high diversity and abundance of algae is usual in tadpoles of different anuran species (Dutra & Callisto 2005;Sousa Filho et al 2007). However, the ingestion of a large amount of algae by anuran larvae will not necessarily result in nutritional gain (Pryor 2003;Akers et al 2008).…”

“…With some exceptions (e.g., Kupferberg 1997;Dutra & Callisto 2005;Sousa Filho et al 2007), there are relatively few studies of the diet of anuran larvae in lotic environments. Studies of the composition of the diet of tadpoles are especially important in the tropics, where despite taxonomic diversity being severely threatened by factors that can cause irreparable declines; little is known of the trophic importance of tadpoles in many aquatic environments (Altig et al 2007).…”

Ostracoda and Amphibia in temporary ponds: who is the prey? Unexpected trophic relation in a mediterranean freshwater habitat

“…Cicort-Lucaciu et al 2005;Dutra and Callisto 2005;Spencer and Blaustin 2001). However, trophic web where ostracods and amphibians are involved are proved to be more complex, and a variety of feeding relationships between these taxa is now reported.…”

The diet of Scinax angrensis (Lutz) tadpoles in an area of the Atlantic Forest (Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro) (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae)

“…Zooplankton items were also verified in tadpole diets from the species Scinax fuscovarius (Lutz, 1925), S. similis (Cochran, 1925), and S. fuscomarginatus (Lutz, 1925) (ROSSA-FERES et al 2004) and Scinax machadoi (Bokermann & Sazima, 1973) (DUTRA & CALLISTO 2005). According to the first authors, the presence of ciliates as well as other soft-bodied animals, such as testacean amoebae and rotifers could be an important finding, because they could be a valid source of nutrients for tadpoles.…”

“…The morphology of a tadpole's mouth makes it mainly a highly specialized filterer, capable of living in assemblages in diverse habitats since among species there is a diversity of mouth parts specialized in food capture. Generally, tadpoles are considered herbivorous filterers, but can ingest planktonic items, mosquito larva, organic sediments from the bottom of lakes and rivers, pollen, graze on the periphyton, leaves and animal remains in decomposition, and even consume amphibian eggs, other tadpoles, and benthic macroinvertebrates (DUELLMAN & TREUB 1994, ARIAS et al 2002, DUTRA & CALLISTO 2005. Some authors have used the mouth and body morphology of tadpoles in diverse stages of development in order to suggest the type of food ingested by these individuals and their feeding behavior (ALTIG & MCDIARMID 1999).…”