Joshua Mendoza
Research Mentor(s): Jennifer Flores
Mentor Department: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Authors:
Session: Session 2 (10:00am – 10:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 97
Abstract
Coffee is a significant agricultural product, and coffee agroecosystems host many diverse ecological communities. Nowadays most research in these ecosystems focuses on coffee pests and their predators, however little attention has been given to the role of Coqui frogs in these environments. This study explores the ecological interactions of Coqui frogs within coffee agroecosystems, specifically comparing their diet and ecological impact in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Coqui frogs are native to Puerto Rico and invasive within Hawaii. The primary research question is: what do Coqui frogs consume on coffee farms in these two regions? The purpose is to understand how Coqui frogs affect arthropod populations, including coffee pests, and to examine potential similarities and differences in their diets between Hawaii and Puerto Rico. To conduct this research, regurgitation samples from Coqui frogs were collected from farms in both locations and preserved in ethanol vials. These samples were analyzed under a stereoscope, with species identified to the lowest taxonomic rank. Preliminary data suggest that the Coqui frogs’ diet primarily consists of Formicidae (ants), Coleoptera (beetles), and Diptera (flies) in Hawaii, while in Puerto Rico, the diet includes Formicidae (ants), Blattodia (cockroaches), and Hemiptera (true bugs). Ants, in particular, play a role as both predators and invasive species. These findings imply that Coqui frogs may exert top-down control on arthropod populations in coffee agroecosystems, influencing pest regulation. This research provides valuable insights for coffee farmers in both regions and contributes to the broader understanding of the Coqui frog’s ecological role in agroecosystems, especially in the context of invasive species management in Hawaii and conservation in Puerto Rico.
