Specific Behavioral Responses of Hyla japonica Tadpoles to Chemical Cues Released by Two Predator Species

抄録

We experimentally examined the anti-predator behaviors of tadpoles of the Japanese tree frog, Hyla japonica, to chemical cues released by a cyprinid fish, Gnathopogon elongatus elongatus, and a dragonfly nymph, Anax parthenope julius. Tadpoles exposed to these chemical cues exhibited a similar reduction in activity level. In the presence of the fish chemical cues, however, the tadpoles spent more time in the bottom water layer compared to controls, but did not change their microhabitat choice in the presence of dragonfly nymph chemical cues. These findings suggest that tadpoles of H. japonica have predator-specific behaviors in response to chemical cues from different predators with differential foraging strategies.