Effect of Salinity on Survival, Growth, Development, Metamorphic Trait of Tadpoles in Different Populations of Fejervarya limnocharis

• Main Authors: SUNG, SHAO-MIN, 宋紹民
• Other Authors: CHANG, YUAN-MOU
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/8ys5rv

碩士 === 國立臺南大學 === 生態暨環境資源學系環境生態碩士班 === 106 === Fejervarya limnocharis is one of the few frog species that can breed in brackish water in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to compare the survival, growth, development, and metamorphic traits of F. limnocharis tadpoles in different populations (costal and inland areas) under salinity stress. Specially, we wanted to know if there is a local adaptation to salinity in F. limnocharis from different populations. I collected tadpoles or eggs of F. limnocharis from two costal (Chengxi and Jinshan) and two inland (Guiren and Taoyuan) habitats from 2016. Tadpoles from each population were assigned to different salinity treatments (0, 3, 5, 7, 9 ppt). We monitored tadpoles survival daily and measured the growth and development of tadpoles once every week until metamorphosis (Gosner stage 42). The results showed that both costal and inland tadpoles can metamorphose under 7 ppt and metamorphosis rate was higher than 70 %. However, only tadpoles of Chengxi population can metamorphose at 9 ppt, indicating that it has higher salt tolerance than other populations. Tadpoles from different populations showed different growth, development, and metamorphic traits under different salinity stress (3, 5, 7, ppt). Chengxi population metamorphosed in the shortest period and had larger (3, 5 ppt) or the largest (7 ppt) body size than other three populations. Guiren population completed the metamorphosis in the shortest time and with a smaller body size. However, Taoyuan and Jinshan populations take longer time to complete the metamorphosis. The body size of Taoyuan and Jinshan populations were similar to or slightly smaller than Chengxi population, and is similar to or slightly larger than Guiren population. Our results show that there is a local adaptation leading to different survival rate and metamorphic traits among F. limnocharis population under salinity stress, which may be related to adapting habitat conditions in different regions.