Marta I. Duré

Bio: Marta I. Duré is an academic researcher from National Scientific and Technical Research Council. The author has contributed to research in topics: Leptodactylidae & Predation. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 27 publications receiving 295 citations.

Influence of microhabitat on the trophic ecology of two leptodactylids from northeastern argentina

Abstract: We analyzed trophic ecology and its relationship with environmental variables for two leptodactylid species, Leptodactylus latinasus and L. bufonius (Anura: Leptodactylidae). The two species are common around Corrientes City, Argentina, where they live in the same habitat. The main objectives were to analyze the diets and patterns of coexistence relative to the microhabitat of each species. Weekly sampling was carried out January 1997–February 2000. A randomization test and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used for data analysis. In L. latinasus, the diet was dominated numerically by isopterans and coleopterans (25.25% and 21.21%, respectively) and volumetrically by insect larvae (37.14%). In L. bufonius, the alimentary contents were dominated numerically by isopterans (60.49%) and volumetrically by coleopterans (62.47%). The trophic niche breadth was wider in L. latinasus (6.55) than L. bufonius (2.44). The overlap in the trophic niche (prey proportion) was higher (Ojk = 0.81) and significant...

Niche overlap and resource partitioning among five sympatric bufonids (Anura, Bufonidae) from northeastern Argentina

Abstract: Niche overlap and resource partitioning among five sympatric bufonids (Anura, Bufonidae) from northeastern Argentina. The niche overlap and resource partitioning were analyzed for five sympatric bufonids from Northeastern Argenti- na: Rhinella schneideri, R. bergi, R. fernandezae, R. granulosa, and Melanophryniscus cupreuscapularis. The primary objectives were to analyze the diet and pattern of coexistence relative to the microhabitats among species. The bufonids, which are primarily terrestrial, exhibited a preference for small, hard prey such as formicids or coleopterans. The smallest species preferably consumed ants, while R. schneideri preferred beetles. Significant differences were detected for the diets of these five species. In addition, significant overlap in the trophic niche was noted for all species except between R. granulosa and R. schneideri. Studying the diet behaviors and trophic parameters of sympatric species provides important data for understanding the community and for the development of conservation guidelines.

Trophic, reproductive and parasitological aspects of the ecology of Leptodactylus chaquensis (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Argentina

Abstract: We studied the trophic and reproductive ecology and document the helminth fauna of the Cei's white-lipped frog, Leptodactylus chaquensis, from north-eastern Argentina. This frog is a generalist predator, using an intermediate strategy between active foraging and sit and wait predation. The diet consisted of 17 types of prey and was dominated numerically and volumetrically by coleopterans. The number of mature ova per female (ovarian complement) ranged from 3113 to 16234, and the ovum diameter varied from 0.4 to 1.2 mm. The testes mass ranged from 0.32 to 1.54 g, and the species has an explosive reproductive pattern. The parasite fauna was rich, consisting of 20 species of helminths (twelve trematodes, one cestodes, six nematodes and one acanthocephalan), the kidneys, lungs and large intestine being the organs most infected. The trophic niche breadth and the habitats where this species is living structured the parasite community.

Ecological aspects of diet, reproduction, and parasitism of Pseudopaludicola boliviana (Anura, Leptodactylidae) from Corrientes, Argentina

Abstract: The main objectives of this paper were to update the distribution range of Pseudopaludicola boliviana in Argentina, to determine its diet composition and the feeding patterns, to analyze some reproductive variables as mature ova count and diameter in relation to female snoutvent length, to describe the advertisement call for Argentinean populations, and to identify and to localize its helminth parasites. Eleven prey types were identified; dipterans were more important both in number (23.53%) and in volume (41.30%); other important preys were collembolans, arachnids and coleopterans. The trophic niche width was 7.15 and the standardized trophic niche value was 0.61. Ovarian complement (number of mature ova for female) ranged from 50 to 319 (mean 175.3 ± 86.12), while ovum diameter ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 mm (mean 0.27 ± 0.062). The nuptial call is composed by five notes. The dominant frequency ranged from 3.488 to 5.927 kHz; emphasized frequency fluctuated between 4.942 and 5.224 kHz. A total of 10 helminth species (larvae and adults) were found in 54 (96%) infected frogs. Helminths were represented by Trematoda (7 species), Cestoda (1), Nematoda (1), and Acanthocephala (1).

Diversity of amphibians in rice fields from northeastern argentina

Abstract: The anuran biodiversity and richness of a frog community inhabiting rice fields in northeastern Argentina was surveyed and analyzed. The samples were taken...

Citation classic - optimal foraging - a selective review of theory and tests

Abstract: Beginning with Emlen (1966) and MacArthur and Pianka (1966) and extending through the last ten years, several authors have sought to predict the foraging behavior of animals by means of mathematical models. These models are very similar,in that they all assume that the fitness of a foraging animal is a function of the efficiency of foraging measured in terms of some "currency" (Schoener, 1971) -usually energy- and that natural selection has resulted in animals that forage so as to maximize this fitness. As a result of these similarities, the models have become known as "optimal foraging models"; and the theory that embodies them, "optimal foraging theory." The situations to which optimal foraging theory has been applied, with the exception of a few recent studies, can be divided into the following four categories: (1) choice by an animal of which food types to eat (i.e., optimal diet); (2) choice of which patch type to feed in (i.e., optimal patch choice); (3) optimal allocation of time to different patches; and (4) optimal patterns and speed of movements. In this review we discuss each of these categories separately, dealing with both the theoretical developments and the data that permit tests of the predictions. The review is selective in the sense that we emphasize studies that either develop testable predictions or that attempt to test predictions in a precise quantitative manner. We also discuss what we see to be some of the future developments in the area of optimal foraging theory and how this theory can be related to other areas of biology. Our general conclusion is that the simple models so far formulated are supported are supported reasonably well by available data and that we are optimistic about the value both now and in the future of optimal foraging theory. We argue, however, that these simple models will requre much modification, espicially to deal with situations that either cannot easily be put into one or another of the above four categories or entail currencies more complicated that just energy.

Evolution In Changing Environments Some Theoretical Explorations

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