Very little is known on the ecological attributes of Neotropical salamanders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two abiotic factors on the temporal and spatial abundance of B. paraensis. Data were collected during four periods, in 23 plots of 250 m2 distributed randomly in Gunma Ecological Park, in the Brazilian state of Para. In each plot, temperature and relative humidity of the air were measured during searches, and abundance of salamanders was determined by active nocturnal searches. The abundance of salamanders varied significantly during the course of the year. The highest abundance (0–18) was recorded in the mid wet season, followed by the late wet season (0–7), early dry season (0–9), and late dry season (0–6). Spatial abundance of salamanders was influenced by climatic conditions only in the late dry season. Temporal and spatial variation in the abundance of the salamanders is associated with relative humidity, which was highest in the mid wet season, and lowest in the late dry season, affecting their activity and consequently their detectability during the searches.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 April 2012
Influence of Climatic Variables on the Abundance of a Brazilian Salamander (Bolitoglossa paraensis) in Santa Bárbara Do Pará, Brazil
Fabricio Simões Correa,
Selvino Neckel-Oliveira,
Lenise Chagas Rodrigues
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
AMAZON
Bolitoglossa.
Caudata
humidity
Neotropics
Salamander
temperature