Abiotic correlates of temporal variation of Hypsiboas leptolineatus (Amphibia: Hylidae)

Abstract

Studies of anuran population dynamics are key to uncovering the mechanisms responsible for temporal fluctuations in abundance and those that shape population structure. Population structure and population fluctuations can result from species specific demographic and behavioral characteristics, reproductive microhabitat availability (which is influenced by local environment and climate), as well as from responses to populations of other, sympatric species. In view of this, our study aimed to ascertain the temporal trends in a population of Hypsiboas leptolineatus, to describe how abundance changes between seasons, and to uncover the effects of environmental variables in shaping seasonal variations in abundance. Although H. leptolineatus occurs throughout the year, abundance showed a clear seasonal pattern linked to an interaction between temperature, relative air humidy, and moon phase. © 2010 Sociedade Brasileira de Zoologia. All rights reserved.