Sobreposição de nicho trófico mas não de tamanho corporal entre três espécies do gênero Hypsiboas (anura, hylidae) dentro e fora de uma unidade de conservação ecotonal

Abstract

Diet and body size are very important, intuitively related, and relatively easy to study characteristics in amphibians. The theoretical understanding is that closely related species tend to be similar due to their common ancestral origin. When species are in syntopy, natural selection tends to segregate them in some way (character displacement), which reduces competition among species. These concepts are also related to the potential use of diet and body size as bioindicators. Environments with limited food resources, for example, tend to intensify competition, which may be reflected in the average body size of individuals. The aim of this study was to examine differences in diet and body size in three species of treefrogs of the genus Hypsiboas between two habitat types: within a conservation area (protected) and in the habitat surrounding the conservation area (more degraded). Diet did not vary among species or environments, but two of the three species were, on average, larger in the protected area than in its surroundings. The size differences between these two species were also more pronounced in the most degraded area, suggesting an ecological cause other than diet for this phenomenon.