Resumo

ABDENUR-A, Florencia et al. Diet of Telmatobius atacamensis (Anura: Telmatobiidae): first contributions to the systematic knowledge of the trophic niche. Caldasia [online]. 2022, vol.44, n.3, pp.619-626.  Epub 06-Jun-2024. ISSN 0366-5232.  https://doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v44n3.94762.

Telmatobius atacamensis, a microendemic anuran from the Salta Puna, has exclusively aquatic habits. It is categorized as a critically endangered species globally and as threatened nationally. The knowledge of trophic ecology is useful to improve the management and conservation of a species and, since this information is scarce, the objective was to describe and analyze its diet. Using the Stomach-flushing technique, 37 stomach contents were obtained from individuals recollected once a month in the San Antonio and Los Patos rivers during an annual cycle (2018). A total of 724 eaten items from ten orders were registered; dipterans, coleopterans, and hemipterans were the most important. There was no significant correlation between predator-prey sizes. Nor were there significant differences between females, males, and juveniles, and the number and volume of prey consumed. The diet diversity index was 1.05 and the standardized trophic niche width was 0.09. The niche overlap between the categories was Ojk = 0.80. According to the Jaccard similarity index, the diets of females and juveniles were the most similar (71 %). They presented a marked predominance for the consumption of invertebrates with benthic habits and, although some prey of terrestrial habits were found, it could be due to accidental consumption. This disproportionate consumption toward benthic fauna would be directly related to the life habits of the species. On the other hand, the composition of the diet does not vary significantly between the categories considered, without registering differences in the quantity and volume of prey.

Palavras-chave : Diptera; food ecology; puna salteña; stomach flushing.

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