The Pattern of Daily Movement and Micro Habitat Use of Javanese tree Frog (Rhacophorus margaritifer) in Gede Pangrango National Park West Java

Abstract

Studies on amphibian movement have been reported abroad, including selection of appropriate method. However, there is only one study on amphibian movement reported in Indonesia (Sholihat 2007). The purposes of this study are to 1) find suitable material for spool track that well suited with body weight of R. margaritifer, 2) map the daily movement patterns of R. margaritifer using spool track method; and 3) describe the micro habitat used by R. margaritifer in Gede Pangrango National Park. This study was conducted at Ciwalen and Cibereum. Three kinds of spool were tried to test-frogs and the frog movements were observed every three hours for 72 hours. Data from observations were then analyzed descriptively and quantitatively. Eight frogs (4 males, 4 females) were observed for 72 hours, each using a spool weight under less than 10% of body mass. Additionally, three male frogs were successfully observed using a spool weight more of 10% of their body mass. Result showed that suitable spool equipment materials differ for males and females according to their body mass. The best materials for the male frog are made by plastic straws and mica, while for female frog it is made from plastic and mica pallets. Kruskal Wallis test on 11 individual frogs indicated that there was a significant differences between day and night movement, both in male (H = 0.026) and female frogs (H = 0.03) (P value < 0.05). However, there was no significant differences in both male’s and female’s movement during the day (H = 0.888) and night (H = 0.685) (P value > 0.05). Chi square test for straightness index values for eight frogs observed in 72 hours showed that all frogs moved not far from the initial location of observation. Observations on micro habitats used showed that most frogs used location with low level of light exposure, i.e. between leaves, litter, and branches sheltered from the sun, while at night most activities were carried out on the leaves. R. margaritifer mostly in contact with plants, whereas contact with the other frogs is rare. Therefore it is estimated that the possibility of disease transmission by contact among frog is low. Since frog movements are associated with the existence of plants, there should be more efforts to keep the existence of the plants, especially plants that grow around water sources.