Trophic roles of tadpoles in tropical Australian streams

Schmidt, Katrin, Blanchette, Melanie L., Pearson, Richard G., Alford, Ross A., and Davis, Aaron M. (2017) Trophic roles of tadpoles in tropical Australian streams. Freshwater Biology, 62 (11). pp. 1929-1941.

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Abstract

1. Tadpoles can be abundant consumers in stream ecosystems, and may influence the structure and function of streams through their feeding activities and interactions with other organisms. To understand the contribution of tadpoles to stream functioning, and the potential impact of their loss, it is necessary to determine their diets and how they might influence food-web structure.

2. Using gut-content analysis and stable-isotope analysis of N and C, we determined the main food sources and trophic positions of tadpoles of five native frog species, invertebrates, and fish in upland and lowland Australian Wet Tropics streams.

3. Omnivory was prevalent among the tadpoles and invertebrates. Tadpoles consumed different food according to availability and nutrient quality, but assimilated mainly biofilm and algae. Most tadpoles and invertebrates assimilated the same high-quality foods.

4. Food webs in upland riffles were simplified by local extinction of tadpoles, and were probably simplified in pools in the cooler months by seasonal decline in tadpole abundance. Food-web complexity was increased in some pools by the presence of predatory fish and a greater number of basal sources.

5. As tadpoles are important seasonal components in stream food webs, their local extinction can greatly alter food-web structure and complexity and, possibly, processes such as leaf litter breakdown and sediment accumulation.

Item ID: 51395
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1365-2427
Keywords: Anura, food web, species loss, stable-isotope analysis, stream community
Funders: James Cook University, Australian Academy of Sciences
Date Deposited: 01 Nov 2017 07:33
FoR Codes: 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4102 Ecological applications > 410299 Ecological applications not elsewhere classified @ 60%
31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310304 Freshwater ecology @ 40%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960807 Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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