密度对大蹼铃蟾蝌蚪生长发育和存活率的影响初探

为了分析密度对大蹼铃蟾Bombina maxima蝌蚪生长发育和存活率的影响,将大蹼铃蟾蝌蚪分别饲养在A组(30只/L)、B组(60只/L)和C组(90只/L)3个不同的密度条件下,每天定时定量喂食和换水,每隔5 d测量和记录1次蝌蚪的全长、尾长、体宽和死亡数,并用相关性和线性回归进行分析。结果表明:密度与全长、尾长和体宽都具有显著的负相关性(P0.05),相关性系数r值为:A组B组C组;以各组密度为自变量,大蹼铃蟾蝌蚪全长、尾长和体宽为因变量的线性回归斜率表现为:A组B组C组。大蹼铃蟾蝌蚪的生长率随密度的增加而减小。密度与存活率具有显著相关性(r=0.877,P0.01),存活率在饲养早期较高,中后期逐渐降低,且高密度下的存活率始终小于低密度。推测高密度饲养下的大蹼铃蟾蝌蚪较早进入变态期,且密度越大,蝌蚪进入变态期时的全长、尾长和体宽越小。     

密度对中国林蛙蝌蚪生长发育的影响

将中国林蛙（Rana chensinensis）蝌蚪分别饲养在40只／L、80只／L、120只／L、160只／L、200只／L和240只／L6个不同的密度条件下,通过定时定量喂食及测量其全长、尾长、体宽、体重和死亡率的变化,分析密度对中国林蛙蝌蚪生长发育的影响。实验结果表明：（1）饲养密度和生长发育时间及两者的交互作用对中国林蛙蝌蚪的生长发育影响都极其显著;（2）在40只／L的密度下,中国林蛙蝌蚪的全长、尾长、体宽、体重的增长速率最快,在240只／L的密度下,中国林蛙蝌蚪的全长、尾长、体宽、体重的增长速率最慢;（3）在相同时间内,40只／L的密度条件下中国林蛙蝌蚪的存活率最高,在240只／L的密度条件下中国林蛙蝌蚪的存活率最低;（4）中国林蛙蝌蚪的生长发育速度随饲养密度的升高而减慢。     

黑斑侧褶蛙蝌蚪断尾后的补偿生长和发育研究

动物在经历不利的生长条件或环境后往往出现补偿生长。研究了黑斑侧褶蛙(Pelophylax nigromaculatus)蝌蚪经历来自食蚊鱼(Gambusia affinis)捕食造成断尾损伤后的补偿生长模式、断尾损失对蝌蚪游泳能力以及变态时间与大小的影响。结果表明,经历捕食压力后,全尾组和1/3断尾组蝌蚪的体长显著大于1/2断尾组蝌蚪的体长,全尾组和1/3断尾组之间的蝌蚪体长差异不显著;第19天时,1/2断尾组蝌蚪经过补偿生长后体长显著大于全尾组蝌蚪,1/3断尾组与全尾组和1/2断尾组之间的蝌蚪体长差异均不显著;三个实验组之间蝌蚪尾长差异不显著;全尾组蝌蚪的疾游速显著大于1/2断尾组蝌蚪的疾游速,1/3断尾组蝌蚪的疾游速与全尾组和1/2断尾组之间差异不显著,表明严重断尾对蝌蚪疾游速产生了消极影响。三个实验组蝌蚪的变态时间和变态前后形态差异均不显著。黑斑侧褶蛙蝌蚪能够在变态前调整生长轨迹补偿早期捕食风险造成的生长损失,断尾损失并不影响变态时间与大小,断尾超过一半的蝌蚪经过补偿生长后仍要付出一定的运动代价。     

中国林蛙蝌蚪变态过程中甲状腺的发育

两栖动物幼体变态过程是受甲状腺激素所精密调控的。对中国林蛙Rana chensinensis变态前期、临近变态期、变态高峰期和变态完成期的蝌蚪进行了外部形态指标(全长、体长、尾长和后肢长等)的测定,采用解剖和组织学方法对其甲状腺进行了组织学观察,并对蝌蚪外部形态指标与甲状腺形态机能之间的相关性进行了统计分析。结果显示,中国林蛙蝌蚪甲状腺分泌甲状腺激素机能活性的峰值出现于变态高峰期的前肢伸出期。统计分析表明,蝌蚪外部形态指标全长和后肢长的发育信息也可以反映其甲状腺分泌甲状腺激素的机能活性。     

