Quantification of sequestered alkaloids in Dendrobatidae species

• Grant number: 22/07325-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: October 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Taran Grant
• Grantee: Julia Albuquerque de Pinna
• Supervisor: Ralph Saporito
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: John Carroll University (JCU), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/14522-5 - Do sympatric poison frogs (Anura: Dendrobatidae) have similar chemical defenses?, BP.IC

Abstract

Chemical defense in Dendrobatidae species derives from lipophilic alkaloids, sequestered from ingested arthropods. Variation in alkaloid sequestration among species remain poorly understood, regarding both the diversity and quantity of these chemicals. For the first time in this study, it will be analyzed alkaloid profile (diversity, quantity and palatability) within six different sympatric and allopatric Dendrobatidae species. This study will provide important data regarding interspecific variation of sequestration capacity and efficiency. For sequestration efficiency is necessary to have an accurate quantification of alkaloid extracts. In this regard, we aim to quantify alkaloids from skins samples of six Dendrobatidae species. (AU)