Intraspecific interactions and home range in red bellied toad Melanophryniscus Stelzneri (Anura, Bufonidae)

VARELA, BRUNO D.; GRENAT, PABLO R.; SALAS, NANCY E.; MARTINO, ADOLFO L.

La Falda, Córdoba

Congreso; XIX Jornadas Científicas de la Sociedad de Biología de Córdoba; 2013

Sociedad de Biología de Córdoba

The space used by an individual to satisfy its daily requirements is defined as home range. In the present study, we studied the size and use of Melanophryniscus stelzneri home range during its reproductive period. We selected an ambient in which the species typically inhabits, called mallín, characterized for being a swampy area, developed in floodable sites of the landscape alongside permanent or semi permanent water courses, in which water accumulates or flows slowly. We established a grid encompassing 128m2, subdivided in 1m2 quadrants. We captured and photographed all active individuals for their later identification by using their dorsal spot patterns. Later, we monitored active individuals and we registered their position in the grid during each sampling day. We identified a total of 43 individuals, of which nine were recaptured on two opportunities and nine had one recapture. Sites used most frequently by the species were represented by cavities of approximately 1m3 produced from livestock stepping. Most of these sites were near or under Cortaderia selloana, a plant species used as refuge by the red bellied toad.