Autoecology of Phyllomedusa nordestina (Anura: Hylidae) in areas of the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest in the State of Sergipe, Brazil.

Understanding of how environmental dynamics affect the ecological niche of populations is one of the great aims ecological research. Amphibian populations are taking part in a series of complex interactions with the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate potential differences in the use of spatial, temporal and trophic resources, and variations in size, mass, and the reproductive cycles of Phyllomedusa nordestina populations. These were studied from December 2009 to November 2010 in two different biomes, both Conservation Units: the Monumento Natural Grota do Angico (MNGA - Caatinga, a tropical semiarid climate); and the Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco (RVSMJ - Atlantic Forest, a tropical humid climate, in Sergipe State, Brazil). Within each area, we found the specimens in lentic environments, with grass and shrub stems as main substrates. Most specimens were calling next to water bodies, generally in open places with predominantly herbaceous vegetation. Among the consumed foods items, spiders were the most important resource in the MNGA, whereas insect larvae where the most important in the RVSMJ. Regarding the reproductive period, Caatinga specimens were present between February and July, whereas in the Atlantic Forest they were observed between January and November. This longer reproductive period may be related to the regular and evenly distributed rainfall characterizing the Atlantic Forest. The specimens in the Atlantic Forest were slightly smaller than were those from Caatinga. The reason of such differences might reside in differences in habitat types, as well as in the longer reproductive period in the Atlantic Forest area, and investments related to reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]