Summary
Ingestion and filtering rates in larval Xenopus laevis, Bufo calamita, Rana temporia and Bufo bufo fed suspensions of Chlorella fusca were investigated. Concentrations were measured with a Coulter Counter. (1) For all species, filtration occurred at concentrations far below those reported by other authors for Rana sylvatica feeding on Chlorella pyrenoidosa. For Bufo bufo, only larvae near metamorphosis showed ingestion at low particle concentrations. Since buccopharyngeal ventilation continues even in the absence of food particles, this threshold feeding behaviour in the younger larvae must be due to different mechanisms to those found in Daphnia and Calanus studied by other authors: probably reduction of the buccal pumping rate and the mucus production of the filter apparatus. (2) For B. calamita, R. temporaria and X. laevis the highest suspension feeding efficiency was at early tadpole stages, corresponding with the high growth rate of these stages. (3) The life histories of the species provide the basis for understanding their different retention efficiencies and functional responses.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Ashworth R de B, Crozier B (1972) Standard waters-Recommendations for the preparation of standard waters used for testing pesticidal and other formulations. In: Raw GR (ed) CIPAC Monograph I, Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council, pp 1–64
Beebee TJC (1983) The natterjack toad. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Bendix S, Allen MB (1962) Ultra-violet induced mutants of Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Arch Mikrobiol 41:115–141
Bergman M, Richman S (1974) The feeding behavior of Daphnia pulex from Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin. Limnol Oceanogr 19:105–109
Bregulla D (1985) Untersuchungen zur Wasserchemie von Kreuzkrötenlaichgewässern. Salamandra 22:173–179
Breuer P (1984) Untersuchungen zur Überlebensrate von Erdkrötenlarven (Bufo bufo) und Grasfroschlarven (Rana temporaria) unter dem Einfluss von Regenbogenforellen (Salmo gairdneri). Thesis, Fachbereich Biologie, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Mainz
Dickman M (1968) The effect of grazing by tadpoles on the structure of a periphyton community. Ecology 49:1188–1190
Ehlscheid T (1985) Untersuchungen über die jahreszeitliche Veranderung der Phytoplanktonbiozönosen im Meerfelder und im Weinfelder Maar. Thesis Fachbereich Biologie, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Mainz
Eibl-Eibesfeldt I (1949) Über das Vorkommen von Schreckstoffen bei Erdkrötenkaulquappen. Experientia 5:236
Etkin W (1968) Hormonal control of amphibian metamorphosis. In: Etkin W, Gilbert LI (eds) Metamorphosis a problem in developmental biology. North Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam, pp 313–348
Feder ME, Seale DB, Boraas ME, Wassersug RJ, Gibbs AG (1984) Functional conflicts between feeding and gas exchange in suspension-feeding tadpoles, Xenopus laevis. J Exp Biol 110:91–98
Frost BW (1972) Effects of size and concentration of food particles on the feeding behavior of the marine planktonic copepod Calanus pacificus. Limnol Oceanogr 17:805–815
Frost BW (1974) Feeding processes at lower trophic levels in pelagic communities. In: Miller CB (ed) The biology of the oceanic Pacific, Oregon State University, pp 59–77
Frost BW (1975a) Ingestion by phytoplanktonic grazers as a function of concentration of food. Limnol Oceanogr 20:259–262
Frost BW (1975b) A threshold feeding behavior in Calanus pacificus. Limnoul Oceanogr 20:263–266
Gosner KL (1960) A simplified table for staging anuran embryos and larvae with notes on identification. Herpetologica 16:183–160
Gradwell N (1970) The function of the ventral velum during gill irrigation in Rana catesbeiana. Can J Zool 48:1179–1186
Gradwell N (1975) The bearing of the filter feeding on the water pumping mechanism of Xenopus tadpoles (Anura; Pipidae). Acta Zool 56:119–128
Harvey HW (1937) Note on selective feeding by Calanus. J Mar Biol Assoc 22:97–100
Heusser H (1958) Über die Beziehungen der Erdkröte (Bufo bufo L) zu ihrem Laichplatz I. Behaviour 12:208–232
Heusser H (1960) Über die Beziehungen der Erdkröte (Bufo bufo L) zu ihrem Laichplatz II. Behaviour 16:93–109
Heusser H (1968) Die Lebensweise der Erdkröte Bufo bufo (L); Größenfrequenzen und Populationsdynamik. Mitt Naturf Ges Schaffhausen 29:1–29
Jorgensen CB (1983) Fluid mechanical aspects of suspension feeding. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 11:89–103
Jungfer W (1943) Beitrage zur Biologie der Erdkröte (Bufo bufo L) mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Wanderung zu den Laichgewassern. Z Morph Ökol Tiere 40:117–157
Kadel K (1975) Freilandstudien zur Überlebensrate von Kreuzkrötenlarven (Bufo calamita Laur). Rev Suisse Zool 82:237–244
Kenny JS (1969a) Feeding mechanisms in anuran larvae. J Zool Lond 157:225–246
Kenny JS (1969b) Pharyngeal mucus secreting epithelia of anuran larvae. Acta Zool 50:143–153
Lam RK, Frost W (1976) Model of copepod filtering response to changes in size and concentration of food. Limnol Oceanogr 21:490–500
