19 Jan, 2008

Pond skaters whizz about on the surface as hundreds of tadpoles feed in the water below.

Today we explored one of the rivers in Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park and turned off at a smaller stream that came down from the forest. At this time of year there is still some water but there are enough areas of dry sand and shingle for walking up these streams. They are a gateway into the forest and we’ve often found deer and elephant tracks on the sandbanks.

This stream had a number of small pools and these were full of tadpoles. Pond skaters whizzed about on the surface above them and would probably eat a tadpole if it came within reach – we’ve seen them eating small fish before. We also noticed a small dragonfly larva seize a tadpole many times its size.

Out of this seething mass of tadpoles, perhaps only one or two will reach adulthood and breed.

So many other animals eat tadpoles and frogs that their presence in such large numbers here is one more indication of the health and balance in this forest.

Along the stream we noticed lovely reflections playing on the water and the patterns formed when these were scattered by the ripples of the pond skaters. We tried to see what the tadpoles were eating and it appeared they were taking particles out of the water or ‘grazing’ along the rocks and leaves in the water.

Occasionally, from somewhere in the canopy above, feathery seed pods floated down and were slowly taken downstream.

– by Darryl Sweetland, Earth-Touch crew © Earth-Touch

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