Diet of a threatened pond frog differs over a small spatial scale

Endangered Species Research

James I. Garnham¹  Matthew R. McCurry¹  Matthew L. Deboo¹  Deborah S. Bower¹  Evan J. Pickett¹  John Clulow¹  Rianne M. Mengerink¹  Michael J. Mahony¹ 

关键词: Patchy habitat;    Prey;    Amphibian;    Food;    Litoria aurea;   

DOI  :  10.3354/esr00559

学科分类：动物科学

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Suitability of habitat patches affects demographic processes and consequently influences the viability of populations. In order for managers to consider the potential of resources on a scale appropriate to their use, it is important to understand the processes that influence the ecology of threatened species. Differential growth rates of Litoria aurea (green and golden bell frog) at Sydney Olympic Park, Australia, may be explained by prey availability and diet. We tested: (1) whether food availability differed among precincts at Sydney Olympic Park and (2) whether the diet of L. aurea was influenced by availability of invertebrate prey. Diets were distinct among precincts and reflected the variation in biomass and richness of invertebrate assemblages. Precincts with greater biomass corresponded to areas with faster individual growth rates and greater habitat structure. The differences in diet and individual growth rates of L. aurea among precincts at Sydney Olympic Park demonstrate how caution must be applied to generalising population function, even within a small area.

【 授权许可】

Unknown