Five species of anuran amphibians, all belonging to the family Hylidae, were collected at Praia das Neves, municipality of President Kennedy, southeastern Brazil. The species were represented by four genera: Scinax, Hyla, Aparasphenodon, and Trachycephalus. Four species (A. brunoi, Hyla albomarginata, Scinax altera, and S. cuspidatus) were found during the dry season (August 1999), and two (A. brunoi and Trachycephalus nigromaculatus) in the rainy season (February 2000). Aparasphenodon brunoi was the most abundant species in Praia das Neves. Some reproductive aspects and feeding habits of this hylid were investigated. Aparasphenodon brunoi was found mainly inside the bromeliad Aechmea lingulata, the largest plant analyzed. Fifteen specimens were collected during the dry season (August 1999) (11 males and 4 females). During the rainy season (February 2000), we collected 14 specimens (3 males, 10 females, and 1 juvenile). Sex-ratio was 1:1. Frogs ranged in snout-vent length from 31.2 to 69.3 mm. Females were larger than males. One female had 1,451 fully developed oocytes in her ovaries. The major groups of prey found in the stomachs were: Insecta, Myriapoda, and Arachnida. Blattodea, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera (only ants) were the main food types in frequency, number, and weight. Aparasphenodon brunoi is a threatened species in many habitats of southeastern Brazil. Only natural vegetation protection may guarantee its survival during the immediate future.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANURAN AMPHIBIANS AND BROMELIADS OF THE SANDY
INTRODUÇÃOA maioria dos estudos sobre comunidades de anfíbios anuros tem se concentrado em ambientes específicos, tais como aquelas espécies que coexistem no chão da floresta, nas margens de rios, lagos ou alagados (DUELLMAN & TRUEB, 1994). Entretanto, as imposições no meio ambiente levam muitos anfíbios a procurarem, principalmente, refúgios em bromélias (Bromeliaceae), exclusivas do continente americano (BENZING, 1990;DEJEAN & OLMSTED, 1997). Algumas espécies de anuros se adaptaram de tal maneira às bromélias-tanque, que passaram a utilizar as axilas das plantas durante todo o ciclo de vida, desenvolvendo estratégias avançadas relacionadas com o modo reprodutivo (DUELLMAN, 1985). PEIXOTO (1995) analisou várias espécies de anfíbios anuros na região sudeste do Brasil que utilizam as bromélias de diferentes maneiras. De acordo com o grau de utilização das plantas pelos anfíbios encontrados, o autor classificou as espécies em dois grupos principais: espécies bromelícolas ou espécies bromelígenas.A linha costeira brasileira tem uma extensão de 9000 km. Destes, 5000 km apresentam restingas como um conjunto complexo de ecossistemas, constituídos por uma variedade de vegetação herbácea, arbórea e arbustiva típica que fornece as características peculiares daquele ambiente. Especialmente na orla costeira espírito-santense, as restingas têm sofrido um impacto no que se refere à sua destruição,
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