Banca de DEFESA: TALITA DE REZENDE BUENO

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : TALITA DE REZENDE BUENO
DATE: 06/09/2024
TIME: 13:30
LOCAL: Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei - Campus Dom Bosco
TITLE:

Selection of reproductive micro-habitat by the monkey frog Pithecopus ayeaye (Anura, Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae)

KEY WORDS:

spawning; reproduction; reproductive modes; Melastomataceae; microhabitat preference

PAGES: 41
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Ecologia
SUMMARY:

Individuals of Pithecopus ayeaye reproduce on the banks of temporary first-order streams, using shrub leaves that hang over backwaters to build their nests. In most of the species' geographic distribution, these streams are associated with rupestrian grasslands and other high-altitude grassland ecosystems in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Some studies suggest that P. ayeaye builds its nests on leaves from plants in the Melastomataceae family, but it is not known whether these plants are selected because they are abundant or because females prefer them. Given that reproductive success is linked to the abundance and quality of microhabitats chosen for oviposition, the primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether P. ayeaye shows a preference for certain plant families, leaf morphological patterns, and the positioning of leaves relative to backwaters for nest construction, as well as to test whether these preferences are adaptive. The hypotheses tested were: 1) P. ayeaye prefers to build nests on leaves from Melastomataceae plants; 2) leaves with larger surface area and higher trichome density enhance embryo survival; 3) leaves closer to the water surface and to the stream margin favor embryo survival; 4) the abundance of nests is greater in backwaters with higher water volume. The results indicate a preference for Melastomataceae plants for nest construction, confirming the hypothesis. Leaf characteristics do not affect embryo survival, but the vertical position relative to the water surface does, with spawning sites further from the water surface having greater viability. Backwaters with higher water volumes support a greater abundance of nests, which increases the species' fitness. These findings underscore the importance of microhabitat composition for the survival and persistence of the species in its environment. Given that this species has a restricted distribution due to the geography of its habitat, the degradation of these environments could lead to a decline and local extinction of populations. Since rupestrian fields and high-altitude ecosystems are highly fragmented and primarily threatened by agriculture and mining, conservation programs are necessary to ensure the ideal environmental conditions for the species.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - RENATO CHRISTENSEN NALI - UFJF
Externa à Instituição - CYNTHIA PERALTA DE ALMEIDA PRADO - UNESP
Interno - 1004179 - PAULO SERGIO MINATEL GONELLA SILVA
Interno - 3154780 - RAFAEL FELIX DE MAGALHAES