Abstract
BackgroundThe main aim of the study was to analyse the influence of fleshy fruits (plums) on the post-metamorphic growth and feeding behaviour of the green toad Bufotes viridis. We tested the following two hypotheses: (1) juveniles of the green toad are characterised by faster growth in conditions involving fallen plums Prunus cerasifera due to the associated presence of more varied food such as invertebrates; (2) green toads exhibit more active feeding behaviour in the presence of fleshy fruits.MethodsA total of 120 fresh metamorphs of the green toad were randomly assigned to one of four groups: two experimental groups with fleshy plums and two other groups as controls (without fruits). Each group was kept in an enclosure to which wild invertebrates had free access. Each individual toad was measured for snout-vent length (mm) and body mass (g) every other day for 30 days. In order to determine whether fallen plums influence the feeding behaviour of toads, the number of active and hidden (under an artificial shelter) individuals was also noted.ResultsThe results showed that green toads from both enclosures with plums were characterised by more rapid growth than individuals from the control treatments. Simultaneously, in the enclosure with fleshy fruits, greater species richness of wild invertebrates was observed. No differences in active feeding behaviour were noted between control groups and groups with plums.DiscussionFleshy fruits, upon falling, attract many types of invertebrates; thus they may represent good dietary supplements for fresh amphibian metamorphs. Therefore, the presence of fruit trees close to a breeding site might influences the post-metamorphic growth of amphibians, but not their feeding behaviour. The presence of insects associated with fallen fruit seems to favour the occurrence of amphibian populations, which is particularly important, since, due to political and social pressure, numbers of fruit trees are currently being reduced. To our knowledge, no previous study has investigated the potential influence of the presence of fruit trees on the growth and behaviour of anurans.
Highlights
Fruit trees lie outside the area of interest of ecologists, on the landscape level, the number of fruit trees is decreasing steadily
Considering the above information, we investigated, by conducting an enclosure experiment, whether the presence of windfalls of fleshy fruits which offer a higher level of availability to insects might have a positive effect on the post-metamorphic growth and feeding behaviour of the green toad
Toads from experimental enclosures with P. cerasifera were characterised by faster growth than individuals from the experimental area without fleshy fruits
Summary
Fruit trees lie outside the area of interest of ecologists, on the landscape level, the number of fruit trees is decreasing steadily Some indirect interactions have been described whereby predators (birds or mammals) deliberately choose fruits infested by insects These tritrophic interactions are often unpredictable and difficult to measure (Rodríguez, Alquézar & Peña, 2013); fallen or rotten fruits lying on the ground may have implications for the functioning of the ecosystem. The main aim of the study was to analyse the influence of fleshy fruits (plums) on the post-metamorphic growth and feeding behaviour of the green toad Bufotes viridis. In order to determine whether fallen plums influence the feeding behaviour of toads, the number of active and hidden (under an artificial shelter) individuals was noted. The presence of fruit trees close to a breeding site might influences the post-metamorphic growth of amphibians, but not their feeding behaviour. No previous study has investigated the potential influence of the presence of fruit trees on the growth and behaviour of anurans
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