Evol Ecol Res 11: 803-815 (2009)     Full PDF if your library subscribes.

Effects of pond drying on morphological and life-history traits in the anuran Rhinella spinulosa (Anura: Bufonidae)

M. Márquez-García1, M. Correa-Solis1, M. Sallaberry2 and M.A. Méndez1,2

1Laboratorio de Genética y Evolución, INTA and  2Laboratorio de Zoología de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Correspondence: M.A. Méndez, Laboratorio de Genética y Evolución, INTA, Universisdad de Chile, Macul 5540, Casilla 138-11, Santiago, Chile.
e-mail: mmendez@inta.cl

ABSTRACT

Question: How does the duration of temporary ponds affect the morphological attributes and life-history traits of post-metamorphic amphibians?

Organism: The anuran Rhinella spinulosa of the Andes range of central Chile. This species reproduces in temporary and permanent ponds and is subject to different desiccation regimes.

Time and place: Between October 2006 and January 2007 near Farellones (33°20′S, 70°18′W; 2331 m above sea level).

Methods: A natural experiment in ponds with three desiccation regimes: (1) high, (2) medium, and (3) low. We measured life-history traits (development rate, metamorph size, and time to metamorphosis) in 252 individuals collected from each desiccation regime. Nine morphometric measurements were made on each toadlet collected.

Results: Tadpoles from ponds with high and medium desiccation reached metamorphosis at an earlier age and at a smaller size than individuals in the low desiccation regime. Post-metamorphic individuals from ponds with low desiccation also had longer hindlimbs and larger values for head measurements.

Conclusion: According to these results, environmental heterogeneity promotes phenotypic variation in both morphology and life-history traits in Rhinella spinulosa.

Keywords: development time, hydroperiod, metamorphosis size, natural experiment, pond desiccation, Rhinella spinulosa.

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        © 2009 Marco A. Méndez. All EER articles are copyrighted by their authors. All authors endorse, permit and license Evolutionary Ecology Ltd. to grant its subscribing institutions/libraries the copying privileges specified below without additional consideration or payment to them or to Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. These endorsements, in writing, are on file in the office of Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. Consult authors for permission to use any portion of their work in derivative works, compilations or to distribute their work in any commercial manner.

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