Body condition of Oophaga pumilio males (Anura: Dendrobatidae) related to habitat elements at La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18636/bioneotropical.v4i1.187Keywords:
Amphibia, Poison frog, Reproductive resource, Territoriality.Abstract
Dendrobatids are amphibian species that exhibit marked territoriality and elaborated parental care and reproduction. Some studies have indicated that competition for reproductive and habitat resources could be related to the body condition of males, favoring those individuals with better condition for sites with greater availability of females and resources for reproduction; however, to date this hypothesis has not been fully explored. We determine the relationship between body condition, by measuring the AFT, and habitat features related to reproduction in a population of Oophaga pumilio at La Selva Biological Station, Heredia, Costa Rica. Vegetation type and number of bromeliads were the only explanatory variables of body condition. The results support that body condition is related to territoriality in males favoring those in better condition with areas with more resources available for reproduction.
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