Abstract
A new technique to reliably estimate true tadpole abundance in small ephemeral forest ponds based on a sample taken from a bottom net is presented. The bottom net is placed in the pond before it fills with water. At given intervals the bottom net is lifted through the water column and all tadpoles can be counted. Based on a series of calibrations, the technique showed significant correlations between estimated abundance of Osteocephalus taurinus Steindachner, 1862, Colostelhus marchesianus Melin, 1941, Phyllomedusa tomoptema Cope, 1868, and aeshnid larvae, and true abundances based on total counts.
Bottom-nets as a new method for quantitatively sampling tadpole populations (Amphibia, Anura)1 1 Publication number 116 of the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project.
Claude Gascon* * Present address: Ecologia/INPA, Caixa Postal 478, 69011-970 Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, NIG 2W1 Guelph, Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT
A new technique to reliably estimate true tadpole abundance in small ephemeral forest ponds based on a sample taken from a bottom net is presented. The bottom net is placed in the pond before it fills with water. At given intervals the bottom net is lifted through the water column and all tadpoles can be counted. Based on a series of calibrations, the technique showed significant correlations between estimated abundance of Osteocephalus taurinus Steindachner, 1862, Colostelhus marchesianus Melin, 1941, Phyllomedusa tomoptema Cope, 1868, and aeshnid larvae, and true abundances based on total counts.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. This study was supported by World Wildlife Fund, Institute Nacional de Pesquisas do Amazonia, The Smithsonian Institution, and Sigma XI, The Scientific Research Society. Additional support was provided from a Graduate Fellowship from FCAR (Quebec). I wish to thank O. Pereira and L. dos Reis for their great help in all aspects of field work. Support during the preparation of this manuscript was provided for an NSERC (Canada) Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Recebido em 18.X.1993; aceito em 13.VII.1994.
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Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
22 July 2009 -
Date of issue
1994
History
-
Accepted
13 July 1994 -
Received
18 Oct 1993
