1,721,036 research outputs found
Pelobates Cultripes (Iberian Spadefoot Toad): Predation
Full text linkFil: Marangoni, Federico. Estación Biológica Doñana; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Tejedo, Miguel. Estación Biológica Doñana; Españ
Can extensively managed perennial crops serve as surrogate habitat for orthopterans typical of dry calcareous grasslands?
No full textBoth agricultural intensification and abandonment are considered among the main drivers of biodiversity loss, especially for species typical of semi-natural grasslands. In the Mediterranean regions, semi-natural grasslands are often abandoned or replaced by perennial crops such as vineyards and olive groves with potential negative consequences on the associated diversity. However, when these crops are managed under low-intensity practices, their inter-row grass cover can potentially provide suitable habitats for grassland specialists. Here, we analysed the effects of land use on orthopterans by sampling 67 sites belonging to four different habitats (vineyards, olive groves, semi-natural grasslands and abandoned semi-natural grasslands) along a landscape composition gradient. Overall, species richness was highest in abandoned grasslands, while vineyards presented the lowest diversity. Semi-natural grasslands and olive orchards presented intermediate and similar species richness. However, this effect was significant only for Ensifera species, while species richness of Caelifera did not differ between the four habitats. Increasing forest cover within a scale radius of 500 m also increased Ensifera species richness probably providing undisturbed refugia at the margins. Orthopteran abundance was higher in semi-natural grasslands than in abandoned grasslands and vineyards. Despite the differences in species richness, we observed large overlap in species composition between olive groves and semi-natural grasslands suggesting that perennial crops managed under traditional, non-intensive practices can provide suitable habitats for orthopterans typical of semi-natural grasslands. In particular, olive groves appeared to be a better surrogate habitat than vineyards for the conservation of both Ensifera and Caelifera
Lysapsus limellus. Reproductive Traits
No full textLysapsus limellus is restricted to areas along the Paraguay and Parana Rivers, from Rondonia and Mato Grosso (Brazil) to central Argentina. Within Argentina, L. limellus occurs in the provinces of Chaco, Formosa, Corrientes, and Santa Fe, and north of Buenos Aires (Cei 1980. Amphibians of Argentina. Monit. Zool. Ital. (NS) Monog. 2: 609 pp.). Lysapsus limellus is very aquatic, occurring in semi-permanent and permanent ponds (Hamann and Kehr 1997. Herpetol. Rev. 28: 85; Kehr and Basso 1990. Copeia 1990: 573-575.). Herein we report the firs reproductive traits of the specie.Fil: Marangoni, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; ArgentinaFil: Kehr, Arturo Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; Argentin
Variation in body size and metamorphic traits of Iberian spadefoot toads over a short geographic distance
Full text linkDeterminants of geographic variation in body size are often poorly understood, especially in organisms with complex life cycles. We examined patterns of adult body size and metamorphic traits variation in Iberian spadefoot toad (Pelobates cultripes) populations, which exhibit an extreme reduction in adult body size, 71.6% reduction in body mass, within just about 30 km at south-western Spain. We hypothesized that size at and time to metamorphosis would be predictive of the spatial pattern observed in adult body size. Larvae from eight populations were raised in a common garden experiment at two different larval densities that allow to differentiate whether population divergence was genetically based or was simply a reflection of environmental variation and, in addition, whether this population divergence was modulated by differing crowding larval environments. Larger adult size populations had higher larval growth rates, attaining larger sizes at metamorphosis, and exhibited higher survival than smaller-sized populations at both densities, although accentuated at a low larval density. These population differences appeared to be consistent once embryo size variation was controlled for, suggesting that this phenotypic divergence is not due to maternal effects. Our results suggest considerable genetic differentiation in metamorphic traits that parallels and may be a causal determinant of geographic variation in adult body size. © 2008 The Authors.Fil: Marangoni, Federico. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Estación Biológica de Doñana; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Tejedo, M.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Estación Biológica de Doñana; Españ
Age, body size and growth pattern of Argenteohyla siemersi pederseni (Anura: Hylidae) in northeastern Argentina
Full text linkIn this study we analysed the body size, age structure, age at maturity, longevity and growth pattern of Argenteohyla siemersi pederseni in north-eastern Argentina using skeletochronological methods. Body size was sexually dimorphic; females were significantly larger and heavier than males, regardless of age. As A. s. pederseni is an explosive breeder with only one reproductive episode per year, we assumed that each Line of Arrested Growth (LAG) observed was equivalent to one period of decreasing growth, LAGs reflecting a direct estimation of individual age. The minimum number of LAGs counted was two for males and three for females, but there was no sexual difference in longevity. The von Bertalanffy's growth coefficients (K) were higher in males than in females for both size and body mass. Females had a lower growth rate than males, took longer to reach the minimum maturation size, and were older and larger at reproduction.Fil: Cajade, Rodrigo. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Herpetología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marangoni, Federico. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gangenova, Elena. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin
