The effect of ontogeny on interspecific interactions in larval amphibians

Assessed the relative importance of predator density, prey density and time of prey introduction on interactions between larval salamanders Ambystoma tigrinum and their anuran prey Pseudacris triseriata, and examined how these interactions affected mass at metamorphosis, length of larval period, growth rate, and survival. Microhabitat differences in primary productivity, sources of predation other than salamanders, and abiotic factors were important determinants of community structure. High levels of salamander predation negatively affected tadpole survival, but affected no other response variable. Tadpoles in the early predator introduction treatment had longer larval periods and lower survival rates than those in the late treatment. Intaractions of factors, including time of introduction, were common. -from Authors