Ecomorphological theory indicates that different ecological requirements lead to different organismal designs. Given that species with equal requirements could not coexist, traits leading to more efficient use of resources may be selected to avoid competition among closely related syntopic species, generating specialized ecomorphs. We compared habitat use, diet, thermal biology and morphology among the syntopic Tropidurus semitaeniatus, T. helenae and T. hispidus in the Caatinga of Northeastern Brazil. Tropidurus semitaeniatus and T. helenae are flattened lizards specialized to rocks and rock crevices, whereas T. hispidus has a robust body and generalist habits. We aimed to test the hypothesis that morphological modifications observed in the flattened ecomorphs are related to modifications in diet and habitat use. Also, we hypothesized that specialization to habitat induces morphological modifications, which in turn may constrain lizard performance. Flattened species differed in habitat use, morphology and prey size when compared with the generalist ecomorph. Morphological modifications were related to specializations to rocky habitats and constrained the variety of prey items consumed. This phenotype also reduced their reproductive output when compared with a robust, generalist ecomorph.

In recent years, the number of new antimicrobial drugs launched on the market has decreased considerably even though there has been an increase in the number of resistant microbial strains. Thus, antimicrobial resistance has become a serious public health problem. Amphibian skin secretions are a rich source of host defense peptides, which generally are cationic and hydrophobic molecules, with a broad-spectrum of activity. In this study, one novel multifunctional defense peptide was isolated from the skin secretion of the Chaco tree frog, Boana raniceps. Figainin 2 (1FLGAILKIGHALAKTVLPMVTNAFKPKQ28) is cationic and hydrophobic, adopts an α-helical structure in 50% (v/v) trifluoroethanol (TFE), and is thermally stable. This peptide exhibited activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria arboviruses, T. cruzi epimastigotes; however, it did not show activity against yeasts. Figainin 2 also showed antiproliferative activity on cancer cells, is moderately active on human erythrocytes, and activates the oxidative burst in human neutrophils.

Alimentación de dos especies de anfibios (Anura: Hylidae) en la estación de bajas temperaturas y su relación con la acumulación de energía en Santa Fe, Argentina

Resumen. Se analizó y comparó el espectro trófico de 2 poblaciones de Physalaemus albonotatus que habitan en ecosistemas diferentes: a) un terreno baldío urbano y b) un área protegida del valle aluvial del río Paraná Medio. La dieta de Physalaemus albonotatus está compuesta fundamentalmente de hormigas, coleópteros, colémbolos e isópodos, pero con numerosas presas secundarias. Al comparar 3 grupos etarios de los individuos en cada población (adultos, subadultos y jóvenes) se encontró una variación ontogenética relacionada con el volumen, cantidad y tipo de presa ingerida. Los anfibios adultos consumieron mayor cantidad de presas y más voluminosas, pero el nicho trófico de los jóvenes fue más amplio. Entre los adultos, la similitud de la dieta entre sexos fue muy elevada, aunque las hembras consumieron más hormigas que los machos. Si bien el solapamiento trófico entre las poblaciones fue elevado, la amplitud trófica resultó mayor en la población del humedal fluvial. Las diferencias en la alimentación encontradas entre las 2 poblaciones y lo registrado en otros trabajos realizados en diferentes ambientes reflejan la plasticidad trófica de este anuro, característica que le permite prosperar en hábitats diversos, incluso en los muy antropizados.Palabras clave: anuros, hábitats de forrajeo, ambiente urbano, humedal fluvial, plasticidad trófica, solapamiento trófico.Abstract. We analyzed and compared the feeding of 2 populations of Physalaemus albonotatus inhabiting different ecosystems: a) an urban vacant lot, and b) a protected area of Middle Paraná River floodplain. The diet of Physalaemus albonotatus is mainly composed by ants, beetles, springtails and woodlouses, but also included several secondary preys. While comparing adults, subadults and juveniles diet on each population, we found an ontogenetic diet variation related to changes in prey type and volume as well as in number of prey items per gut. Bigger frogs consumed a greater amount of prey and more voluminous arthropods, while juveniles had a larger trophic niche breadth. Despite the great similarity in diet between sexes, adult females consumed a larger amount of ants than males did. Although trophic niche overlap between both populations was high, trophic niche breadth was wider for Paraná River floodplain population. Feeding differences found between studied populations and populations inhabiting other environments as described on literature reflects the trophic plasticity of this species and its capacity to thrive at different habitats, including markedly anthropogenically impacted environments.

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