Ecological physiology of amphibians: a modeling approach

Abstract

Temperature and water availability are factors that affect, importantly, the ecology, physiology, and behavior of amphibians. Species with broad geographic distribution are submitted, along its area of occurrence, to substantial variations in abiotic parameters (especially related to climate and vegetation types). However, our knowledge on how those variations affect and/or are reflected in parameters related to tolerance, flexibility, and adaptations of the thermal physiology and the water balance of amphibians is still exceedingly incipient, especially for Neotropical species. Accordingly, this study aims to test whether or not intra and interspecific variations in selected physiological parameters of amphibians from the Atlantic Rainforest, in Brazil, can be understood/explained in regard to the altitudinal gradient. After three years collecting field and laboratory data, now we will proceed with the modeling approach exploring the interrelationships between the spatial variation of climatic parameters, particularly temperature and humidity, on related physiological functions. Identifying those organismal traits (e.g., physiological and/or ecological) that are sensitive to particular environmental parameters (or stressors) is a central step for developing models to predict organismal responses to environmental/climatic changes. Potential hydric and thermal tolerances related to amphibian activity will be tested for environmental changing scenarios, especially in the context of current and future climate to predict organismal vulnerability to potential extinctions. (AU)