Consumption of the eggs, hatchlings, and tadpoles of Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans) by native and non-native predators

Abstract Predation by native and non-native predators on the eggs, embryos, and early stage tadpoles can affect the recruitment of offspring into a population. We examined the effects of native (Little Brown Mudbugs, Cambarus thomai; overwintered Rana tadpoles; Common Green Darner, Anax junius, larv...

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Published inAmphibia-reptilia Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 383 - 387
Main Authors Smith, Geoffrey R, Rettig, Jessica E, Smyk, Mallory, Jones, Maggie, Eng-Surowiec, Genevieve, Mirshavili, Davit, Hollis, Jeremy
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Leiden|Boston Brill 2019
Brill Academic Publishers, Inc
Subjects
Amphibians
Amphibiotic species
Anax junius
Animal embryos
Cambarus
Cambarus thomai
Crayfish
Developmental stages
Eggs
embryo (animal)
Embryos
Freshwater crustaceans
Freshwater fishes
Frogs
Gambusia affinis
Hatching
insect larvae
Interspecific relationships
introduced species
Invertebrates
Juveniles
Larvae
Lithobates clamitans
Offspring
Palatability
Predation
Predators
progeny
Rana clamitans
Survival
survival rate
tadpoles
Vertebrates
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Summary:Abstract Predation by native and non-native predators on the eggs, embryos, and early stage tadpoles can affect the recruitment of offspring into a population. We examined the effects of native (Little Brown Mudbugs, Cambarus thomai; overwintered Rana tadpoles; Common Green Darner, Anax junius, larvae) and non-native (Western Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis) potential predators on the eggs, hatchlings, and early tadpoles of the Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans). The predators had no effect on survivorship or hatching of L. clamitans eggs. However, tadpole survivorship was significantly reduced by dragonfly larvae and crayfish, but not G. affinis or the overwintered ranid tadpoles. Our observation that invertebrates consumed Green Frog tadpoles while vertebrates did not is consistent with palatability contributing to the tadpoles’ susceptibility to different predators. Our results therefore suggest Green Frog tadpoles, but not eggs or embryos, from some populations may be subject to differential predation by invertebrate and vertebrate predators.
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ISSN:0173-5373
1568-5381
DOI:10.1163/15685381-20181071