Effect to age on the analysis of geographic variation in morphometric variables among populations of Boana cordobae (Anura: Hylidae)

BARAQUET, MARIANA; OTERO, MANUEL ALEJANDRO; GRENAT PABLO RAÚL; BABINI, MARÍA SELENE; MARTINO, ADOLFO LUDOVICO

REVISTA DE BIOLOGíA TROPICAL

REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA TROPICAL

Lugar: Turrialba; Año: 2018 vol. 66 p. 1401 - 1411

0034-7744

We estimated differences in body size and age structure of six populations of 16 Boana cordobae living at different altitudes, 808-2 310 m.a.s.l. in Córdoba and San Luis 17 provinces (Argentina). We measured 15 morphometric variables and used 18 skeletochronology to age determination of 79 individuals. Morphometric variables showed 19 significant differences between sexes, being females larger than males, even when the 20 effect of age was taken into account. We found a significant relationship between age and 21 most of the morphometric variables. When removing the effects of age, we found 22 significant inter-population differences in body size. Males from the high-elevation 23 populations were larger than individuals from low-elevation populations. These results 24 suggest that a difference in age structure between populations is a main factor for the 25 geographic variation in body size of this species