Effects of light intensity on activity in four sympatric anuran tadpoles

• Published in: Dōngwùxué yánjiū Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 332 - 337
• Main Authors: Ding, Guo-Hua, Lin, Zhi-Hua, Zhao, Li-Hua, Fan, Xiao-Li, Wei, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: China Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences 01.07.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Anura; Anura - classification; Anura - growth & development; Anura - physiology; Bufo; Developmental biology; Frogs; Larva - growth & development; Larva - physiology; Light; Microhyla; Motor Activity - physiology; Pelophylax; Species Specificity; Zoology; 中华大蟾蜍; 光强度; 光照强度; 发育阶段; 捕食策略; 无尾; 物种特异性; 蝌蚪; Anura; Tadpole; Activity; Light intensity; Developmental stage
• ISSN: 0254-5853
• DOI: 10.13918/j.issn.2095-8137.2014.4.332

Though light conditions are known to affect the development and anti-predation strategies of several aquatic species, relatively little is known about how different species react to light, or how light can affect these species during different points in their life-cycle. In this study, we used four sympatric anuran tadpoles （Bufo gargarizans, B. melanostictus, Pelophylax nigromaculatus and Microhyla fissipes） as animal system to examine species-specific activities of the underdoing different light intensity treatments, so as to better understand how they respond to light. We exposed four different species of tadpoles to 1660 and 14 lux light intensity treatments and then measured several parameters including development stage, body length and tail length, and as well as their basic activities. The results of this observation and analysis showed that the activities of tadpoles were significantly greater in B. gargarizans and B. melanostictus than in P. nigromaculatus and M. fissipes; and were also significantly greater during times of high light intensity as compared to during low light intensity. Moreover, the observed relationship between species and light intensity was significant. The activities ofB. gargarizans and B. melanostictus tadpoles were greater in high light, while the activity of P. nigromaculatus tadpoles was greater in low light intensity, while M. fissipes tadpoles showed no differences in either low or high intensity light. Furthermore, the activities orB. gargarizans, B. melanostictus and M. fissipes tadpoles in terms of developmental stage, body size or tail length did not seem to differ with light intensity, but during early larval developmental period of P. nigromaculatus, the activity of tadpoles was negatively correlated with development stage, but irrelevant to either body size or tail length in different light intensities. These results lead us to conclude the observed activities of the four sympatric anuran tadpoles are closely correlated with their specific anti-predation strategies.