Diversidade e ecomorfologia de girinos (Anura) em fragmentos de mata na Ilha do Maranhão

Abstract

Due to the great need to know more about the anurofauna of the region of São Luís do Maranhão and to understand how species are distributed inside the island in order to preserve them, we have developed the present dissertation aiming to obtain a master's degree in Biodiversity and Conservation, in the Postgraduate program of the Federal University of Maranhão - UFMA. Two chapters were elaborated, which discuss, in the first one, the between the diversity and composition of species of anuran amphibians in the larval stage with the characteristics and distribution of remaining forest fragments in the and the bodies of water occupied by the larvae. In the second chapter, the tadpole morphology was analyzed aiming at to understand how the tadpoles spatially distribute themselves in the water bodies of the region and what characteristics of water bodies are important for the conservation of amphibian species. Studies like this that aim to better understand the ecology of fragments are of immense importance today, since deforestation is with consequent fragmentation, separating small portions of kills and isolates animal and plant populations from other preserved areas. In addition, studies aimed at understanding the relationships between animal morphology and the characteristics of their habitats show us how these species distribute within the same habitat and between habitats. Thus, they generate fundamental information for the management and conservation of species.11 Data collection was carried out during rainy seasons (from February to June) from the years 2006 and 2007. Tadpoles from 25 bodies of water, distributed in 15 fragments were collected, identified and measured. Tadpoles were collected from 17 species, of which 13 had tadpoles in a minimum number (10) and in the stage to be analyzed morphologically.