COMPOSICIÓN ALIMENTARIA DE LA RANA TORO EXÓTICA (Aquarana catesbeiana) EN UN HUMEDAL DE MONTAÑA CERCA DE LA FRONTERA MÉXICO-ESTADOS UNIDOS: DIETA DE LA RANA TORO EN BAJA CALIFORNIA

Edith Andrea Navarro-Tiznado; Gorgonio Ruiz-Campos; Jorge H.  Valdez-Villavicencio

doi:10.22201/fc.25942158e.2024.2.728

Authors

Edith Andrea Navarro-Tiznado Conservación de Fauna del Noroeste A. C., Calle Segunda, 2100b, Col. Obrera, Ensenada, Baja California, México
Gorgonio Ruiz-Campos Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Jorge H. Valdez-Villavicencio Conservación de Fauna del Noroeste A. C., Calle Segunda, 2100b, Col. Obrera, Ensenada, Baja California, México

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2024.2.728

Keywords:

Baja California, diet, invasive species, bullfrog, prey size

Abstract

We analyzed the feeding composition of the exotic American bullfrog (Aquarana catesbeiana) from a mountain wetland of Baja California, near the Mexico-United States border, during spring and summer of 2016. We examined the stomach contents of 65 specimens of bullfrogs by sex, age and size, and quantified the integral contribution of the prey in the diet by means of the relative importance index, and their relationship with bionomic and environmental factors. We documented that bullfrogs importantly preyd on the exotic red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), which showed modifications in dietary composition by sex and age of the individuals, as well as seasonally. Size of prey consumed was independent of the body size of the predator, which indicates no selective predation. The weight of fat body in bullfrogs was positively related to the consumption of the three main prey in the diet (red swamp crayfish, terrestrial isopods Armadillidiidae and ants Formicidae). This study shows that the bullfrog consumes a great proportion of red crayfish when both exotic species share the aquatic environment.

Author Biographies

Edith Andrea Navarro-Tiznado, Conservación de Fauna del Noroeste A. C., Calle Segunda, 2100b, Col. Obrera, Ensenada, Baja California, México

Biologist and Master of Science from the Autonomous University of Baja California at Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Expertise on ecology and management of amphibians in the mediterranean region of Baja California.

Jorge H. Valdez-Villavicencio, Conservación de Fauna del Noroeste A. C., Calle Segunda, 2100b, Col. Obrera, Ensenada, Baja California, México

Biologist from the Autonomus University of Baja California at Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico; and Master of Science from the Biological Research Center of Northwestern Mexico (CIBNOR) at La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Expertise in taxonomy and ecolgy of amphibians and reptilians from northwestern Mexico.

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