Intra and interspecific variation on the microhabitat selection and its relevance for water balance in anurans

• Grant number: 13/01214-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2013
• End date: May 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
• Grantee: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini

Abstract

The amphibians are generally characterized by particularly low skin resistance to evaporative water loss, especially when compared to other tetrapods. Thus, mechanisms associated to water detection, absorption and conservation, alongside with appropriate microhabitat selection, are fundamental to the maintenance of hydric balance in this group. The microhabitat characterization is, therefore, an essential aspect to understand the coevolution of physiological and behavioral traits associated with hydric balance in this group, as well as to understand the underlying selection pressures. Despite the visible relevance of this topic, it has been highly bypassed both by ecologists and physiologists. The purpose of this work is to inquire about the existence of coadaptative patterns between (1) duration of the reproductive season, (2) variation in microhabitats chosen characterized by different temperatures and potential for dehydration along the reproductive season, (3) variation in evaporative water loss resistance, and (4) variation in efficiency of selection of humid microhabitats. To accomplish this task, field studies will be conducted alongside with laboratorial experiments will test efficiency in moist microhabitat selection. (AU)