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Prey Selection and Feeding Behavior of the Green Treefrog (Hyla Cinerea)
Author(s) -
Freed Arthur N.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1937407
Subject(s) - predation , hyla , biology , predator , ecology , selection (genetic algorithm) , zoology , artificial intelligence , computer science
In laboratory experiments on prey choice, Hyla cinerae consistently selected the house fly over four mosquito species. There was no correlation between prey size and predator choice. A positive correlation did exist between choice of prey and prey activity as well as with difficulty of prey capture. A test for partial correlation between prey size, prey activity, and predator choice indicated that activity, and not size, was the key factor determining prey selection. The green treefrog selected prey in relation to the proportion of time a prey species remained active, as well as the types of activity most often displayed. Similar motor patterns between species as well as different activity patterns within prey species did not provide equal feeding stimuli for the frog.