外来捕食者克氏原螯虾对黑斑侧褶蛙不同发育阶段幼体表型与运动能力的影响

外来物种入侵是造成本土无尾两栖类种群下降和灭绝的最严重威胁之一。在中国南部丽水地区,克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkiion)是一种捕食本土无尾类蝌蚪的入侵物种。在实验室条件下,通过对黑斑侧褶蛙(Pelophylax nigromaculatus)受精卵和蝌蚪先后进行克氏原螯虾捕食风险的不同处理,检测孵出蝌蚪的形态特征、中期蝌蚪的形态特征、游泳表现及活动水平、变态时间与大小以及幼蛙跳跃表现,评估克氏原螯虾的捕食风险对黑斑侧褶蛙不同生长阶段幼体生长发育、运动能力及行为的综合影响。单因素方差分析表明,捕食者长期存在条件下黑斑侧褶蛙孵出蝌蚪的体长、尾长和尾肌宽均显著短于无捕食者的空白对照组和捕食者仅存在2 d的实验组,后两者处理下的蝌蚪体长差异显著,但尾长和尾肌宽差异不显著。长期捕食者存在条件下黑斑侧褶蛙蝌蚪的游泳总路程和平均游速均显著小于无捕食者和捕食者存在2 d的实验组,而蝌蚪体长、尾长、尾鳍高和尾肌高的组间差异均不显著。有捕食者存在下黑斑侧褶幼蛙的体长和体重均显著大于无捕食者和捕食者存在2 d的实验组的情况,而变态时间和幼蛙跳跃距离组间差异不显著。两因素方差分析表明,测试时间、捕食者设置和两因素的相互作用均显著影响蝌蚪的活动频次。不同实验时间,长期捕食者存在实验组蝌蚪活动频次均小于无捕食者和捕食者存在2 d的实验组。无捕食者实验组蝌蚪的活动频次前期高于捕食者存在2 d的实验组,后期低于捕食者存在2 d的实验组。线性回归分析结果显示,捕食者存在2 d实验组蝌蚪相对活动频次与检测时间相关不显著,长期捕食者存在实验组相对蝌蚪活动频次与检测时间呈显著的正相关。本研究表明了黑斑侧褶蛙蝌蚪能够感知来自入侵捕食者克氏原螯虾的捕食风险,诱导产生较小的孵出个体、蝌蚪较低的活动水平,但这种不足可通过后期补偿生长,不影响进入陆地生境的变态个体的表型与运动能力。     

不同水温条件下中华蟾蜍蝌蚪的表型可塑性研究

对中华蟾蜍Bufo gargarizans蝌蚪在不同水温下生长以及变态情况进行了观察,测量了不同发育时期的全长、尾长、体宽,记录了不同温度条件下各时期出现的起始时间和持续时间;比较了不同温度条件下的发育状态,发现高温可以明显加速生长,比对照组提前17天变态.方差分析得出高温下变态前的体长、尾长、体宽、尾高、前肢长都与对照组有明显差异（P＜0.01）,说明高温虽然加速了生长,但也使得变态能量积累不够,体形偏小;21℃时,全长、尾长与对照组差异不显著,其余变量差异显著,说明这个温度下,蝌蚪发育时间充足,积累能量多,趋向于形成较大的个体.这种在水温变化时所呈现出来的表型可塑性有利于适应异质性的环境,急速发育导致的提前变态可以使其避开干旱的危害.但是这种表型可塑性能力也有其局限,推测小个体的成体可能会在生长繁殖中付出代价.     

水位变化影响蝌蚪存活、形态表型和植物血凝素反应

为探究黑斑侧褶蛙蝌蚪形态和生理特征对水位变化的响应,对480只大小相似的蝌蚪进行快速、中速和慢速干涸处理,统计各发育时期时长和存活率,测定变态完成后幼蛙的身体和内脏器官大小,以及对植物血凝素(PHA-P)的反应。结果表明: 对照组蝌蚪的变态时长最长,显著长于快速、中速和慢速干涸组;不同处理变态存活率在72.5%～90.8%,其中对照组最高,快速干涸组最低。对照和慢速干涸组幼蛙的体重和体长均显著高于中速和快速干涸组,快速干涸组体宽、体重与体长的比值、胴体湿重以及肺和脂肪体的湿重系数均最低,但心、脾、肾和消化器官的湿重系数和消化道各段的长度系数均无明显的组间差异。不同处理幼蛙对PHA-P的最大反应值均出现于注射后3 h,且中速和慢速干涸组的最大反应值均显著高于对照组,而快速干涸组与各组均无显著差异。表明黑斑侧褶蛙蝌蚪可通过加速变态发育进程来应对干旱胁迫,但会出现个体变小、细胞介导的免疫能力下降,不利于其成功登陆。     

