Organization of a community of tadpoles in rain forest streams in Borneo

Abstract

Samples of 29 distinct larval forms of anurans were collected in streams flowing through primary rain forest at Nanga Tekalit, Sarawak, at three periods spaced over 22 years. This assemblage of tadpoles lives in torrents, riffles, shingle areas, open pools, leaf drifts, protected side pools, potholes in rocky banks, bank seepages, and pools of small intermittent streams. Positive associations of species in types of microhabitats and co-occurrence within sites lead to recognition of four taxonomically heterogeneous groups: one concentrated in leaf drifts; one using riffles, shingle areas, and open pools; one concentrated in potholes; and one using side pools and potholes. Most pairs of larval forms having strong negative association are characterized by differences in morphology and feeding behaviour; they show little evidence of competitive relations. Between-sites variation in species composition differs among the types of microhabitats, leaf drifts showing the least amount of variation. Species composition within a site shows less change over intervals of 1–5 days than over intervals of 13–18 days. Variation in species composition is greater between sites than within sites over intervals of 9–31 days. Organization in this community seems to be effected by three factors: reproductive behaviour of adults and morphological and behavioural adaptations of tadpoles.

Neotropical tadpoles: spatial and temporal distribution and habitat use in a seasonal lake in Veracruz, México

“…Tadpole faunas have been studied in various regions, particularly in the neotropics (Heyer et al 1975, Wild 1996, Eterovick and Sazima 2000, Eterovick and Fernandes 2001 ), Asia (Heyer 1973, Inger et al 1986, and North America (Heyer 1976(Heyer , 1979. Communities differ in ecological structure in different regions, water quality and the dimensions of the body of water studied also affect community structure.…”

“…This is also true for studies in tropical situations (Toft 1985). However, long-term studies have shown that the primary dimension in tadpole resource partitioning is habitat (Inger et al 1986). Toft (1985) concluded, on the other hand, that resource partitioning in anuran larvae cannot be explained by one factor but must invoke complex interactions among physical and biological factors such as predation and competition.…”

“…In tadpoles the principal resource partitioned is space (Inger et al 1986) and time (see Toft 1985, for review). The larvae of different species use the available resources in different ways (Heyer 1976).…”

Distribuição temporal e diversidade de modos reprodutivos de anfíbios anuros no Parque Nacional das Emas e entorno, Estado de Goiás, Brasil

“…Alternativamente, a distribuição temporal e a abundância dos girinos pode estar relacionada com a distribuição do esforço reprodutivo dos anuros adultos (e.g. INGER et al, 1986;ETEROVICK & BARROS, 2003;KOPP & ETEROVICK, 2006 Além disso, a sazonalidade quanto à precipitação poderia contribuir para a maior ocorrência de espécies com o modo reprodutivo 1, seguido dos modos 11 e 30 pois, segundo INGER & COLWELL (1977), ambientes abertos tendem a ser menos previsíveis e estáveis em relação às condições climáticas se comparados com ambientes florestais. SANTOS et al (2008), em estudo realizado em área aberta (bioma Pampa) na região sul do Brasil, também encontraram maior número de espécies com modos 1, 11 e 30.…”

O Que Molda a Distribuição Das Guildas De Girinos Tropicais? Quarenta Anos De Busca Por Padrões

“…Inger (1969) comentou o uso do hábitat dos girinos da comunidade de anuros de pequenos riachos na Floresta Tropical de Borneo, na Oceania. Posteriormente, Inger et al (1986) definem quatro grupos heterogêneos com base no uso do hábitat das espécies destes riachos. Odendaal et al (1982) realizaram na Austrália estudos na natureza e em laboratório avaliando diferenças no uso do hábitat por duas espécies de girinos.…”