The Herpetological Journal

pp.27-30

Authors: Tong Lei Yu, Ting Ting Wang & Michael Busam

Abstract: Anuran larvae may use chemical, visual and tactile cues to assess habitat features, and subsequently mediate their growth and
development. Of the three cues, chemical ones have been analysed the most, but little is known about the role of visual cues
and the extent to which tadpoles rely on their vision for intraspecific social assessment. In this study, we investigated whether
conspecific visual cues affect development and growth of Bufo gargarizans minshanicus tadpoles, and analysed whether they
use visual cues as indicators of density. The tadpoles did not significantly alter their growth and development in response
to low visual stimulation. However, tadpoles under high visual stimulation were significantly smaller than single tadpoles
without visual cues. Therefore, we suggest that B. g. minshanicus tadpoles are susceptible to high visual stimulation when
the environment changes (little vegetation and clear water), allowing for decreased growth in the presence of high-density
conspecifics.

Keywords: body mass, visual cues, density, intraspecific competition, habitat features, Bufo gargarizans minshanicus