Autoecology and thermal attributes of the Caatinga frog Leptodactylus caatingae from the Brazilian Northeastern
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: We analyzed the microhabitat use, diet, sexual dimorphism, advertisement call, and thermal biology of the frog Leptodactylus caatingae and estimated its extent of occurrence (EOO), area of occupancy (AOO), area of habitat (AoH), and habitat suitability. We obtained ecological data through fieldwork and consulting scientific collections. The most used microhabitat categories were exposed soil and soil between vegetation. For calling males, the most used categories were soil between vegetation and soil between vegetation at the entrance to a hole. Insect larvae and orthopterans were primary, indicating a narrow niche breadth. The advertisement call consists of a single multipulsed note. Morphometric analysis revealed no sexual dimorphism. Substrate temperature was the variable that best explained the body temperature (Tb) of calling males. The thermal accuracy and thermal quality index revealed that most Tb values fell within the preferred temperature range (Tset), while habitat temperature remained below Tset. Males thermoregulated during calling, and estimates for temperature increase of 1.5 and 2°C showed improvements of 64.3% and 80.1% in thermal quality values, respectively, with L. caatingae shifting to thermoconformer. The EOO was 896,453.030 km2, AOO was 136 km2, and AoH was 350,799.00 km2, with the distribution modeling indicating an expansion of habitat suitability.
Source: Figshare
Authors: dos Santos Protázio, Arielson, dos Santos Protázio, Airan, Gama, Vívian, de Melo Santos, Vitória Gomes, Reis, Ana Beatriz Moura, Caldas, Francis Luiz Santos, Mesquita, Daniel Oliveira
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7084147239
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