Struktur komunitas berudu anura di Sungai Cibeureum Taman Nasional Gunung Gede Pangrango, Jawa Barat

Abstract

Anura is an order of amphibians that experiencing changes in body shape from the its larval stage to reach young stage, call as metamorphosis. One of the phases in the life on anuran is the tadpole stage, which is part of the most complex process of amphibian evolution. Tadpoles live in different habitats with its adult, such as in rivers, swamps, puddles and pools. The use of various types of habitats can affect the structure of tadpole communities. The purpose of this study was to identify and measure: a) the composition and diversity or Anuran species on various microhabitat characteristics, b) the correlation between the anuran tadpoles community structure tadpoles with microhabitat characteristics, and c) differences of stages of age class found in two different seasons. Data was collected in December 2008, followed by July to November 2009 in Cibeureum stream, Mount Gede-Pangrango National Park, West Java. Quantitative sampling of amphibian larvae was carried out on along the 224 m transect. Data collected includes species identification, the number of tadpoles of each plot, the encounter time, the location of tadpoles, tadpole total length (TL), tadpoles growth stage, and environmental data (weather conditions, temperature, air humidity, depth of river, substrate, dominant vegetation, water flow velocity , water temperature and pH). Tadpoles found in the Cibeureum stream were Megophrys montana (Megophrydae), Leptophryne cruentata (Bufonidae), Rhacophorus margaritifer (Rhacophoridae), and Huia masonii (Ranidae). The most commonly found is Leptophryne cruentata (37.13%), while the least found is the Huia masonii (0.07%). Based on observation, types of microhabitat can be grouped into torrents, riffles and shingle areas. Tadpoles were only found in riffles and shingle areas. Results of linear regression test showed that the microhabitat variables did not significantly affect the presence of tadpoles Rhacophorus margaritifer, Leptophryne cruentata and Megophrys montana. Most tadpoles were found in stage 25. The dominant stage of tadpole found were in Gosner growth stage 24-48 (no foot) for both dry and wet season, which indicated that the frogs in the Cibeureum stream reproduce throughout the year.