Preferred Feeding Sites and Prey of the Adult Gold-spotted Pond Frog, Rana plancyi chosenica

Abstract

To determine the feeding sites preferred by adult gold-spotted pond frogs, Rana plancyi chosenica, and the foods that induce favorable growth of the frogs in the laboratory, we conducted two separate experiments between 27 May and 12 July 2007 in a vivarium. In the first experiment, we counted the number of crickets eaten by four gold-spotted pond frogs in a 60 min period at four different feeding sites within the experimental arenas: on the water surface, at the edge of a pond, and at two terrestrial sites. Adult gold-spotted pond frogs ate more crickets on the water surface and at the edge of the pond than the terrestrial sites. In the second experiment, we measured the growth of SVL (snout-vent length) and body mass of adult gold-spotted pond frogs fed crickets, mealworms, maggots, or earthworms in individual experimental boxes over a one month period. The SVL and body mass of the adult gold-spotted pond frogs fed crickets, mealworms, or maggots were greater than those of the frogs that were fed earthworms. These results indicate that providing crickets, mealworms, or maggots on the water or at the edge of a pond should induce favorable growth of captive-reared adult gold-spotted pond frogs.