Aspects of metabolic physiology and locomotor performance in anuran amphibians: implications of habitat fragmentation

Author(s)

Lye Otani

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB)
• Defense date: 2011-08-05

Examining board members

Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini; Denis Otavio Vieira de Andrade; Fernando Ribeiro Gomes; Paulo Inácio de Knegt López de Prado

• Advisor: Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini; José Eduardo de Carvalho

Abstract

In the last few decades, human activity has changed environmental condition, resulting in amphibian populations decline all around the world. In this study we analyze the relationships between forest fragmentation and the ability of some frog species to move between forest fragments or between fragments and breeding sites. Our study focus relies on anuran locomotor performance and supporting physiology, and the relationship between these traits and resistance to forest fragmentation. We compare morphological, physiological and behavioral traits between populations of anurans species living in different landscapes (continuous or fragmented) of two sites in the Atlantic Forest. According to our data, differences in environmental conditions of landscape are related to morpho-physiological traits. This relationship, however, depends on the site of the Atlantic Forest and also varies between species. (AU)