Reproductive biology ofMelanophryniscus montevidensis(Anura: Bufonidae) from Uruguay: reproductive effort, fecundity, sex ratio and sexual size dimorphism

The Correlates of in Situ Larval Survivorship of the Threatened South American Toad Melanophryniscus montevidensis (Anura, Bufonidae)

“…In this study, we provide new data on survival proportions, body sizes, and development times, as well as other descriptive information, in semi-natural conditions. The range of eggs per couple ( = 135, SD = 73) did not differ between ponds and was within the numbers reported in previous studies of this species (Garrido-Yrigaray, 1989;Alonzo et al, 2002;Pereira and Maneyro, 2018). Later in development, hatching and metamorphosis success differed locally (i.e., between ponds).…”

“…During those days, we searched, collected, and stored amplectant pairs in plastic containers of ca. 1 L (one amplectant pair per container, with water and vegetation from the pond), a procedure previously employed to obtain clutches from this species in field conditions (Alonzo et al, 2002;Pereira and Maneyro, 2018).…”

Lack of response to pond desiccation by eggs and tadpoles of the Yungas Red-belly Toad (Melanophryniscus rubriventris) in an unpredictable environment

“…In such a context, the only specialization related to the unpredictable and highly variable environmental conditions might be related to its spawning behavior where no event of oviposition occurred after rains underneath 20 mm (Vaira 2005). Explosive breeding events, highly synchronized with previous rainfall, and short periods of larval development are reproductive characteristics shared D r a f t by several congeneric species (Cairo et al 2008;Pereyra et al 2011;Pereira and Maneyro 2018). Laying eggs after heavy rains when ponds are flooded would be a response to the fluctuating environmental conditions that would diminish the risks of reproductive failure owing to pond desiccation (Goldberg et al 2006).…”