Predation of Dermatonotus muelleri (Boettger 1885) by Lepidobatrachus llanensis Reig and Cei 1963
Full text linkOn 7 December 2013, we performed an intensive night survey between the localities Fuerte Esperanza and Misión Nueva Pompeya, in the Chaco Province, northern Argentina. The night was preceded by a heavy storm, creating a multitude of temporary ponds. The environmental conditions triggered the explosive reproduction in D. muelleri: vocalizing adult males were heard in addition to observations of pairs in amplexus inside water bodies and the presence of females on land which were headed to the breeding ponds. At 00.48 hours, we witnessed an adult D. muelleri being preyed upon by an adult Lepidobatrachus llanensis Reig and Cei 1963 on the side of a dirt-road segment (Ruta Provincial no. 61) (25°0?8.52?S, 61°30?50.25?W).Fil: Stanescu, Florina. University Constanţa; RumaniaFil: Marangoni, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Reinko, Ivana Noelia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; Argentin
Life-History Traits of Three Syntopic Species of the South American Redbelly Toads (Anura: Bufonidae: Melanophryniscus) from the Atlantic Forest of Argentina
Full text linkAmphibians from Atlantic Forests of South America are one of the most threatened vertebrates of the world, mainly due to the habitat loss and infectious diseases. With the goal to improve the knowledge of the lifehistory traits of the amphibian that inhabit these regions, and thus, to aid conservation and management-decision making, our main goals were to describe the reproductive activity pattern and analyze the interspecific variation in body size and the reproductive traits of three species of redbelly toads (Melanophryniscus) of the Atlantic Forest of Argentina. We also analyzed age structure, whether Sexual Size Dimorphism (SSD) exists, and if this dimorphismcould be explained by proximate mechanisms such as differences in growth patterns. The Melanophryniscus we studied bred during two or three consecutive days, in several explosive events that occurred between April 2009 and October 2012. These events were determined by a trade-off between the air and water temperature, and the level of the water bodies. We observed spatial segregation among the three species we studied when they reproduced synchronously and in sympatry and with the presence of multiple clutches. We found inter-specific differences inbody size. We recorded male-biased sex ratio and SSD in all three species of Melanophryniscus studied. We also found significant interspecific differences in age-related parameters following the differences in body size. Species were not sexually dimorphic by age. We also did not find covariation between body size and reproductive traits. These new insights allow us to predict the responses of Melanphryniscus we studied to the impact of the destruction of their habitat and global warming.Fil: Marangoni, Federico. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Naturales y Agrimensura. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Baldo, Juan Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; Argentin
Life-History Traits of Three Syntopic Species of the South American Redbelly Toads (Anura: Bufonidae: Melanophryniscus) from the Atlantic Forest of Argentina
Full text linkAmphibians from Atlantic Forests of South America are one of the most threatened vertebrates of the world, mainly due to the habitat loss and infectious diseases. With the goal to improve the knowledge of the lifehistory traits of the amphibian that inhabit these regions, and thus, to aid conservation and management-decision making, our main goals were to describe the reproductive activity pattern and analyze the interspecific variation in body size and the reproductive traits of three species of redbelly toads (Melanophryniscus) of the Atlantic Forest of Argentina. We also analyzed age structure, whether Sexual Size Dimorphism (SSD) exists, and if this dimorphismcould be explained by proximate mechanisms such as differences in growth patterns. The Melanophryniscus we studied bred during two or three consecutive days, in several explosive events that occurred between April 2009 and October 2012. These events were determined by a trade-off between the air and water temperature, and the level of the water bodies. We observed spatial segregation among the three species we studied when they reproduced synchronously and in sympatry and with the presence of multiple clutches. We found inter-specific differences inbody size. We recorded male-biased sex ratio and SSD in all three species of Melanophryniscus studied. We also found significant interspecific differences in age-related parameters following the differences in body size. Species were not sexually dimorphic by age. We also did not find covariation between body size and reproductive traits. These new insights allow us to predict the responses of Melanphryniscus we studied to the impact of the destruction of their habitat and global warming.Fil: Marangoni, Federico. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Naturales y Agrimensura. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Baldo, Juan Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; Argentin
Can age and growth patterns explain the geographical variation in the body size of two toad species?
