RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Pool choice in a vertical landscape: tadpole rearing site flexibility in phytotelm-breeding frogs
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.03.10.434757
DO 10.1101/2021.03.10.434757
A1 Chloe A. Fouilloux
A1 Shirley Jennifer Serrano-Rojas
A1 Juan David Carvajal-Castro
A1 Janne K. Valkonen
A1 Philippe Gaucher
A1 Marie-Therese Fischer
A1 Andrius Pašukonis
A1 Bibiana Rojas
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/03/11/2021.03.10.434757.abstract
AB Many species of Neotropical frogs have evolved to deposit their tadpoles in small water bodies inside plant structures called phytotelmata. These pools are small enough to exclude large predators but have limited nutrients and high desiccation risk. Here, we explore phytotelm use by three common Neotropical species: Osteocephalus oophagus, an arboreal frog that periodically feeds eggs to its tadpoles; Dendrobates tinctorius, a tadpole-transporting poison frog with cannibalistic tadpoles; and Allobates femoralis, a terrestrial tadpole-transporting poison frog with omnivorous tadpoles. We found that D. tinctorius occupies pools across the chemical and vertical gradient, whereas A. femoralis and O. oophagus appear to have narrower niches that are restricted primarily by pool height, water capacity, alkalinity, and salinity. Dendrobates tinctorius tadpoles are particularly flexible, and can survive in a wide range of chemical, physical, and biological conditions, whereas O. oophagus seems to prefer small, clear pools and A. femoralis occupies medium-sized pools with abundant leaf litter and low salinity. Together, these results show the possible niche partitioning of phytotelmata among frogs, and provide insight into stressors and resilience of phytotelm breeders.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.