Michajliczenko, A. H.

Rettig, Jessica E.

Smith, Geoffrey R.

English

Denison University

Denison University Denison Digital Commons Denison Faculty Publications 2004 Effect of diet on bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpole growth and development A. H. Michajliczenko Geoffrey R. Smith Jessica E. Rettig Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.denison.edu/facultypubs  Part of the Biology Commons Recommended Citation Michajliczenko, A. H., Smith, G. R., & Rettig, J. E. (2004). Effect of diet on bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpole growth and development. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society, 40(1), 42-46. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Denison Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Denison Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Denison Digital Commons. Volume 40 Number 1 March 2004 Effect of Diet on Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) Tadpole Growth and Development Alexande,· H. Michajliczenko, Geoffrey R. S,nith, and Jessica E. Rettig Among tadpoles, diet can determine growth and developmental rates ( e.g., ,, Martfnez, Herraez and Alvarez, 1994; Kupferberg, 1997; Babbitt and Meshaka, 2000; ,, Alvarez and Nicieza, 2002; see also review in Alfrod, 1999). In particular, diets with high protein content relative to carbohydrate content result in higher growth and development rates ( e .g., Cabrera Pena & Salinas, 1989; Martfnez et al., 1993; Carmonoa-Osaldeet al., 1996). Understanding the role of diet in the growth and de-velopment of anuran larvae, particularly Ranids, has a practical application. In many regions ot· the world, frogs are raised as food items. Thus any information that could maximize the production of frogs might be of economic importance ( e.g., Martf nez et al., 1993, 1994; Carmona-Osalde et al .~ 1996). Methods We experimentally examined the effects of diet (''carnivorous," ''herbivo-, rous," or mixed diet; sensu Alvarez and Nicieza, 2002) on growth and development of bullfrog tadpoles (Rana catesbeiana Shaw). We predicted the highest performance in tadpoles raised on a ''carnivorous'' diet, followed by those raised on a mixed diet, and that the lowest performance would be for those tadpoles raised on a ''herbivo-rous'' diet. Tadpoles were collected from a local pond (Liberty, Clay Co, Missot1ri), and haphazardly assigned to a teatment combination. We had three diet treatments: (1) ''carnivorous'' diet (Pond care® Summer Staple Pond Food: Crude Protein (min) 36.2%; Crude Fat (min) 3.5%; Crude Fiber (max) 4.2%; Moisture (max) 7.4%, (2) mixed diet (I: I ration by mass of ''carnivorous'' and ''herbivorous'' diets). and (3) ''herbivorous'' diet (Kaytee Natural Alfalfa Cubes~ Crude Protein (min) 12%; Crude Fat (min) 1.5%; Crude Fiber (max) 30.0%; Moisture (max) 12.0% ). All diets were homogeneized into a powder using a blender. There were 20 replicates of each treat-ment combination. Tadpoles were kept individually in plastic containers ( 15 cm X 15 cm X 9 cm) fi lled with de-ionized water. Tadpoles were fed (z 10% of body mass), contain-ers cleaned, and water replaced every fourth day. Tadpoles were kept at roo1n tem-perature (l 9°C) and on a 12: 12 day:night photoperiod. page 42 Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society Volume 4-0 Number 1 March 2004 Tadpoles \Vere all Gosner stage 25 (Gosner~ 1960) when the experiment began, and were ma.tched for size, with no differences in initial body mass among treatment groups (F'2.57=0.41, P=0.62). Tadpoles were weighed a.pproximately every four weeks throughout the experiement which ran from 16 July 1999 through 29 March 2000 (257 d). At eact1 weighing, developmental stage •Of each tadpole was deter1nined us-ing Gosner ( 1960). Mortality of some tadpoles precluded the use of a repeated rr1easures analysis . Therefore, we analyzed the data (body ·mass and development stage) from the first weighing (i.e., week 4. of the experiment), the data from the last weighing prior to the first metamorph being observed, survivorship (number of days s11rvived; metamorphs were said to have survived the entire experime11t since in nature they would have successfully survived the aquatic environment), and Gosner stage at the conclusion of the experiment (after 257 d) using separate one-way ANOVAs. Results Tadpoles on the ''carnivorous'' diet were significatnly larger than tadpoles on the mixed or ''herbivorous' ' diets after only 4 weeks (Table 1; F2•53=14.9, P<0. ,0001). Fisher's Protected LSD tests found that all three diets were significatnly different from each (P~0.009 in all three comparisons). At this time, all tadpoles were Gasner Stage 26. After 26 weeks, tadpoles on the ''carnivorous'' diet were substantially larger than those grown on the mixed or ''t1erbivorous'' diet (Table I ; F 2,35=26.7 P<0.0001 ). All three treatments were significantly different from eath other (Fisher's Protected LSD: P s; 000.6 in all three comparisons). After 26 weeks, tadpoles on the ' 4carnivo-rous'' diet were more advanced developmentally than those raised on the other diets (Table 1; F2,35=31 .3 P<0.000 I) . Developrnental stage for each treatment was significatly different from each other (Fisher's Protected LSD: P s-;0.031 irt all three comparisons). At the end of the