Vol. 36 No. 3, 1997

Growth and Development of Oophagous Tadpoles in Relation to Brood Care of an Arboreal Breeder, Chirixalus eiffingeri (Rhacophoridae)

Yeong-Choy Kam*, Yi-Huey Chen, Zhen-Shuo Chuang and Tsung-Shun  Huang

Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan 500, R.O.C.

Yeong-Choy Kam, Yi-Huey Chen, Zhen-Shuo Chuang and Tsung-Shun Huang (1997) Growth and de­ velopment of oophagous tadpoles in relation to brood care of an arboreal breeder, Chirixalus eiffingeri (Rhacophoridae). Zoological Studies 36(3): 186-193. We studied the growth, development, and survivorship of Chirixalus eiffingeri tadpoles in 2 bamboo tree habitats at the Experimental Forest of National Taiwan University at Chitou from July to October 1994. We found 13 egg clutches in bamboo stumps of which 3 were deposited in stumps already containing tadpoles. We monitored the number and total length (TL) of all tadpoles in the water pool of every nest until no tadpoles were left. The number of post-hatching tadpoles found in pools was not correlated with clutch size. The survival rate of tadpoles before Gosner stage 30 varied widely and was not correlated with initial tadpole number. The decrease in the number of tadpoles may have been due to starvation, cannibalism, and/or predation. Tadpoles that did not receive trophic eggs failed to grow and develop, suggesting the importance of brood care. The growth and development of tadpoles were not correlated with initial tadpole density. The presence of tadpoles from an earlier clutch strongly affected the growth and development of tadpoles from a later clutch, but the mechanism(s) of inter­ action between the 2 cohorts of tadpoles has yet to be resolved.

Key words: Anuran, Ecology, Population, Brood care.

*Correspondence: Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan 500, R.O.C.