Data from: Abiotic and biotic drivers on tadpoles in seasonal rock pools of Western Ghats rock outcrops, India

We assessed the influence of abiotic (pool size, monsoon progression) and biotic (predator abundances) factors on occurrence and abundance of three species of tadpoles by periodically monitoring rock pools in lateritic plateaus. The dataset generated from this study is published here. Species Coverage: Euphlyctis jaladhara, Microhyla nilphamariensis, Polypedates maculatus; four predator groups (Pisaurid Spiders, Crabs, Water Beetles, Dragonfly Larvae) Geographic Coverage: Devi Hasol plateu of Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra State, India. (16°44'–16°45'N; 73°25–73°27'E) Temporal Coverage: July, August, September (2022). Methods: Nighttime rock pool surveys were conducted for tadpoles of three species (Euphlyctis jaladhara, Microhyla nilphamariensis, Polypedates maculatus). Pools were monitored eight times during the study period between 1900–2300 hr, usually in clear weather, barring occasional rain incidences. The pool water was clear during all the observation occasions. For large (>1003 cm3) pools, the observer gently walked along the bank and scanned the pool to record all animals. Care was taken not to recount the same schools of tadpoles, and a red light was used while approaching the pool to avoid light disturbance. The observer enumerated tadpoles of the three species and their potential predators (fishing spiders, crabs, dragonfly larvae, and water beetles) by counting them using head and hand-held torch lights. Following microhabitat variables were recorded at four occasions: Pool maximum length and width (cm), water depth (cm) at three points, humus cover (%), submerged vegetation cover (%), and edge vegetation cover (%). The percentage covers of vegetation and humus were visually estimated. Funding: On the Edge (UK) The Habitats Trust (India) The Bombay Environmental Action Group (India)本研究通过周期性监测红土台地的岩石池，评估了非生物因素（池体大小、季风进程）与生物因素（捕食者丰度）对3种蝌蚪的出现率与种群丰度的影响。本研究生成的数据集现已公开发布。 物种覆盖范围：Euphlyctis jaladhara、Microhyla nilphamariensis、Polypedates maculatus；共涵盖4类捕食者（盗蛛科蜘蛛、蟹类、水生甲虫、蜻蜓幼虫）。 地理覆盖范围：印度马哈拉施特拉邦拉特那吉里县Devi Hasol台地（北纬16°44′–16°45′，东经73°25′–73°27′）。 时间覆盖范围：2022年7月、8月、9月。 研究方法：针对上述3种蝌蚪开展夜间岩石池调查。本研究期间共开展8次池体监测，监测时段为每日19:00–23:00，通常选择晴朗天气，仅在偶发降雨时暂停。所有观测时段内池水均保持清澈。对于体积大于1003 cm³的大型池体，调查人员沿池岸缓步行进并扫描池面以记录所有栖息动物。调查过程中严格避免重复计数同一蝌蚪集群，且靠近池体时使用红光以规避光线干扰。调查人员通过头戴式头灯与手持式手电筒，对3种蝌蚪及其潜在捕食者（盗蛛科蜘蛛、蟹类、蜻蜓幼虫、水生甲虫）进行计数。此外，在4次监测中记录了以下微生境变量：池体最大长度与宽度（单位：cm）、3个测点的水深（单位：cm）、腐殖质覆盖度（%）、沉水植被覆盖度（%）以及池岸植被覆盖度（%）。植被与腐殖质的覆盖度均通过目视估算获得。 资助信息：On the Edge（英国）、The Habitats Trust（印度）、The Bombay Environmental Action Group（印度）