IHEM   20887
INSTITUTO DE HISTOLOGIA Y EMBRIOLOGIA DE MENDOZA DR. MARIO H. BURGOS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Seasonal Changes in the Thermal Tolerances of the Toad Rhinella arenarum (Bufonidae) in the Monte Desert of Argentina
Autor/es:
SANABRIA E.; QUIROGA L.; MARTINO A.
Revista:
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
Editorial:
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Referencias:
Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2012 vol. 37 p. 409 - 412
ISSN:
0306-4565
Resumen:
We studied the thermal tolerances of Rhinella arenarum during the dry and wet seasons of the Monte
Desert in San Juan Province, Argentina. This toad had differences in CTmax between dry and wet seasons,
and the CTmax values were higher in the wet season (Austral summer). Operative temperature, body
temperature, environmental maximal temperature, and relative humidity were related to CTmax,
suggesting seasonal acclimatization of R. arenarum. Additionally, the CTmax recorded for R. arenarum
was 36.2 1C, and the maximum ambient temperature recorded during the toads activity time was
37 1C. Also, the CTmin recorded for R. arenarum was 5.3 1C and the minimum environmental temperature
recorded was 7.2 1C. The wide thermal tolerance range recorded and the relationship between tolerance
limits and the environmental extremes indicate that seasonal acclimatization is an effective mechanism
by which toads can raise their thermal tolerance, allowing them to survive in the challenging conditions
of the Monte Desert. Additional studies are needed to understand the relationship between the thermal
tolerance of this desert amphibian and the environmental parameters that influence its thermal
physiology.