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

Title
Diet of a threatened pond frog differs over a small spatial scale
Publication Date
2014
Author(s)
Bower, Deborah S
Pickett, Evan J
Garnham, James I
Deboo, Matthew L
McCurry, Matthew R
Mengerink, Rianne M
Mahony, Michael J
Clulow, John
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Inter-Research
Place of publication
Germany
DOI
10.3354/esr00559
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/26874
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.
Link
Citation
Endangered Species Research, 23(1), p. 93-98
ISSN
1613-4796
1863-5407
Start page
93
End page
98

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