Natural history traits of the terrestrial breeding frog Batrachyla taeniata 3 (Anura: Batrachylidae) in wet meadows of Patagonia

JARA, F.; UBEDA, CA; MONCADA MARISEL; PEROTTI MG

STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2021

0165-0521

Anurans have diverse reproductive modes, and some species of the austral forests ofPatagonia have become specialized in terrestrial reproduction. Batrachyla taeniata isone of these species: it inhabits wetlands, lays its eggs during late summer and fall interrestrial conditions, and has overwintering tadpoles. We studied a population of B.taeniata that breeds in wet meadows surrounded by native Patagonian forest, anddescribed its life cycle parameters (breeding phenology, egg development andcoexistence with other anurans) over two different years with contrasting hydroperiods. We also analyzed the effect of predatory insects on tadpole survival. Embryodevelopment occurred in wet soil, which may be exposed to the sun or not, and tookfrom 48 to 63 days to hatch. Free-swimming larvae overwintered in the wetland andcoexisted in spring with pond-breeding anurans that varied in composition andabundance according to the wetland hydroperiod. The survivorship of B. taeniatatadpoles was significantly greater than that of P. thaul tadpoles when both wereexposed to a free belostomatid predator. We consider that the terrestrial reproductivemode and life cycle of B. taeniata enable this species to survive in the variable bioticconditions determined by hydroperiod length.