Lehman JT (1976) The filter-feeders as an optimal forager, and the predicted shapes of feeding curves. Limnol Oceanogr 21:501–516
Löschenkohl A (1985) Freiland und Laboruntersuchungen zur Ökologie der aquatischen Phase einheimischer Amphibienarten. Doctoral thesis, Formal-und Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät der Universität Wien
McMahon JW (1965) Some physical factors influencing behaviour of Daphnia magna Straus. Can J Zool 43:603–612
Muck P, Lampert W (1980) Feeding of freshwater filter-feeders at very low food concentrations: Poor evidence for “threshold feeding” and “optimal foraging” in Daphnia longispina and Eudiaptomus gracilis. J Plankton Res 2:367–379
Mullin MM, Steward EF, Fuglister FJ (1975) Ingestion by planktonic grazers as a function of concentration of food. Limn Oceanogr 5:259–262
Nieuwkoop PD, Faber J (1956) Normal table of Xenopus laevis (Daudin) — A systematical and chronological survey of the development from the fertilized egg till the end of metamorphosis. North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam
Orton GL (1953) The systematics of vertebrate larvae. Syst Zool 2:63–75
Parsons TR, LeBrasseur RJ, Fulton JD (1967) Some observations on the dependence of zooplankton grazing on the cell size and concentration of phytoplankton blooms. J Oceanogr Soc Jap 23:10–17
Polls Pelaz M, Pourriot R. (1988) Une approche de la fonction de filtration des tetards de grenouille verte (Rana ridibunda). Vie Milieu 38:293–298
Post M (1980) Beitrag zur Primärproduktion des Weinfelder und des Schalkenmehrener Maares. Mitt Pollichia 68:143–155
Press WH, Flannery BP, Teukolsky SA, Vetterling WT (1988) Numerical recipes. The art of scientific computing. Cambridge University Press, New York New Rochelle Melbourne Sydney
Randlov A, Riisgard HU (1979) Efficiency of particle retention and filtration rate in four species of ascidians. Mar Ecol 1:55–59
Rigler FH (1961) The relation between concentration of food and feeding rate of Daphnia magna Straus. Can J Zool 39:857–868
Rott E (1981) Some results from phytoplankton counting intercalibrations. Schweiz Z Hydrol 43:34–62
Savage RM (1937) The ecology of young tadpoles with special reference to the nutrition of the early larvae of Rana temporaria temporaria Linn, Bufo bufo bufo Linn and Bombina variegata variegata Linn. Proc Zool Soc 107:249–260
Savage RM (1952) Ecological, physiological and anatomical observations on some species of anuran tadpoles. Proc Zool Soc 122:467–514
Savage RM (1961) The ecology and life history of the common frog (Rana temporaria temporaria). Pitman, London
Scharf BW, Eckartz-Nolden G, Nolden M, Kischnik P (1988) Untersuchungen zur Seenrestaurierung durch nahrungsketten-Manipulation. Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, Bonn
Seale DB (1980) Influence of amphibian larvae on primary production, nutrient flux, and competition in a pond ecosystem. Ecology 61:1531–1550
Seale DB, Beckvar N (1980) The comparative ability of anuran larvae (genera: Hyla, Bufo, and Rana) to ingest suspended blue-green algae. Copeia 1980:495–503
Seale DB, Wassersug RJ (1979) Suspension feeding dynamics of anuran larvae related to their functional morphology. Oecologia 39:259–272
Seale DB, Hoff K, Wassersug R (1982) Xenopus laevis larvae (Amphibia, Anura) as model suspension feeders. Hydrobiologia 87:161–169
Smith DC (1987) Adult recruitment in chorus frog: effects of size and date at metamorphosis. Ecology 68:344–350
Steele JH (1974) The structure of marine ecosystems. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Strijbosch H (1979) Habitat selection of amphibians during their aquatic phase. Oikos 33:363–372
Strotmann H (1966) Kinetische Untersuchungen an Teilschritten der Nitratreduktion von Chlorella im Licht. Doctoral thesis, Fachbereich Biologie, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Universität, Frankfurt
Viertel B (1978) Populationsökologische Untersuchungen an Erdkrötenlarven (Bufo bufo L). Doctoral Thesis, Fachbereich Biologie, Johannes Gutenberg Univertsität, Mainz
Viertel B (1985) The filter apparatus of Rana temporaria and Bufo bufo larvae (Amphibia, Anura). Zoomorphology 105:345–355
Viertel B (1987) The filter apparatus of Xenopus laevis, Bombina variegata, and Bufo calamita (Amphibia, Anura): a comparison of different larval types. Zool Jb Anat 115:425–452
Waringer-Löschenkohl A (1988) Sukzession und Wachstum von Amphibienlarven in vier Kleingewässern in Wien und Niederösterreich. Salamandra 24:287–301
Wassersug R (1972) The mechanism of ultraplanktonic entrapment in anuran larvae. J Morphol 137:279–288
Wassersug RJ, Rosenberg K (1979) Surface anatomy of branchial food traps of tadpoles: a comparative study. J Morphol 159:393–425
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft-DFG
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Viertel, B. Suspension feeding of anuran larvae at low concentrations of Chlorella algae (Amphibia, Anura). Oecologia 85, 167–177 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319398
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319398