Reproductive biology of direct developing and threatened frogAdelophryne maranguapensis(Anura, Eleutherodactylidae) reveals a cryptic reproductive mode for anurans and the first record of parental care for the genus

Abstract

Anurans with direct development are among the most difficult species for conducting studies concerning ecology and natural history. This paper provides information on the reproduction of Adelophryne maranguapensis, a threatened species endemic to Serra de Maranguape, an Atlantic Forest relict surrounded by dry Caatinga phytophysiognomies. Our objectives were to identify the reproductive periods, verify any preference for breeding sites, review the reproductive mode and describe parental care. The species reproduces during the rainy season and is not selective as to the species of bromeliad used for oviposition. This is the first report of parental care for the genus since females demonstrate egg attendance until the formation of the gel layer in all the eggs. We revisit the terms that define the reproductive mode of this species and propose the need to redefine it. The redefinition considers: (1) deposition of bromeligen and non-aquatics eggs around the phytotelm; (2) direct development; (3) parental care with egg attendance by the female.

Bromeliad phytotelmata: the first scientometric study

“…The increase in the number of papers on phytotelmata in bromeliads over time is indicative of the increase in the number of researchers and institutions working in different locations with these organisms. As phytotelma bromeliads are native to the Neotropics, it is to be expected that the largest number of publications would be concentrated in South and Central America de Araújo et al, 2020;Cassiano-Lima et al, 2020). From 2003 onwards, there was significant growth in South American publications and a progressive increase in papers published, making this region, especially Brazil, the largest producer of scientific publications on phytotelmata in bromeliads in the world.…”

“…These tanks can accumulate up to 50 liters of water per hectare in tropical forests (Romero et al, 2020). Furthermore, they can store decomposing organic matter, which serves as substrate and food for a variety of organisms using this type of environment for foraging, reproduction, and refuge against predators (Kitching, 2001;Migliorini et al, 2018;Cassiano-Lima et al, 2020;Srivastava et al, 2020). Srivastava et al (2004) explored the idea that bromeliads serve as natural microcosms, where the aquatic-terrestrial interface acts as a physical barrier and consequently imposes some level of natural restriction on the dispersion of the associated biota.…”