Taste for pollen comes in different shapes: Consumption by tadpoles from three divergent ecomorphotypes

Abstract Pollen is a nutritive resource, but its role in aquatic food webs little studied. Successful pollen acquisition may require behavioral adaptations for tadpoles with certain morphologies; however, coats are hard to break enable content assimilation. We investigated the consumption of by from three ecomorphotypes adapted feed on surface (neustonic), water column (nektonic) and bottom (benthic). sampled developmental stage ranges at both wet dry seasons site southeastern Brazil. analyzed coat‐breaking level sections tadpole guts their feces. compared composition among groups based species stages between seasons. also total number grains proportion broken (as surrogate digestion capacity) species, stages, Ecomorphotype, stage, season influenced quantity consumed. Neustonic general consumed greater amount broke them faster, other ecomorphotypes. Tadpoles showed some variation which interacted same did not differ. only varied nektonic tadpoles, being season. The high value likely make rewarding has an important effect webs, reinforcing importance conserving riparian habitats vegetation.