Efeito dos fatores ambientais sobre a dieta de anuros em banhados subtemperados do extremo sul neotropical

Abstract

Temporal variations in wetlands can affect the trophic relationships of anuran species as a function of their prey selectivity level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of time (environmental variables) on the diet of anuran species with predominantly aquatic and terrestrial habits, in wetlands. Coleoptera, Araneae and Hymenoptera were the most important prey for most species, with greater niche overlap between species with the same habit. The species showed reductions in their niche amplitudes in the hot and rainy seasons, suggesting greater predation selectivity in these periods. In general, thermal and rainfall changes affect the diet of anurans differently. Furthermore, these variations may be related both to changes in prey availability, as well as to other aspects, such as the flooding level of wetlands and variations in the pattern of anuran foraging activity.