First record of growth rings for 11 native subtropical anuran species of South America

Autor: AMANDA J.C. BRUM, LUIZA LOEBENS, MAURÍCIO B. DOS SANTOS, SONIA Z. CECHIN
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, Vol 91, Iss 4 (2019)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1678-2690
0001-3765
DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201920190154
Popis: Abstract: Skeletochronology is the most accurate method to estimate a population age structure. The methodology is based on the analysis of secondary bone tissue in order to count growth rings. This study aimed to provide initial data, allowing researchers to further work out in the age of individuals and populations, sampling evidence of the presence of growth rings in 11 native species (representing nine families) of a subtropical region of southern Brazil. Four bone samples of each specimen were used to perform the skeletochronological analysis: the penultimate phalanges of the 3rd and 4th fingers, the humerus, and the femur. The presence of growth rings was confirmed in the periosteal layer of the bones of all analyzed species. In comparison with phalanges, growth rings of humeri and femora are more irregular and less distinguishable. This is the first record of growth rings to the native species herein analised. The skeletochronology was proved to be an effective tool in determining the age of anuran amphibians from a subtropical region, since this environment presents well defined climatic seasonality.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals