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Competition Between Tadpoles of Hyla Femoralis and Hyla Gratiosa in Laboratory Experiments
Author(s) -
Wilbur Henry M.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1938942
Subject(s) - hyla , metamorphosis , interspecific competition , biology , ecology , larva , competition (biology) , predation , zoology
All combinations of 0, 10, 20, and 40 hatchlings of two species of frogs, Hyla femoralis and H. gratiosa, were raised in a replicated experiment in which food and space were controlled. Models of density—dependent growth and metamorphosis can be extended to include the effects of competing species by inclusiion of linear, additive terms. Hyla gratiosa has a strong, negative effect on the rate of metamorphosis and size at metamorphosis of Hyla femoralis. Hyla femoralis has no effect on the survival or mean size at metamorphosis of H. gratiosa, but it does lengthen both the minimum and mean larval period. Interspecific density effects on growth may increase both the risk of predation and the risk of desiccation in natural populations.