experiment, tadpoles on protein diets were more develop-mentally advanced than those raised on the other diets (Table 1; F2,31=37.3, P <0.0001 ). All treatment means were significantly different from each other (Fisher's Protected LSD: P ~0.023 in all three comparisons). Indeed, 50% of the surviving protein diet tadpoles metamorphosed, whereas 20% of the mixed diet and none of the ''herbivo-ro1Js'' diet tadpoles metamorphosed. Diet did not significantly affect survivorship (F2.57=0.37, P=0.69). --·--~. -· ------ - · . ...... -· - ----------------Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetoiogical Society page 43 Volume 40 Number 1 March 2004 Table 1. Body mass and developmental stage (Gasner, 1960) of bullfrog tadpoles raised on different diets (see text) at various points in the experiment. Meta-morphosed individuals were given a value of 41 as this is the stage at which they were considered to have metamorphosed and were removed from the experiment. Means are give ±1 SE with n in parentheses. Body Mass 4 weeks 26 weeks ''Carnivorous'' 0.631 ±0.034g (l8) 5.526 ± 0.428 g (15) Diet Mixed 0.511 ± 0.034g(l9) 3.989 ± 0.369 g (11) ''Herbivorous'' 0.396 ± 0.020 g ( 19) 2.278 ± 0.242 g ( 12) Developmental Stage 26 weeks End of Experiment' 33.2 ± 0.84 g (15) 30.7 ± 0.95 g (11) 38.2 ± 0.91 g (13) 34.5 ± 1.7 g (9) Discussion. 25.4 ± 0.42 g ( 12) 26.2 ± 0.55 g ( 12) Our results t·or the effects of diet on growth and development of bullfrog tad-poles are generally consistent with previous findings, and with our predictions. ''Car-nivorous'' diets appear to provide the best opportunity for tadpole growth and devel-opment (Cabrera Pena and Salinas, 1989; Martfnez et al ., 1993; Carmona-Osalde et al ., 1996; review in Alford, 1999; this study), although this may depend on other ,, conditions (e.g., temperature, Alvarez and Nicieza, 2002). However, there may be a limit to the benefit such a diet can provide tadpoles. Carmona-Osalde et al. ( 1996) found that the optimal protein content for Rana catesbeiana is around 45%. Our results suggest that an ''herbivorous'' diet is suboptimal and does not allow for tad-pole growth and development. Our results, and tl1e results of the other studies men-tioned above, suggest diet quality may be more important than diet quantity in many psecies of anurans ( assuming that the amount of food meets the minimal require-ments for survival). Indeed, Steinwascher and Travis (1983) found that a diet' s pro-tein to carbohydrate ratio influenced Hyla chrysoscelis tadpole growth more than the amount of food, but interestingly not in Rana clamitans, although protein level and food level did have an effect. page 44 Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society Volume 40 Number 1 March 2004 .A.c..kno w le_dgm ~ n.ts~=-V/ e thank S. Elley for help maintaining the experiement. Literature Cited -- r::rr -- r _ , - = e _ 1 . 0 0: r. ,. =·•---Alford, R. A. 1999. Ecology: resource use, competition, and predation~ In Tadpoles: 1 .. he Biology of Anuran Larv~e, pp. 240-278. rvlcDiarmid, R.w·. and Altig, R. (Eds), Chicago: University of Chicago Press . ., Alvarez, D. and A.G. Nicieza 2002. Effects of temperature and food quality on anuran larval grov.1th and metamorpl1osis. Funct. Ecol. 16: 640-648. Babbitt, K.J. and W.E. Meshaka Jr. 2000. Benefits of eating conspecifics: Eft"ects of background diet on sur-vival and metamorphosis in the Cuban treefrog ( Ostopilus septentrionalis). Copiea, 2000: 469-474. Cabrera Pena, J .H. and J. P. Salinas 1989. Vaiaciones en el crecimiento y metamorfosis de renacuajos de Rana pipiens sometidos a tres diferentes dietas en condiciones experiementales. Revista Latinamericana de Acuicultura 39: 15-31 . Carmona-Osalde, C., M.S. Olvera-Novoa, M. Rodrfguez-Serna, and A. Flores-Nava. 1996. Estimation of the protein requirement for bullfrog ( Ra,ia catesbeiana) tadpoles, and its effect on metamorphosis ratio. Aquaculture, 141 : 223-231. Gosner, K. 1960. Kupferberg, S.J. 1997. A simplified table for staging anuran embryos and larvae with notes on identification. Herpetologica, 16: 183- 190. The role of larval diet in anuran rnetamorphosis . Am. Zool., 37: 146- 159. Martfnez, I.P., M.P. Harraez and R. Alvarez. 1993. Optimal level of dietary protein for Rana perezi Seoane larva. Aquacult. Fish. Manage., 24: 271-278. - - - · -·-Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society page 45 Volume 40 Number 1 March 2004 1994. Reponse of h.atchery-reared Ran.a perezi lavae fed different diets. Aquaculture, 128: 235-244. Steinwascher, K. and J. Tra,1is. 1983. Influence of food quality and quantity on early larval growth of two anu.rans. Copeia, 1983: 238-242. Department of Biology, William Jewell College, Liberty, MO 64068 USA (AHM, GRS, JER) Present address and add,·ess for correspondence (GRS; JER) Depart-1nent of Biology, Denison Unviersity, Granville, OH 43023 USA . Received Accepted . . page 46 8 Septembe1· 2003 3 October 2003 . , Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetoiogical Society 

Effect of diet on bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpole growth and development

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Effect of diet on bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpole growth and development

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