Biodiv Sci ›› 2008, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (2): 150-155.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2008.07223

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Predation impact ofProcambarus clarkii on Rana limnocharis tadpoles in Guilin area

Zhengjun Wu, Fengjin Cai, Yunfeng Jia, Jianxin Lu, Yongfu Jiang, Chengming Huang*()   

  1. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Protection and Assessment, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004
  • Received:2007-08-22 Accepted:2008-01-21 Online:2008-03-20 Published:2008-02-20
  • Contact: Chengming Huang

Abstract:

Procambarus clarkiihas invaded many provinces in China, such as Jiangsu, Hubei, and Anhui. In order to evaluate its effect onRana limnocharis, we investigated the population density of P. clarkii and R.limnocharis in their natural habitat in Guilin between May and June in 2006. As a comparison, we also carried out indoor experiments to study P. clarkii predation on the tadpole of R. limnocharis and Microhyla ornata. The field investigation showed that there was a significantly negative correlation between the density of P. clarkii and that of R. limnocharis tadpoles, while indoor experiments showed that the number of R. limnocharis tadpoles preyed by Procambarus clarkii was positively correlated with P. clarkii’s body length, and moreR. limnocharis tadpoles were preyed than M. ornata tadpoles. Our results suggest that P. clarkii is likely to endanger amphibian larva, therefore, it should be monitored and controlled.

Key words: Procambarus clarkii, Rana limnocharis, Microhyla ornata, predation, alien species