Coevolution of antipredator behavior, locomotor performance and body proportions of Mata Atlântica rainforest anuran frogs

• Grant number: 13/04418-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
• Grantee: Jessyca Michele Citadini
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/04324-8 - Comparative study of antipredator behaviour and locomotor performance in Australian anurans that differ in morphology and habit, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Anuran amphibians represent a group of vertebrates whose body plan presents a series of changes associated with jumping locomotor performance; these specializations are very old and phylogenetically conserved. Although comparative studies have shown associations among jumping performance, habitat diversity and life history for this phylogenetic group, the relationship between locomotor performance and antipredator behavior remains unexplored within the context of diversification of habits and habitat. The present study aims to investigate: (a) At the intraspecific level, the influence of the microenvironment complexity in the manifestation of antipredator behavior; (b) At the interspecific level, the role of the occupation of ecological niches in the evolution of locomotor performance, antipredator behavior and body proportions in Brazilian anuran frogs. More specific hypotheses are described in detail in the project, and will be tested in intra-and interspecific levels through: (a) tests that simulate predation events with a snake in field and in laboratory, (b) tests of locomotor performance and (c) morphometric data collection of the individuals tested for behavior, as well as specimens preserved in museums. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CITADINI, J. M.; BRANDT, R.; WILLIAMS, C. R.; GOMES, F. R.. Evolution of morphology and locomotor performance in anurans: relationships with microhabitat diversification. JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, v. 31, n. 3, p. 371-381, MAR 2018. (16/01558-3, 14/04324-8, 13/04418-0, 13/14125-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CITADINI, Jessyca Michele. Coevolution of antipredator behavior, locomotor performance and morphology of anurans of the Atlantic Forest. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.