Frog eat frog : exploring variables influencing anurophagy

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dc.contributor.authorMeasey, G. Johnen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVimercati, Giovannien_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDe Villiers, F. Andreen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMokhatla, Mohlamatsane M.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDavies, Sarah J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorEdwards, Shelleyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAltwegg, Resen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-09-17T07:32:26Z
dc.date.available2015-09-17T07:32:26Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.descriptionCITATION: Measey, G. J. et al. 2015. Frog eat frog: exploring variables influencing anurophagy. PeerJ, 3:e1204, doi:10.7717/peerj.1204.en_ZA
dc.descriptionThe original publication along with its supplement data are available at https://peerj.comen_ZA
dc.description.abstractBackground - Frogs are generalist predators of a wide range of typically small prey items. But descriptions of dietary items regularly include other anurans, such that frogs are considered to be among the most important of anuran predators. However, the only existing hypothesis for the inclusion of anurans in the diet of post-metamorphic frogs postulates that it happens more often in bigger frogs. Moreover, this hypothesis has yet to be tested. Methods - We reviewed the literature on frog diet in order to test the size hypothesis and determine whether there are other putative explanations for anurans in the diet of post-metamorphic frogs. In addition to size, we recorded the habitat, the number of other sympatric anuran species, and whether or not the population was invasive. We controlled for taxonomic bias by including the superfamily in our analysis. Results - Around one fifth of the 355 records included anurans as dietary items of populations studied, suggesting that frogs eating anurans is not unusual. Our data showed a clear taxonomic bias with ranids and pipids having a higher proportion of anuran prey than other superfamilies. Accounting for this taxonomic bias, we found that size in addition to being invasive, local anuran diversity, and habitat produced a model that best fitted our data. Large invasive frogs that live in forests with high anuran diversity are most likely to have a higher proportion of anurans in their diet. Conclusions - We confirm the validity of the size hypothesis for anurophagy, but show that there are additional significant variables. The circumstances under which frogs eat frogs are likely to be complex, but our data may help to alert conservationists to the possible dangers of invading frogs entering areas with threatened anuran species.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://peerj.com/articles/1204/
dc.description.versionPublishers' Versionen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMeasey, G. J. et al. 2015. Frog eat frog: exploring variables influencing anurophagy. PeerJ, 3:e1204, doi:10.7717/peerj.1204.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2167-8359 (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.7717/peerj.1204
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97510
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherPeerJen_ZA
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyrighten_ZA
dc.subjectAnimal Behavioren_ZA
dc.subjectEcologyen_ZA
dc.subjectZoologyen_ZA
dc.subjectAnuraen_ZA
dc.subjectCannibalismen_ZA
dc.subjectHabitaten_ZA
dc.subjectInvasiveen_ZA
dc.subjectPredationen_ZA
dc.titleFrog eat frog : exploring variables influencing anurophagyen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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