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Trophic ecology of syntopic anurans of tropical stream communities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2021

Jeszianlenn L. Plaza ,
Ephrime B. Metillo  and
Marites B. Sanguila Open the ORCID record for Marites B. Sanguila [Opens in a new window]
Jeszianlenn L. Plaza
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Informatics and Research Center and Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division, Arts and Sciences Program, Father Saturnino Urios University, San Francisco Street, Butuan, Agusan del Norte8600Philippines
Ephrime B. Metillo
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Iligan, Lanao del Norte9200Philippines
Marites B. Sanguila*
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Informatics and Research Center and Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division, Arts and Sciences Program, Father Saturnino Urios University, San Francisco Street, Butuan, Agusan del Norte8600Philippines
*
Author for correspondence: Marites B. Sanguila, Email: mbsanguila@urios.edu.ph
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Abstract

We investigated trophic resource partitioning in seven syntopic anurans from low- and mid-elevation stream habitats of a tropical riparian ecosystem by utilising stomach content analysis (SCA) and stable isotope analysis (SIA). Our SCA data revealed dietary similarities, narrow trophic niche breadth, and low dietary niche overlap in Ansonia muelleri, Limnonectes magnus, Occidozyga laevis, Megophrys stejnegeri, Pulchrana grandocula, Sanguirana mearnsi, and Staurois natator which could be attributed to these anurans’ selection of available local prey items. We confirmed ant-specialisation (myrmecophagy) of the Mindanao island endemic bufonid A. muelleri based on our temporal SCA dietary data. Our SIA estimates of assimilation of potential prey sources confirmed that L. magnus, P. grandocula, and O. laevis are generalist predators, opportunistically feeding on locally abundant insect prey items. This study on trophic resource partitioning in syntopic anurans provides the first picture of trophic interactions, i.e., predation and competition in stream communities in tropical riparian zones of a watershed ecosystem in northeast Mindanao of the southern Philippines.

Keywords

amphibiansMindanao Islandsoutheast Asiasympatrytrophic niche partitioning
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , May 2021 , pp. 109 - 117
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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