Directional orientation of migration in an aseasonal explosive-breeding toad from Brazil

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Author(s):	Santos, Raquel Rocha ; Leonardi, Simone Baratto ; Caorsi, Valentina Zaffaroni ; Grant, Taran Total Authors: 4
Document type:	Journal article
Source:	JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY; v. 26, p. 7-pg., 2010-07-01.
Abstract
The directional orientation of pre- and post-reproductive migration was studied in the Brazilian red-bellied toad Melanophryniscus cambaraensis, a species that forms explosive-breeding aggregations at irregular intervals throughout the entire year. Migrating toads were captured by enclosing the breeding site in dual drift fences with inward- and outward-facing funnel traps. Data were collected over 5 mo and totalled 333 captures. The observed directional orientation was significantly different from expected under a uniform distribution for both pre- and post-reproductive migration, regardless of gender. Males and females did not differ significantly from each other in the orientation of entry or exit, and the directional orientation of pre-reproductive migration was not significantly different from post-reproductive migration. It is suggested that the observed directional bias may be due to a dirt road next to the breeding site that could restrict juvenile dispersal to the adjacent forest. (AU)

FAPESP's process:	08/50928-1 - Speciation of frogs in high-altitude environments
Grantee:	Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
Support Opportunities:	Research Projects - Thematic Grants