Microhabitat use, daily activity and diet of Dendrobates truncatus (Cope, 1861) (Anura: Dendrobatidae) in tropical dry forest in northern Colombia

The use of microhabitats, daily activity and diet of three populations of Dendrobates truncatus in the tropical dry lowland forest of the Colombian Caribbean, using the method of visual and manual capture meeting was studied. The study was conducted between March and November, during the three clima...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Posso-Peláez, Carolina, Blanco-Torres, Argelina, Gutiérrez-Moreno, Luis C.
Format: Online
Language:spa
Published: Instituto de Ecología, A.C. 2018
Online Access:https://azm.ojs.inecol.mx/index.php/azm/article/view/1150
Description
Summary:The use of microhabitats, daily activity and diet of three populations of Dendrobates truncatus in the tropical dry lowland forest of the Colombian Caribbean, using the method of visual and manual capture meeting was studied. The study was conducted between March and November, during the three climatic periods: dry, minor and higher rains. Seven microhabitats used were identified and sampled, the activity was measured using the relative number of individuals/hour in four hours daily, stomach contents of anurans were examined and percentage analysis method was applied. D. truncatus has increased activity in the morning (8:00 to 10:00) and late afternoon (16:00 to 18:00) and uses seven types of microhabitats, preferably forest cover and higher humidity. This species presents preference for the consumption of ants especially the family Myrmicinae and the genus Pheidole. These results suggest that the conservation of tropical dry forest relicts and developing rehabilitation strategies for it constitute fundamental elements for the survival of this species.