大蟾蜍蝌蚪与中国林蛙蝌蚪生长发育的温度效应

将大蟾蜍（Bufo gargarizans）蝌蚪及中国林蛙（Rana chensinensis）蝌蚪分别饲养在5℃、15℃、25℃3个不同的温度条件下,通过定时定量喂食及测量其全长、体长、体宽的变化,分析温度对蝌蚪生长发育的影响。实验结果表明：（1）在5℃下,大蟾蜍蝌蚪的全长和中国林蛙蝌蚪的全长及体长的增长速率最快;在25℃下,大蟾蜍蝌蚪的体长、体宽和中国林蛙蝌蚪的体宽的增长速率最快。（2）在不问温度条件下,大蟾蜍蝌蚪的全长和体长与时间都呈指数关系,而体宽的生长发育与时间呈一种对数增长关系;中国林蛙蝌蚪的全长和体长与时间都呈对数关系,而体宽的生长发育与时间呈一种线形关系,并且相关系数尺都在0．75以上。（3）在相同时间内,25℃的温度条件下大蟾蜍蝌蚪和中国林蛙蝌蚪的变态率最高;在5℃的温度条件下,两种蝌蚪都不能完成变态发育过程,温度对大蟾蜍蝌蚪和中国林蛙蝌蚪的生长发育有显著影响,生长发育速度随生长温度的升高而加快。     

变态前后花背蟾蜍蝌蚪消化器官大小及各型白细胞百分比的适应性变化

以戈斯纳(Gosner,1960)分期表为标准,测定了28、38、42、44、45和46期野生花背蟾蜍(Pseudepidalea raddei)身体和消化器官的大小,并通过断尾或心脏穿刺采血技术,测定了各型白细胞的百分比及嗜中性粒细胞和淋巴细胞的比值(N/L的比值)的变化。结果表明:体重、体全长及尾长随发育阶段先升后降,而重长比和体长则一直增加;小肠长度和湿重均在38期最高,后者显著高于42期;肝湿重从28期至45期逐渐增加,但46期时下降;嗜中性粒细胞的百分比45期显著高于38期,嗜酸性粒细胞的百分比44期显著高于42和45期;淋巴细胞、嗜碱性粒细胞和单核细胞的百分比及N/L的比值均不随发育阶段而变化。这些结果提示,花背蟾蜍蝌蚪能量获取器官和能量贮存器官的大小分别在变态高峰期和登陆前达到最大值,嗜中性粒细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞的比例变化有助于蝌蚪从水生过渡到陆地生活、完成变态发育过程。     

浙江丽水中华大蟾蜍和黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪对水位变化的表型响应

全球气候变暖引发栖息地干涸将对生活在水中的无尾类幼体提出了挑战。通过浙江丽水中华大蟾蜍(Bufo gargarizans)和黑眶蟾蜍(Duttaphrynus melanosticus)蝌蚪在实验条件下对不同水位变化的表型响应,检测表型可塑性的遗传性和环境近因性影响。结果表明,水位变化对中华大蟾蜍蝌蚪早期发育历期、头宽和体重影响不显著,对体长影响显著,其中逐减水位最大、恒低水位最小,慢波、恒高与快波、逐增水位依次减少;水位变化对黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪早期发育历期、体长、头宽和体重影响均显著;发育历期以恒高水位最大,恒低水位最小;体长以逐减水位最大,恒低、快波和慢波水位显著偏小,逐增和快波水位居中;头宽以恒低水位最小,逐增水位居中,其余较大;体重以恒低水位最小、恒高水位最大,其余居中。水位变化对中华大蟾蜍蝌蚪的变态时间、体长、头宽和体重影响均不显著;水位变化对黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪的变态时间、体长和体重影响均显著,对头宽影响不显著;恒低水位的变态时间最长,恒高水位的变态时间最短,其他水位变化之间差异不显著;恒高水位的体长最大,恒低和快波水位最小,其他居中;逐增和快波水位的体重最大,恒低水位最小。研究结果表明,繁殖季节不同的中华大蟾蜍和黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪响应水位变化的表型可塑性差异显著,长期在容易发生干旱和水位变化的冬季繁殖的中华大蟾蜍蝌蚪的表型可塑性低,在雨水充沛的春季繁殖的黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪的表型可塑性高,表现出表型可塑性的种间差异和遗传性;在早期发育过程中,两种蝌蚪体长的共同的表型变异与缺乏遗传基础的环境近因性影响有关;黑眶蟾蜍蝌蚪对低水位或水位下降作出减速分化的消极响应,响应程度与环境信号的强弱直接相关。     

