ESR 23:93-98 (2014) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00559
Diet of a threatened pond frog differs over a small spatial scale
Deborah S. Bower*, Evan J. Pickett, James I. Garnham, Matthew L. Deboo, Matthew R. McCurry, Rianne M. Mengerink, Michael J. Mahony, John Clulow
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.
KEY WORDS: Patchy habitat · Prey · Amphibian · Food · Litoria aurea
Full text in pdf format  | Cite this article as: Bower DS, Pickett EJ, Garnham JI, Deboo ML and others (2014) Diet of a threatened pond frog differs over a small spatial scale. Endang Species Res 23:93-98. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00559
Export citation Share: Facebook - - linkedIn |
| Previous article |