Predation on Amphibian eggs and larvae in temporary ponds : the case of Bufo calamita in southwestern Spain

RESUME. — Predation des œufs et des larves d’amphibiens dans les mares temporaires: le cas de Bufo calamita dans le sud-ouest de l’Espagne. — Les œufs et les larves des bufonides sont souvent desagreables ou toxiques. Nous avons evalue la vulnerabilite des œufs et des larves de Bufo calamita face a neuf predateurs potentiels. L’ingestion n’a pas exerce d’effets toxiques ou desagreables sur la plupart des predateurs, en revanche les petits predateurs ont eu des diffi cultes pour extraire les œufs de la gelatine. Au laboratoire, les predations les plus importantes ont ete exercees par les larves de Pleurodeles de Waltl Pleurodeles waltl (Amphibiens, Salamandrides), les Triops Triops cancriformis (Crustaces Notostraces) et les Ecrevisses de Louisiane Procambarus clarkii (Decapodes, Cambarides), espece introduite. Le taux de predation est lie a la taille des predateurs. La predation dans les mares de reproduction a affecte jusqu’a 95-100% des pontes, et le succes reproducteur n’a ete constate que dans les mares ou ces trois predateurs principaux sont absents. Tandis que d’autres especes de Bufo, qui contiennent des substances toxiques, peuvent coloniser les habitats aquatiques permanents, chez Bufo calamita seule la gelatine compacte des œufs sert a decourager les petits predateurs. SUMMARY. — Eggs and larvae of bufonids are often unpalatable or toxic. We assessed the vulnerability of Bufo calamita eggs and larvae to nine potential predators. Ingestion did not exert toxic or distasteful effects on most predators, but small predators had diffi culties extracting eggs from the jelly. In laboratory, the most intensive predation was by larvae of Sharp-ribbed Salamander Pleurodeles waltl (Amphibia, Salamandridae), the common crustacean Triops cancriformis (Crustacea Notostraca) and the introduced Red Swamp Crayfi sh Procambarus clarkii (Decapodes, Cambaridae). Predation rate was related to the body size of predators. Predation in breeding ponds reached up to 95-100% eggs, and breeding success was only recorded in ponds without the three major predators above. While other species of Bufo that contain toxic substances are able to colonize permanent aquatic habitats, for Bufo calamita only the compact jelly of eggs serves to deter small predators.

• Publication year

  2007

• Venue

  Revue de Ecologie-La Terre et la Vie

• Publication date

  Unknown publication date

• Fields of study

  Not labeled

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.3406/revec.2007.1374
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Critical Literature Review of the Evidence for Unpalatability of Amphibian Eggs and Larvae

  2005cited by this paper
• Vulnerability of Southwest Iberian amphibians to an introduced crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

  2005cited by this paper
• Predación y consumo de huevos de Tritón pigmeo, Triturus pygmaeus, en los medios acuáticos temporales de Doñana.

  2004cited by this paper
• Breeding phenology and larval distribution of amphibians in a Mediterranean pond network with unpredictable hydrology

  2003cited by this paper
• Critical Elements for Biologically Based Recovery Plans of Aquatic‐Breeding Amphibians

  2002cited by this paper
• Morphological and life history responses to predators in larvae of seven anurans

  2000cited by this paper
• Relationships among Isolated Wetland Size, Hydroperiod, and Amphibian Species Richness: Implications for Wetland Regulations

  2000cited by this paper
• Reproductive dynamics of a population of small marbled newts (Triturus marmoratus pygmaeus) in South-Western Spain

  1998cited by this paper
• Aggression by Non‐Native Crayfish Deters Breeding in California Newts

  1997cited by this paper
• Effect of introduced crayfish and mosquitofish on California newts

  1996cited by this paper
• MECHANISMS CREATING COMMUNITY STRUCTURE ACROSS A FRESHWATER HABITAT GRADIENT

  1996cited by this paper
• Variability in timing of larval season in an amphibian community in SW Spain

  1992cited by this paper
• Behavioural responses of Bufo bufo and Bufo calamita tadpoles to chemical cues of vertebrate and invertebrate predators

  1992influential reference
• Palatability of anuran eggs and embryos

  1991cited by this paper
• 03. Temporary ponds as breeding sites of amphibians at a locality in Southwestern Spain

  1990cited by this paper
• REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF NATTERJACK TOADS BUFO CALAMITA IN TWO CONTRASTING HABITATS

  1988influential reference
• Antipredator defenses and the persistence of amphibian larvae with fishes

  1988cited by this paper
• Temporal segregation in larval amphibian communities in temporary ponds at a locality in SW Spain

  1988cited by this paper
• Breeding pool characteristics and reproduction in an island population of natterjack toads, Bufo calamita Laur., at the Swedish west coast

  1985cited by this paper
• A review of scientific information pertaining to the natterjack toad Bufo calamita throughout its geographical range

  1979cited by this paper
• Ecological Aspects of Amphibian Metamorphosis

  1973cited by this paper
• A simplified table for staging anuran embryos and larvae with notes on identification

  1960cited by this paper
• A review of the Notostraca

  1955cited by this paper

• Exploring the role of a Mediterranean transhumance drove road as shelter for amphibian breeding

  2025cites this paper
• Pond area and availability safeguard amphibian genetic diversity across Iberia's largest protected wetland

  2024cites this paper
• Meta-analysis of tadpole taste tests: consumption of anuran prey across development and predator strategies

  2022cites this paper
• Are Iberian ribbed newts Pleurodeles waltl Michahelles, 1830 negatively affecting the populations of other amphibians?

  2021cites this paper
• Competitive and predatory interactions between invasive mosquitofish and native larval newts

  2017cites this paper
• Variaciones entre especies de anfibios en sus respuestas morfológicas a la presencia de depredadores nativos e introducidos

  2017cites this paper
• Far from home: responses of an American predator species to an American prey species in a jointly invaded area of Australia

  2016cites this paper
• Predation of Bufo calamita eggs by Discoglossus pictus tadpoles

  2016cites this paper
• Predation of two common native frog species (Litoria ewingi and Crinia signifera) by freshwater invertebrates

  2015cites this paper
• Is the exotic red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) a current threat for the Mediterranean tree frog (Hyla meridionalis) in the Camargue (Southern France)?

  2014cites this paper
• Rainfall stochasticity controls the distribution of invasive crayfish and its impact on amphibian guilds in Mediterranean temporary waters

  2014cites this paper
• A critical review of freshwater crayfish as amphibian predators: capable consumers of toxic prey?

  2014cites this paper
• Ecological consequences of amphibian larvae and their native and alien predators on the community structure of temporary ponds

  2014cites this paper
• Gallipato - Pleurodeles waltl Michahelles, 1830

  2014cites this paper
• Sapo corredor - Epidalea calamita (Laurenti, 1768)

  2014cites this paper
• Un caso de depredación de Procambarus clarkii sobre Pelophylax perezi no larvaria

  2013cites this paper
• Pleurodeles waltl Newt Larvae Diet Regarding Available Prey: Choice or Mere Coincidence?

  2012cites this paper
• Condicionantes ecológicos de la distribución de anfibios en el Parque Nacional de Doñana

  2011cites this paper