Comparisons of abundance, morphology and diets of Japanese tree frog (Hyla japonica) according to urbanization and land use

초록

The Japanese tree frog (Hyla japonica) that uses a variety of habitats in its life cycle is vulnerable to habitat destruction and simplification by urbanization. Calling number, morphology and diets of the H. japonica were investigated in the main breeding season according to different land use patterns and water environments in a rural area, Yangpyeong and an urban area Incheon in Korea. The size frequency distributions of snout-vent length (SVL) and body mass (BM) of H. japonica showed that the small size frequency was relatively higher in rural area than in urban area. The SVL was significantly longer in rural than urban area. Density of calling was no significant different between the two areas. The SVL was positively correlated with the patch irregularity of habitats, but negatively correlated with water pollution and the developed land use. We could not find a significant relationship between the morphology and the diets of H. japonica. Flying insects were more important diets for H. japonica in rural than urban area. These results suggested that ecological urban planning and land development considering the shape and arrangement of the habitat patches is necessary to conserve the habitats of wildlife.