Effects of Tail Clipping on Larval Performance and Tail Regeneration Rates in the Near Eastern Fire Salamander,Salamandra infraimmaculata

Tail-tip clipping is a common technique for collecting tissue samples from amphibian larvae and adults. Surprisingly, studies of this invasive sampling procedure or of natural tail clipping – i.e., bites inflicted by predators including conspecifics - on the performance and fitness of aquatic larval stages of urodeles are scarce. We conducted two studies in which we assessed the effects of posterior tail clipping (~30 percent of tail) on Near Eastern fire salamander (Salamandra infraimmaculata) larvae. In a laboratory study, we checked regeneration rates of posterior tail-tip clipping at different ages. Regeneration rates were hump-shaped, peaking at the age of ~30 days and then decreasing. This variation in tail regeneration rates suggests tradeoffs in resource allocation between regeneration and somatic growth during early and advanced development. In an outdoor artificial pond experiment, under constant larval densities, we assessed how tail clipping of newborn larvae affects survival to, time to, and size at metamorphosis. Repeated measures ANOVA on mean larval survival per pond revealed no effect of tail clipping. Tail clipping had correspondingly no effect on larval growth and development expressed in size (mass and snout-vent length) at, and time to, metamorphosis. We conclude that despite the given variation in tail regeneration rates throughout larval ontogeny, clipping of 30% percent of the posterior tail area seems to have no adverse effects on larval fitness and survival. We suggest that future use of this imperative tool for the study of amphibian should take into account larval developmental stage during the time of application and not just the relative size of the clipped tail sample.     

幼虫密度对甜菜夜蛾生长发育与繁殖的影响

为了研究甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua(Hübner)幼虫的密度对其发育及繁殖的影响,本实验观察了5种幼虫密度下（1,5,10,20,30头/瓶）,幼虫发育和成虫繁殖情况。结果表明：幼虫和蛹历期、存活率和蛹重均差异显著。幼虫和蛹历期均以20头/瓶的最短,1头/瓶的最长,其余随幼虫密度增加而延长;幼虫至蛹存活率以10头/瓶的最高,其余随幼虫密度增加而降低;1头/瓶的蛹最重,显著高于其他密度的,其余随幼虫密度增加而下降。尽管密度间成虫羽化率和产卵前期均无显著差异,但成虫产卵量、寿命和畸形率差异显著。1头/瓶的产卵量最多,其次为10头/瓶的,其余随幼虫密度增加而减少,30头/瓶的产卵量显著少于其他密度的; 密度在1～20头/瓶范围内,雌蛾寿命均较短,显著短于30头/瓶的,而雄蛾寿命以5头/瓶的最短,显著短于其他密度的（10头/瓶除外）,10头/瓶的次之,其余密度间差异不显著;不同幼虫密度下羽化的成虫畸形率差异显著,10头/瓶的最低,其余随幼虫密度增加而升高; 生命表结果表明甜菜夜蛾在10头/瓶下世代存活率和种群增长指数均最高,幼虫密度过低或过高均不利于种群增长;世代存活率（S）和种群增长指数（I）与幼虫密度之间的关系均呈抛物线关系：S =－0.2087x²+2.5694x+211.52 (R²=0.88),I=－0.0552x²+0.9166x+54.168 (R²=0.95)。结果提示幼虫密度影响甜菜夜蛾种群动态的重要生态因子之一。     

Maternal effects on offspring growth and development depend on environmental quality in the frogBombina orientalis

Summary Differences in maternal investment and initial offspring size can have important consequences for offspring growth and development. To examine the effects of initial size variability in the frogBombina orientalis, we reared larvae (N=360) in one of two treatments representing different levels of environmental quality. We used snout-vent length at the feeding stage (stage 25, Gosner 1960) as a measure of maternal investment. In a “low quality” treatment, larvae were reared with two conspecific tadpoles and food was limited, whereas in a “high quality” treatment, larvae were reared individually and were fed ad libitum. Among tadpoles reared in the low quality treatment, individuals that were initially small had smaller body sizes through metamorphosis and longer larval periods than individuals that were initially large. Among tadpoles reared in the high quality treatment, initial size had only a weak influence on later larval size, and did not significantly affect metamorphic size of the duration of the larval period. This interaction between maternal investment and rearing conditions suggests that production of initially small offspring could be advantageous if these offspring develop in relatively benign environments, but disadvantageous if environments are more severe. These findings are discussed in light of previous studies that have demonstrated such interactions in organisms with complex life cycles.     

