Studies in Larval Amphibian Habitat Partitioning. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, Number 242

摘要

Habitat partitioning by larval amphibians was studied in two environments. A two-year study was undertaken at the Chesapeake Bay Center for Environmental Studies and a comparative dry and wet season study was completed at Barro Colorado Island, Panama. At the Chesapeake site, partial year to year differences in temporal larval habitat partitioning combined with different year to year population sizes indicate: (1) different habitat utilization from one year to the next by the larvae, and (2) different biological interactions involving predator-prey and species associations from year to year. The stream bed pond habitat on Barro Colorado Island is effectively partitioned by the tadpole community on the basis of space and time. Predation is an organizing factor in the composition of the tadpole community, interspecific competition apparently is not. This study concludes that competition among tadpoles does not normally occur in nature. Bursts of primary productivity provide superabundant food resources. The habitat partitioning found in tadpole communities reflects the temporal and microhabitat differences associated with the evolutionary life history of each of the species occurring in any pond. Tadpole communities are additive collections of different species, not integrated, interactive superorganizations.