Trophic Ecology of Two Sympatric Frogs with Contrasting Morphology and Habitat Use in a Subtropical Wetland

Abstract

Abstract Frog diets are influenced by multiple factors, including morphological constraints, habitat use, and seasonal variation in environmental conditions and food availability. This study combined stomach content analysis (SCA), stable isotope analysis (SIA), and estimates of prey availability to investigate the influence of body size and microhabitat use on seasonal variation of the trophic ecology of two sympatric hylids (Pseudis minuta and Scinax squalirostris). We evaluated two hypotheses: (1) the species with larger body and mouth sizes or broader use of microhabitats will have greater diet breadth, and (2) regardless of differences in morphological traits and microhabitat use, diet breadth of both species will be greater during the warmer of two periods. Pseudis minuta exhibited larger body size and mouth width and revealed broader use of microhabitats (mostly within and near major water bodies), whereas S. squalirostris had smaller body size and mouth gape and was found exclusively within or nea...