Use and sharing of calling and retreat sites by Phyllodytes luteolus in a modified environment

I studied the use of calling and retreat sites by Phyllodytes luteolus in an ornamental bromeliad garden where phytotelmata in bromeliad leaf axils are abundant. I investigated individual spacing and activity patterns. Among the nine bromeliad species cultivated in the garden, the frogs used Vriesia neoglutinosa and plants structurally similar to it more than expected according to their availability. Phyllodytes luteolus uses V. neoglutinosa in its natural habitat. For one bromeliad species (Sp 1), frogs used proportionally more those plants that were higher (57.7 +/- 8.4 cm above ground), had lower pH (4.94 +/- 0.88), and deeper phytotelmata (5.38 +/- 2.09 cm). Plant height, phytotelmata depth, and PH had no influence on frogs' choices in the other bromeliad species tested. Males were active all night, and calling activity was highest immediately after sunset. Some males called during the day. Males did not exibit aggressive behavior towards other males, including those intruding onto their calling sites. The high availability of phytotelmata for calling and retreat in this modified environment may have influenced the low levels of aggression observed for this population of P. luteolus.331172