Abstract
ABSTRACT Assumptions about the distribution of zooplankton communities in various ecosystems are often limited by lack of data on dispersal mechanisms. Many studies on frog-mediated passive dispersal have been developed in bromeliads, but they usually focus on ostracods and annelids. We investigated the potential for external phoresy of zooplankton (rotifers, cladocerans, copepods) by treefrogs in bromeliad phytotelms. Our hypotheses are that (1) zooplankton composition on frogs’ skin and in phytotelm tanks is similar, and (2) frogs with larger body size carry more propagules of these invertebrates. We filtered phytotelm water (10 to 150 mL) using plankton net (45 µm), and fixed invertebrates with 4% formalin. Frogs were actively collected in and around bromeliads (up to ~1.5 m radius) and then washed with distilled water. Fourteen species of rotifers and three of crustaceans were registered in phytotelm water and frog bodies. We captured 17 frogs with a snout-vent length (SVL) ranging from 2 to 5 cm and belonging to five species: Pristimantis ramagii (Boulenger, 1888), Dendropsophus decipiens (A. Lutz, 1925), Scinax auratus (Wied-Neuwied,1821), S. pachycrus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1937) and S. x-signatus (Spix, 1824). Among them, 12 (70.59%) had propagules adhered to their bodies, of which the majority (ten individuals) had active zooplankton forms, while only two had dormant eggs. Ten rotifer and two microcrustacean species were recorded adhered to frogs. The zooplankton composition differed between phytotelms and anuran skin, and frog body size does not explain the number of propagules carried, refuting both hypotheses. However, evidence of dispersal was found due to the high number of propagules adhered to anurans. Our study provides evidence that frogs may be potential dispersers of dormant and active forms of zooplankton in bromeliads, through external phoresy.
Highlights
Assumptions about the distribution of zooplankton communities in various ecosystems are often limited by lack of data on dispersal mechanisms
Understanding the dispersal mechanisms related to the organization of freshwater zooplankton communities, which can be represented by rotifers, cladocerans and copepods, is essential in increasing knowledge about their distribution and structure in many limnic ecosystems (Jenkins & Underwood, 1998; Bohonak & Jenkins, 2003)
We investigated the potential for external phoretic behavior of zooplankton carried by arboreal frogs between bromeliad phytotelms
Summary
Assumptions about the distribution of zooplankton communities in various ecosystems are often limited by lack of data on dispersal mechanisms. Our study provides evidence that frogs may be potential dispersers of dormant and active forms of zooplankton in bromeliads, through external phoresy. Nossa hipótese é que (1) a composição do zooplâncton presente na pele dos anuros e nos fitotelmos das bromélias é semelhante, e que (2) anuros com maior tamanho corporal carregam mais propágulos de invertebrados. The bromelicolous frogs have an active character and are constantly moving among bromeliads, seeking mainly refuge or foraging (Mageski et al, 2014) This migratory character gives the amphibians the ability to disperse invertebrates that are present in these microcosms (Sabagh & Rocha, 2014; Lopez et al, 1999, 2005). They can be considered key species to maintain the diversity of aquatic invertebrate communities in those microhabitats (e.g., Lopez et al, 1999)
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