Helminth parasites of amphibians from Hylidae and Microhylidae families at three Cerrado physiognomies

• Grant number: 13/18927-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Helminthology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Luciano Alves dos Anjos
• Grantee: Mariana Retuci Pontes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The greatest biological diversity is concentrated in tropical regions, however the tropical biota of these areas are still relatively subsampled. Within the group of poorly sampled species are the helminths of amphibians, which represent a real "invisible zoo". Parasites are an important part of biodiversity in all ecosystems and contribute to the maintenance of local diversity of hosts and ecosystemic functions, as well as aspects of the natural history of their hosts. The greatest diversity of amphibian species is found in Brazil, but the fauna of parasites is known about 10% of the frog species. Thus, this project aims to assess the communities of parasites, and their parasitic parameters in amphibians from two families, Hylidae and Microhylidae, living in three Cerrado physiognomies (mata de galleria, Cerrado sensu stricto e floresta de transição), located in the Fazenda de Ensino Pesquisa e Extensão - FEPE, Selvíria municipality, state of Mato Grosso do Sul. By containing elements of semideciduous forest and cerrado sensu stricto will be assessed to what extent the transition area has greater richness and diversity of parasites associated with amphibians.