Selection of substrate type, substrate color, and vegetation by tadpoles of Dryophytes plicatus

Abstract

The characteristics of microhabitats in streams can drive the distribution of tadpoles. We experimentally examined microhabitat selection of tadpoles of Dryophytes plicatus. We used a series of choice experiments to test if tadpoles had preferences for particular substrate types, substrate colors, and vegetation. Tadpoles of D. plicatus had a strong preference for mud substrates over sand, gravel, and rock substrates and preferred darker substrates over lighter substrates. Dryophytes plicatus tadpoles used the non-vegetated side of an aquarium more than the vegetated side. Our experimental results matched previous field observations in the case of the preference for mud substrates but differed from the field observations for substrate color and vegetation, suggesting that basic underlying preferences may be modified by various factors in nature or by learning or conditioning.