Thermal parameters and locomotor performance in juvenile of Pleurodema nebulosum (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the Monte Desert |
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Authors: | Eduardo A Sanabria Lorena B Quiroga Exequiel González Daniela Moreno Ariel Cataldo |
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Institution: | 1. Laboratorio de Investigaciones Andrológicas de Mendoza, Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Técnica de Mendoza, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina;2. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, San Juan, Argentina |
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Abstract: | We studied a combination of thermal parameters (critical thermal maximum, selected body temperature, and field body temperature) and locomotor performance capacities (laboratory and field conditions) of juveniles of Pleurodema nebulosum. We found that field body temperature was determined largely by the temperature of the micro-environment. Field body temperatures of juveniles of P. nebulosum were below selected body temperature. The locomotor performance curve was maximized and reaches a plateau between 30 and 35 °C, with 35 °C being the temperature at which maximum performance was obtained for analyzed individuals. The plateau values were close to the selected body temperature (Tsel) obtained for the studied frogs. In field conditions the locomotor performance was determinated by the substrate temperature. Apparently, juveniles of P. nebulosum show thermal coadaptation because the selected body temperature and the optimum temperature for locomotion had close values. We believe that the temperatures prevailing during the early hours of activity would allow frogs to explore the micro-environment, covering larger areas in search of food. |
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Keywords: | Field body temperature Selected body temperature Critical thermal maximum Locomotor performance Pleurodema nebulosum |
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