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GIARETTA, A.A. Oviposition site selection in anurans (Lissamphibia). Biota Neotrop. 8(2): http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v8n3/en/abstract?thematic-review+bn02008032008. Abstract:Oviposition site selection is a kind of habitat selection in which the females choose egg-laying sites that maximize their reproductive success. In the present review, we compiled the main conclusions of major studies on this theme that used frogs as model organisms. In the literature, three main lines of investigations were recognized: 1) multiple factor analyses in natural habitats-within the breeding site, places with eggs/tadpoles are compared with unused sites, testing several abiotic and biotic factors that could potentially influence female's choice; 2) experiments with pools arranged in replicated blocks (treatments/control) to simulate oviposition sites differing in quality and 3) quantification of reproductive events associated with experimental manipulations in the field. Effectively, females of several frog species select oviposition sites more favorable to survival and development of eggs and tadpoles. In general, the female choice depends on the abundance and quality of potential egg-laying sites and on her discriminatory ability. Female choices usually mirror the main risks to survival and growth of the offspring, but discriminatory power is not absolute and partial or total losses of clutches and tadpoles may occur, most of them resulting from desiccation and predation. The sensory mechanisms that females use to discriminate the conditions of potential oviposition sites remain poorly known and unexplored. Besides affecting the parental reproductive success, the selective behavior potentially influence population dynamics and community structure by promoting habitat segregation among competitive species or prey-species and their predators. Resumo: A seleção de sítios de oviposição é uma forma de seleção de hábitat em que as fêmeas escolhem o micro-ambiente de desova procurando maximizar o sucesso reprodutivo. Nesta revisão, compilamos as principais conclusões de estudos sobre seleção de sítios de oviposição tendo os anuros como modelo. Na literatura, podemos reconhecer três linhas principais de investigação: 1) análise de múltiplos fatores em hábitat natural-no ambiente de reprodução, sítios com ovos e girinos são comparados com locais não utilizados com base em fatores abióticos e bióticos com potencial de influenciar a escolha da fêmea; 2) experimentos controlados com poças dispostas em blocos replicados simulando sítios potenciais de oviposição com diferenças na qualidade e 3) quantificações de eventos reprodutivos e experimentos de manipulação em ambiente natural. Fêmeas de várias espécies de anuros selecionam sítios de oviposição mais favoráveis à sobrevivência e desenvolvimento dos ovos e girinos. O comportamento de escolha depende da abundância e qualidade relativa dos locais potenciais de desova e da capacidade de discriminação da fêmea. Em geral, as escolhas das fêmeas respondem aos principais riscos à sobreviv...

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Among frogs, vocalizations play important roles in their social interactions. Herein we describefi ve new types of vocalizations for two foam-nesting species of the Leptodactylus pentadactylusgroup, L. syphax and L. labyrinthicus. Behavioral observations and recordings were done in fourlocalities within the Cerrado biome, at southeast and central Brazil. Before emitting advertisementcalls, males of L. syphax often started producing a sequence of notes, which gradually turned into theadvertisement call. These different notes may be an introductory call, which would serve to preparethe vocal structures for the emission of the high-frequency/amplitude advertisement calls. A male ofL. syphax was emitting advertisement calls when a female approached and started to emit brief andlow-amplitude calls; these vocalizations probably are reciprocation calls. Males of L. labyrinthicusinvolved in agonistic interactions can emit vocal cracks (encounter call) and deep rough sounds (territorialcalls). Five courting males of L. labyrinthicus released screams with their mouth slightly openedin response to the approach of human observers. We conclude that these screams do not representdistress or territorial calls.

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