Quantitative short-day photoperiodic response in larval development and its adaptive significance in an adult-overwintering cerambycid beetle, Phytoecia rufiventris

The chrysanthemum longicorn beetle, Phytoecia rufiventris, overwinters in the adult stage and reproduces in spring. Larvae of this beetle develop during summer inside a host stem or root. In the present study, photoperiodic control of larval development and its adaptive significance were examined in this beetle using an artificial diet. Larvae showed a short-day photoperiodic response at 25 °C with a critical day length of around 14 h; larvae reared under short-day conditions pupated, whereas those reared under long-day conditions entered summer diapause with some supernumerary molts and did not pupate. A similar response was found at 30 °C, but with a shorter critical day length. Below the critical day length, a shorter day length corresponded to a shorter larval period. Larvae transferred from long-day conditions to various photoperiods showed a similar quantitative response. Field rearing of larvae starting at various times of year showed that pupation occurs within a relatively short period in early autumn. Field rearing of pupae and adults at various times indicated that only pupation in early autumn results in a high survival rate until winter. Earlier or later pupation led to a low survival rate due to death before overwintering in the adult and pupal stages, respectively. Thus, in P. rufiventris, timing of pupation regulated by the quantitative short-day photoperiodic response is vital for survival. Relatively lower developmental threshold in the pupal stage supports this hypothesis.     

幼虫密度对桑螟生长发育和繁殖的影响

【目的】本研究旨在了解桑螟Diaphania pyloalis幼虫不同饲养密度对其生长发育和繁殖的影响。【方法】本研究测定了室内同一条件下5个幼虫密度(130, 650, 1 300, 1 950和2 600头/m²)下桑螟生长发育和繁殖指标,包括发育历期、幼虫存活率、化蛹率、成虫羽化率、蛹重、产卵期、单雌产卵量等。【结果】幼虫密度对桑螟的生长发育和繁殖均产生不同程度影响,幼虫密度偏低或偏高都不利于桑螟生长发育和繁殖。其中以1 300和1 950头/m² 2种幼虫密度下的桑螟幼虫生长发育和成虫繁殖状态均最佳且两密度下各项指标无明显差异,1 300头/m²密度下,桑螟的幼虫历期、蛹历期和成虫历期分别为11.32, 6.33和5.31 d; 1 950头/m²密度下,桑螟的幼虫历期、蛹历期和成虫历期分别为11.50, 6.00和5.47 d。1 300头/m²幼虫密度下,桑螟化蛹率、成虫羽化率和幼虫存活率分别为86.67%, 100%和86.67%, 1 950头/m^2<...     

Studies on Aedes albopictus larval mass-rearing optimization

To set up a sterile male technique program to control Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in areas in northern Italy, a pilot mass-rearing facility is under development. For this purpose, experiments were carried out to find the optimal larval density for the optimization of the rearing parameters, i.e., to obtain the fastest larval development, the highest larval and pupal survival rate, and large-sized pupae. Several different larval densities, from 40 to 2874 larvae per liter, were tested. For densities from 40 to 600 larvae per liter significant size differences were found among pupae obtained under different larval densities. The larvae raised at the lowest density tended to be smaller and to develop most slowly, i.e., longer pupation time. Also, increasing water volume and depth seemed to negatively affect the pupation success. Compared with the other larval densities tested, the larvae reared at a density of 2874 larvae per liter developed slightly faster and showed higher survival rates, indicating this density as appropriate for the development of a mass rearing, at least using the current larval diet.     

Stocking density‐dependent growth and survival of Asian sun catfish,Horabagrus brachysoma (Gunther 1861) larvae

The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the growth and survival of Horabagrus brachysoma larvae at different stocking densities (3, 7, 13, 20, 27 and 33 larvae L^?1) during their hatchery phase. Total length and wet weight of the larvae consistently decreased (P < 0.05) at the end of 14 and 28 days of rearing as the density increased. The specific growth rate was significantly (P < 0.05) highest at three larvae L^?1 compared to the other five densities. The percent weight gain and survival of larvae was also highest at lowest density. The observation corroborates that catfish larvae can be reared at low densities in stagnant water conditions. Considering the value of larval growth, survival and overall weight gain, the stocking density of seven larvae L^?1 has been identified as the maximum for larval rearing of H.  brachysoma under hatchery conditions.     

