Predator-Prey Dynamics in Anuran Communities
Summary
Amphibians, encompassing frogs and toads (anurans), occupy pivotal positions in terrestrial and freshwater food webs. As both consumers and prey, anurans regulate invertebrate populations—often curbing disease-vector insects—while serving as essential resources for birds, reptiles, mammals and even other amphibians. Predator-prey interactions in anuran communities are shaped by life-stage transitions, morphological defences, chemical cues and behavioural strategies. Larval stages face aquatic predators such as fishes and odonate larvae, whereas terrestrial juveniles and adults encounter avian, reptilian and mammalian hunters. The strength of predation pressure varies with habitat complexity, seasonal fluctuations and anthropogenic disturbances, which can alter refuge availability and prey assemblages. Trophic dynamics in these communities influence nutrient cycling, energy flow and community stability, with cascading effects on ecosystem resilience. Recent advances have emphasised the role of environmental gradients—from forested wetlands to modified agricultural landscapes—in mediating predation rates and niche partitioning among sympatric species. Understanding these processes is critical for amphibian conservation, given ongoing global declines linked to habitat change, emerging pathogens and climate extremes. Integrating field observations with experimental manipulations of predator presence and resource availability offers insights into the adaptive capacity of anurans and the maintenance of biodiversity at multiple scales.
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Predator-Prey Dynamics in Anuran Communities publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in predator-prey dynamics in anuran communities across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Anurans: Members of the order Anura, commonly known as frogs and toads.
Trophic niche: The range of prey types and feeding strategies an organism employs within a community.
Anurophagy: The predation of frogs and toads by other organisms, including conspecifics.
Niche overlap: The extent to which coexisting species utilise similar resources or habitats.
References
- Is the red spotted green frog Hypsiboas punctatus (Anura: Hylidae) selecting its preys? The importance of prey availability. Revista de Biología Tropical (2008).
- Frog eat frog: exploring variables influencing anurophagy. PeerJ (2015).
- Diet and resource partitioning among anurans in irrigated rice fields in Pantanal, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology (2011).
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