Full text linkDetermining both the age structure and growth pattern allows to establish the causal factors, environmental and/or genetic, that eventually may be responsible for the observed pattern of divergence. We examined the variation in age structure and growth pattern across populations of two toad species, Pelobates cultripes and Epidalea calamita that exhibit a geographic variation in body size in southern Spain. For both species, populations differed in mean age but age structure did not correlate with body size variation across populations. Although the population with the youngest females found for E. calamita was the smallest in body size, the oldest males for both species were found in a small body size population. The growth pattern fit well to a von Bertalanffy growth model and interdemic divergence were found for both the asymptotic body size (Sm ) and the growth coefficients (k). As expected, Large-Bodied populations of both species attained higher Sm but, Small-Bodied population had higher, although non significantly different, k growth coefficients. Also, the Small-Bodied population attained sexual maturity sooner but had also high longevity. The observed pattern may reflect both environmental variations in resources availability affecting body size observed across populations, but also different growth and maturity pathways that may respond to contrasting selective pressures.Fil: Marangoni, Federico. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Naturales y Agrimensura. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Tejedo, Miguel. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Cogalniceanu, Dan. Universitatea Ovidius din Constanta; Rumani
Pelobates cultripes (Iberian spadefoot toad). Maximum body size
No full textThe Iberian spadefoot toad, Pelobates cultripes, occurs in southern France and throughout most of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) (Lizana et al. 1994. J. Herpetol. 28:19-27). De La Vega ( 1988. Anfibios y reptiles de la provincia de Huelva, Ertisa [Ed.]. Huelva, Spain. 238 pp.) reported maximum size for Pelobates cultripes as 89 mm SVL. Talavera (1990. Evolución de Pelobatidos y Peloditidos (Amphibia: Anura): morfología y desarrollo del sistema esquelético. Unpubl. Ph. D. Thesis, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.) reported maximum size for Pelobates cultripes females from Madrid, Spain as 101 mm SVL. The record size reported for females of this species is 113 mm SVL (Salvador and García-París 2001. Anfibios españoles. Identificación, historia natural y distribución. Canseco [Ed.], Talavera de la Reina. 269 pp.). Herein, we report on a new maximum size for this species. On 21 October 2002, between 1900 and 2200 h, in a temporary ponds near Aznalcóllar (Seville Province, Spain, 37º31’N, 6º16’W; elev. 130 m) we captured three adult gravid females of P. cultripes that surpassed the previous record length (119 mm SVL, 124 g; 120 mm SVL, 145 g; and 125 mm SVL, 168 g). Each individual were measured in the field and carefully released after into the pond where they were captured. The terminal phalange of third digit of the right forefoot was removed for a skeletochronological study in order to determine successive resting lines, providing an estimate of the age of each individual (Hemelaar 1998. J. Herpetol. 22:369-388). The biggest female coughed was aged in five years old, in the remaining individuals was not possible age determination. A geographic variation in body size of Pelobates cultripes has been recently reported (Marangoni 2006. Variación clinal en el tamaño del cuerpo a escala microgeográfica en dos especies de anuros (Pelobates cultripes y Bufo calamita). Ph. D. Thesis. Univerdidad de Sevilla, Spain.). This suggests that differences in body size reported among the cited authors could have been determinate by differences in latitudinal variation in body size. We thank the Consejería de Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía and the Reserva Biológica de Doñana, for providing the corresponding permits and facilities.Fil: Marangoni, Federico. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Tejedo, Miguel. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; Españ
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