The Herpetological Journal
The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.
ISSN 0268-0130
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pdf 03. Can Aggregation Behaviour of Phrynomantis microps Tadpoles Reduce Predation Risk?
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Open Access
pp. 153-157
Authors: Spieler, Marko
Abstract: In the Comoé National Park in Ivory Coast, West Africa, tadpoles of the microhylid frog Phrynomantis microps often stay in large and densely packed aggregations near the water surface of savanna ponds. Previous studies have shown that aggregation behaviour was initiated by the presence of visually guided aquatic predators. In the present study, I investigated how efficiently aggregation of P. microps tadpoles reduces the risk of predation. I used an experimental design to count the number of attacks by predators on P. microps tadpole at different densities and distributions. The total strike rate of predators was significantly lower when P. microps tadpoles were aggregated than when they were randomly distributed. However, per capita strikes rate did not differ between treatments. Further replicate trials might have detected benefits to the individual tadpole from aggregating.
Keywords: DILUTION EFFECT, ANTI-PREDATION BEHAVIOUR, ANURANS, SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
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