ALGÆ OF PONDS AS DETERMINED BY AN EXAMINATION OF THE INTESTINAL CONTENTS OF TADPOLES

¹ UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

It is a well known fact that tadpoles feed on microscopic plants. The importance of this animal as a collector of algæ is clearly demonstrated. In comparing the intestinal contents of one hundred tadpoles with pond collections made from the same ponds, the number of species of algæ obtained from the tadpoles exceeded the number obtained from the collections in every case except two; and in these instances, they were the same. It may be stated, therefore, that an examination of the intestinal contents of tadpoles affords one of the best and easiest methods of determining the species of algæ present in ponds. This is especially true in large ponds, and applies particularly to the phytoplankton.

In this examination one hundred and seventy species and varieties of phytoplankton were found. Of this number, one hundred and sixty-five were encountered in the intestines of tadpoles.