Demografía poblacional de Rhinella arenarum (Anura: Bufonidae) y Physalaemus biligonigerus (Anura: Leiuperidae) en agroecosistemas de la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina

BIONDA C; LAJMANOVICH, R.C.,; N. SALAS; A. L. MARTINO; DI TADA I.

REVISTA DE BIOLOGíA TROPICAL

REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA TROPICAL

Lugar: Turrialba; Año: 2013 vol. 61 p. 1389 - 1400

0034-7744

Abstract: Population demography in Rhinella arenarum (Anura: Bufonidae) and Physalaemus biligonigerus(Anura: Leiuperidae) in agroecosystems in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. The advancing agriculturalfrontier has led to an important loss of natural habitats, with significant consequences for biodiversity.The demography for two species of anurans, Physalaemus biligonigerus and Rhinella arenarum, both associatedwith agricultural systems in the central region of the Córdoba Province, were analyzed and compared in thisstudy. Four sites were sampled: three agroecosystems with different alteration degrees (C1, C2 and SM1) and afourth site not cultivated (SM2). The sampling was conducted during two reproductive periods, from September2008 to April 2009 and September 2009 to April 2010. Individuals were captured using live pitfall traps forthe metamorphic, juveniles and adults; and visual encounter survey, for the capture of eggs and larvae. Withthe abundance data, the survival for each age class was estimated using the KNM method (Kiritani NakasukiManly). With survival rates and fertility population, Leslie matrices were elaborated to obtain a quantitativeprojection of the population size. Altered environments showed lower eggs and larvae survival. Population projectionswere favorable in the site SM2 and were less favorable and a tendency to extinction, in sites dominatedby crops. This study showed that the agroecosystems of this region are possibly inhospitable environments forreproduction and survival of the species studied. The aquatic stages in the life cycle of both species would bethe more affected, since water bodies deterioration is present or may occur in those areas. We can recognizespecies-specific effects of agricultural ecosystems; P. biligonigerus was the most affected species, possiblybecause of their life histories and habitat requirements. We suggested that environmental degradation caused bythe cropland in the central region of Argentina would impact on the demographics of the anuran populations inthe area.