Bromeliad rosettes as shelters for hylid treefrogs during a heat wave in the Brazilian Pantanal

https//doi.org/10.33256/hb170.16
AUTHORS JIŘÍ MORAVEC; ZILCA CAMPOS
ABSTRACT During a heat wave in November 2023, we assessed the use of bromeliad rosettes as shelters for hylid treefrogs in the Brazilian Pantanal (area of Nhecolândia). During the day time, four hylid species (genera Boana, Scinax, Trachycephalus) were detected sheltering in 40 rosettes of the terrestrial bromeliad Bromelia balansae; this was a different species complex from when observations were made in October 2019 when the temperature conditions corresponded to long-term averages. The internal; external day time temperature of each shelter was measured. The mean daytime temperature inside the shelters was 36.1 °C (range 24.0–43.5 °C), this varied depending on the microhabitat conditions,; was 1.1 °C lower than the mean temperature of the leaves of the upper part of the rosettes; the difference was statistically significant. We suggest that during this very dry; hot period the main advantage provided by the bromeliad shelters was to enable frogs to have behavioural control of overheating so that they could avoid excessive evaporative water loss.

The Herpetological Bulletin is a quarterly publication in English. It includes full-length papers, natural history notes, book reviews, and other items of general herpetological interest. Emphasis is placed on natural history and conservation as well as captive care that includes breeding, husbandry, veterinary, and behavioural aspects.

pdf 01. Bromeliad rosettes as shelters for hylid treefrogs during a heat wave in the Brazilian Pantanal

1 download

Subscription required

https://doi.org/10.33256/hb170.16

AUTHORS: JIŘÍ MORAVEC & ZILCA CAMPOS

ABSTRACT: During a heat wave in November 2023, we assessed the use of bromeliad rosettes as shelters for hylid treefrogs in the Brazilian Pantanal (area of Nhecolândia). During the day time, four hylid species (genera Boana, Scinax, Trachycephalus) were detected sheltering in 40 rosettes of the terrestrial bromeliad Bromelia balansae; this was a different species complex from when observations were made in October 2019 when the temperature conditions corresponded to long-term averages. The internal and external day time temperature of each shelter was measured. The mean daytime temperature inside the shelters was 36.1 °C (range 24.0–43.5 °C), this varied depending on the microhabitat conditions, and was 1.1 °C lower than the mean temperature of the leaves of the upper part of the rosettes; the difference was statistically significant. We suggest that during this very dry and hot period the main advantage provided by the bromeliad shelters was to enable frogs to have behavioural control of overheating so that they could avoid excessive evaporative water loss.