Nicho ecológico e aspectos da história natural de Phyllomedusa azurea (Anura: Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae) no Cerrado do Brasil Central

Abstract

Ecological niche and aspects of the natural history of Phyllomedusa azurea (Anura: Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae) in the Cerrado of Central Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 8(4): http://www.biotaneotropica. org.br/v8n4/en/abstract?article+bn02108042008Abstract: Aspects of the ecology and natural history of Phyllomedusa azurea were investigated in an area of Central Brazilian Cerrado between April, 2006, and February, 2007. Observations were conducted between 6:00 PM and 5:00 AM. The study focused on spatial, temporal, and trophic niches, morphometry and reproduction. Most animals were recorded vocalizing in places dominated by herbaceous vegetation and an open canopy. The main substrates used were bushes and trees, and animals were seen perched most often between 0.5 and 1.0 m of height. Spatial niche breadth was 2.91 and 3.83 for substrate and perch height, respectively. Most animal were sighted close to lentic water bodies, usually up to 0.50 m. It is possible that these characteristics are related primarily to the phylogeny of the genus and secondarily to the specific needs of the species and the local availability of resources. The bushes and trees were used by the species mainly as sites of vocalization and oviposition. Specimens of Phyllomedusa azurea was sighted most frequently between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Estimated temporal niche breadth (activity period) was 4.68. Prolonged reproductive pattern was also observed predominantly in the months with higher temperature and higher humidity (September to February). The diet consisted of eleven items. The most important prey taxon for the females was Orthoptera (IVI = 63), whereas for the males, it was Araneae (IVI = 33). The breadths numeric and volumetric of the trophic niche, was respectively 1.80 and 1.16, for females, and 4.03 and 3.92, for males. Males and females differed in size (SVL) and mass, with the females being larger and heavier. The sizes of smaller reproductive individuals males and females were 34.64 and 40.33 mm, respectively. Differences in size may be related to different investments in reproduction by the two sexes. Keywords: ecology, niche, habitat use, time activity, diet, sexual dimorphism.FREITAS, E.B., DE-CARVALHO, C.B., FARIA, R.G., BATISTA, R.C., BATISTA, C.C., COELHO, W.A., BOCCHIGLIERI, A. Nicho ecológico e aspectos da história natural de Phyllomedusa azurea (Anura: Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae) no Cerrado do Brasil Central. Biota Neotrop. 8(4): http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v8n4/ pt/abstract?article+bn02108042008Resumo: Aspectos da ecologia e da história natural de Phyllomedusa azurea foram estudados em uma área de cerrado do Brasil Central, entre abril de 2006 e fevereiro de 2007. As observações foram realizadas entre as 18:00 e 5:00 h. Os aspectos investigados são referentes aos nichos espacial, temporal e trófico, morfometria e reprodução. A maioria dos animais vocalizou em locais com predominância do estrato herbáceo e de dossel aberto. Os principais substratos utilizados foram arbustos e árvores. Com relação às alturas de empoleiramento, os...

Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae, Phyllomedusa azurea Cope, 1862: distribution extension to southern Brazil

“…The mean snout-vent length of the three collected males (35.7 + 1.78 mm; Table 1) was slightly inferior to the means presented by Caramaschi (2007Caramaschi ( "2006 37.7 mm) and Freitas et al (2008;36.45 mm), but is still included between the extreme values recorded by these authors. All the measurements of P. azurea taken in this study corroborate those of Caramaschi (2007Caramaschi ( "2006 and Freitas et al (2008), except by the head length that was slightly inferior to the values recorded by Caramaschi (2007Caramaschi ( "2006 If we consider the location of the most recent records for this species in north (Calderon et al 2009) and south (this paper), as well as the morphologic differences observed in the pictures presented by those authors, we cannot discard the hypothesis that P. azurea could be in reality a species complex. However, only a widest review could solve this question, and this is not the purpose of this paper.…”

“…The landscape is mainly constituted by native grasslands, but also includes swampy areas and patches of mixed ombrophilous forest (Bencke et al 2006). This distribution extension represents the first record of P. azurea outside the savanna type formations of Cerrado, Pantanal and Chaco biomes, where the species had been previously recorded (Caramaschi 2007(Caramaschi "2006Prado et al 2008;Freitas et al 2008;Frost 2009;Calderon et al 2009). The physiognomic vegetation of the area is very similar to other planaltic fields in southern Brazil ("Campos de Cima da Serra" in northeastern state of Rio Grande do Sul and "Campos do Planalto das Araucárias" in southeastern state of Santa Catarina) (Bencke et al 2006) considered as inside Campos Sulinos biome (MMA 2000).…”

“…This pond was located in an open area under anthropic influence (pasture). On that Lucas et al | Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae, Phyllomedusa azurea Cope, 1862 occasion, most of the observed individuals were calling, which coincides with the peak of calling activity (between 20:00 h e 21:00 h) described by Freitas et al (2008). This record extends ca.…”

“…(18.9 -25.1) Table 1. Morphometric measurements of the tree collected males of Phyllomedusa azurea in the municipality of Água Doce, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, and measurements of males reported by Freitas et al (2008) and Caramaschi (2007Caramaschi ( "2006. The mean ± standard deviation and range are showed in mm.…”

“…Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae, Phyllomedusa azurea Cope, 1862: Distribution extension to southern Brazil areas dominated by herbaceous vegetation, in heights that varies from ground level to 2.5 m (Freitas et al 2008).…”