Thermal biology of the toad Rhinella schneideri in a seminatural environment in southeastern Brazil

dc.contributor.authorNoronha-de-Souza, Carolina R
dc.contributor.authorBovo, Rafael P [UNESP]
dc.contributor.authorGargaglioni, Luciane H [UNESP]
dc.contributor.authorAndrade, Denis V [UNESP]
dc.contributor.authorBícego, Kênia C [UNESP]
dc.contributor.institutionUniversidade de São Paulo (USP)
dc.contributor.institutionUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
dc.contributor.institutionNational Institute of Science and Technology–Comparative Physiology (INCT- Fisiologia Comparada)
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-02T18:01:44Z
dc.date.available2022-05-02T18:01:44Z
dc.date.issued2015-10-02
dc.description.abstractThe toad, Rhinella schneideri, is a large-bodied anuran amphibian with a broad distribution over South America. R. schneideri is known to be active at night during the warm/rainy months and goes into estivation during the dry/cold months; however, there is no data on the range of body temperatures (Tb) experienced by this toad in the field, and how environmental factors, thermoregulatory behaviors or activity influence them. By using implantable temperature dataloggers, we provide an examination of Tb variation during an entire year under a seminatural setting (emulating its natural habitat) monitored with thermosensors. We also used data on preferred Tb, allowing us to express the effectiveness of thermoregulation quantitatively. Paralleling its cycle of activity, R. schneideri exhibited differences in its daily and seasonal profile of Tb variation. During the active season, toads spent daytime hours in shelters and, therefore, did not explore microhabitats with higher thermal quality, such as open areas in the sun. At nighttime, the thermal suitability of microhabitats shifted as exposed microhabitats experienced greater temperature drops than the more insulated shelter. As toads became active at night, they were driven to the more exposed areas and, as a result, thermoregulatory effectiveness decreased. Our results, therefore, indicate that, during the active season, a compromise between thermoregulation and nocturnal activity may be at play. During the estivation period, R. schneideri spent the entire day cycle inside the shelter. As toads did not engage in nocturnal activity in those areas with low thermal quality, the overall effectiveness of thermoregulation was, indeed, elevated. In conclusion, we showed that daily and seasonal variation in Tb of an anuran species is highly associated with their respective pattern of activity and may involve important physiological and ecological compromises.en
dc.description.affiliationDepartment of Biology FFCLRP; University of São Paulo
dc.description.affiliationDepartment of Zoology Institute of Bioscience; São Paulo State University
dc.description.affiliationDepartment of Animal Morphology and Physiology College of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences; São Paulo State University
dc.description.affiliationNational Institute of Science and Technology–Comparative Physiology (INCT- Fisiologia Comparada)
dc.description.affiliationUnespDepartment of Zoology Institute of Bioscience; São Paulo State University
dc.description.affiliationUnespDepartment of Animal Morphology and Physiology College of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences; São Paulo State University
dc.format.extent554-562
dc.identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23328940.2015.1096437
dc.identifier.citationTemperature, v. 2, n. 4, p. 554-562, 2015.
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/23328940.2015.1096437
dc.identifier.issn2332-8959
dc.identifier.issn2332-8940
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-84995929328
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11449/234469
dc.language.isoeng
dc.relation.ispartofTemperature
dc.sourceScopus
dc.subjectbody temperature
dc.subjectoperative temperature
dc.subjectseason
dc.subjectsummer
dc.subjectthermal preference
dc.subjectwinter
dc.titleThermal biology of the toad Rhinella schneideri in a seminatural environment in southeastern Brazilen
dc.typeArtigo
unesp.departmentMorfologia e Fisiologia Animal - FCAVpt

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