Larval amphibian growth and development under varying density: are parasitized individuals poor competitors?

Population density and infection with parasites often are important factors affecting the growth and development of individuals. How these factors co-occur and interact in nature should have important consequences for individual fitness and higher-order phenomena, such as population dynamics of hosts and their interactions with other species. However, few studies have examined the joint effects of density and parasitism on host growth and development. We examined the co-influences of rearing density and parasitism, by the trematode Echinostoma trivolvis, on the growth and development of larval frogs, Rana (=Lithobates) pipiens. We also examined the potential role of parasite-mediated intraspecific competition by observing how unparasitized individuals performed when housed with other unparasitized tadpoles, versus housing with a combination of unparasitized and parasitized hosts. Mean mass and mean developmental stage were reduced under high rearing densities. The presence of parasitized conspecifics had no significant effect, but there was a significant interaction of density and parasitism presence on host mass, due to the fact that parasitized conspecifics grew poorly at high densities. Unparasitized individuals reared with parasitized and unparasitized conspecifics fared no better than unparasitized individuals reared only with one another. This result indicates that infected hosts compete as much as uninfected hosts for resources, even though infected individuals have reduced mass under high-density conditions. Resource acquisition and resource allocation are different processes, and parasitism, if it only affects the latter, might not have a discernible impact on competitive interactions.     

Density dependence in the terrestrial life history stage of two anurans

Populations of species with complex life cycles have the potential to be regulated at multiple life history stages. However, research tends to focus on single stage density-dependence, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions about population regulation and subsequently hinder conservation efforts. In amphibians, many studies have demonstrated strong effects of larval density and have often assumed that populations are regulated at this life history stage. However, studies examining density regulation in the terrestrial stages are rare, and the functional relationships between terrestrial density and vital rates in amphibians are unknown. We determined the effects of population density on survival, growth and reproductive development in the terrestrial stage of two amphibians by raising juvenile wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) and American toads (Bufo americanus) at six densities in terrestrial enclosures. Density had strong negative effects on survival, growth and reproductive development in both species. We fitted a priori recruitment functions to describe the relationship between initial density and the density of survivors after one year, and determined the functional relationship between initial density and mass after one year. Animals raised at the lowest densities experienced growth and survival rates that were over twice as great as those raised at the highest density. All female wood frogs in the lowest density treatment showed signs of reproductive development, compared to only 6% in the highest density treatment. Female American toads reached minimum reproductive size only at low densities, and male wood frogs and American toads reached maturity only in the three lowest density treatments. Our results demonstrate that in the complex life cycle of amphibians, density in the terrestrial stage can reduce growth, survival and reproductive development and may play an important role in amphibian population regulation. We discuss the implications of these results for population regulation in complex life cycles and for amphibian conservation.     

Populational Changes of the Enteric Protozoans Opalina spp. and Nyctotherus cordiformis During the Ontogeny of Anuran Tadpoles

ABSTRACT. We studied ontogenetic population changes of Opalina and Nyctotherus cordiformis in eight species of tadpoles from 10 sites in east-central Mississippi. Most tadpoles acquired Opalina early in development, while the acquisition of N. cordiformis was variable. Developmental stage, species and collection site explained significant amounts of the variation in Opalina density of tadpoles ( F = 11.6; df = 27, 235; P < 0.0001) and metamorphs ( F = 7.31; df = 24, 84; P < 0.0001). Relationships between Opalina density and host stage showed either (1) a gradual decrease or (2) a gradual increase throughout host ontogeny. Opalina densities declined during metamorphosis. Density variations of N. cordiformis were explained by host species of tadpoles ( F = 9.30; df = 7, 142; P < 0.0001) and by host species and stage of metamorphs ( F = 5.85; df = 8, 62; P < 0.0001).
The length of larval period, habitat duration and generation time of the protozoans are suggested as major modifiers of the protozoan densities. Hosts with long larval periods show a decreasing population density and hosts with short developmental periods show a pattern of increasing density. Neither pattern was detected in tadpoles from temporary sites. Metamorphic declines in protozoan density, but not necessarily the loss of protozoans, reflect metamorphic alterations of the gut common to all hosts.