First record of growth rings for 11 native subtropical anuran species of South America

Abstract

Skeletochronology is the most accurate method to estimate a population age structure. The methodology is based on the analysis of secondary bone tissue in order to count growth rings. This study aimed to provide initial data, allowing researchers to further work out in the age of individuals and populations, sampling evidence of the presence of growth rings in 11 native species (representing nine families) of a subtropical region of southern Brazil. Four bone samples of each specimen were used to perform the skeletochronological analysis: the penultimate phalanges of the 3rd and 4th fingers, the humerus, and the femur. The presence of growth rings was confirmed in the periosteal layer of the bones of all analyzed species. In comparison with phalanges, growth rings of humeri and femora are more irregular and less distinguishable. This is the first record of growth rings to the native species herein analised. The skeletochronology was proved to be an effective tool in determining the age of anuran amphibians from a subtropical region, since this environment presents well defined climatic seasonality.

Age structure and body size of two Tibetan toad (Bufo tibetanus) populations from different elevations in China

“…This technique enables researchers to collect information on demographic parameters (e.g., age, growth rate, and longevity) of the population in a relatively short time without killing the animals. This method has been used successfully in a variety of species of anurans, including species from temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions (temperate: López et al., 2017 ; Ma, Tong, & Lu, 2009 ; Zhang et al., 2013 , 2020 ; Subtropical: Brum et al., 2019 ; Liao & Lu, 2010a ; Zhou et al., 2010 ; tropical: Khonsue et al., 2000 ; Stanescu, 2015 ).…”