Growth Rates of Paleosuchus Palpebrosus at the Southern Limit of Its Range Author(S): Zilca Campos , William E
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Growth Rates of Paleosuchus palpebrosus at the Southern Limit of its Range Author(s): Zilca Campos , William E. Magnusson , and Vanílio Marques Source: Herpetologica, 69(4):405-410. 2013. Published By: The Herpetologists' League DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-13-00005 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-13-00005 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/ terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. Herpetologica, 69(4), 2013, 405–410 Ó 2013 by The Herpetologists’ League, Inc. GROWTH RATES OF PALEOSUCHUS PALPEBROSUS AT THE SOUTHERN LIMIT OF ITS RANGE 1,4 2 3 ZILCA CAMPOS ,WILLIAM E. MAGNUSSON , AND VANILIO´ MARQUES 1Laboratorio´ de vida selvagem, Embrapa Pantanal, CP 109, Corumba´, MS, 793200-900, Brazil 2Coordena¸ca˜o de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa da Amazonia,ˆ CP 2223, Manaus, AM, 69080-971, Brazil 3Instituo Chico Mendes de Conserva¸ca˜o de Biodiversidade, CP 100, Cuiaba´, MT, 78055-900, Brazil ABSTRACT: We estimated growth rates of Dwarf Caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) with capture– recapture data from 40 individuals collected over 6 yr in streams surrounding the Brazilian Pantanal, near the southern limit of the species’ distribution. Repeated recaptures of eight animals indicate that within- individual variation is much greater than between-individual variation, possibly reflecting climatic influences. Growth rates of juveniles increased linearly until individuals were about 28 cm snout–vent length (SVL), and then growth rates decreased gradually after attaining that size. The rate of decrease, however, differed between males and females. Data for 30 juveniles with known age were used to validate the growth curve based on the growth rate-on-size analysis. The length of the smallest female recorded nesting (SVL ¼ 60 cm) allowed us to estimate the age at first reproduction to be about 8 yr for females. Our data do not support our initial hypothesis that P. palpebrosus would have slow growth rates and relatively old age at first reproduction, as has been suggested for Paleosuchus trigonatus. Key words: Age; Body size; Brazil; Dwarf Caiman; Sexual maturity GROWTH RATES of crocodilians vary within Paleosuchus palpebrosus occurs in small and between species, and estimated times to hillside streams that drain into the Pantanal maturity are not closely related to the wetlands (Campos et al., 2010). These small maximum size of the species (Webb et al., streams generally have fast-flowing water with 1978; Wilkinson and Rhodes, 1997). Paleo- mean temperatures around 208C. No other suchus trigonatus has an estimated age at crocodilians are resident in these streams, maturity that is similar to that of larger although Caiman crocodilus yacare occurs in species, such as Alligator mississippiensis a variety of habitats at lower elevations (Magnusson et al., 1997). Although P. trig- (Campos et al., 2005). Based on the small onatus lives in tropical climates, opportunities size of P. palpebrosus, what is known of the to thermoregulate are limited in tropical rain similarly sized P. trigonatus, and the fact that forests, and this species probably has mean the former species occurs in habitats appar- body temperature lower than other studied ently unsuitable for other crocodilians, it species of crocodilians (Magnusson, 1989). might be assumed that growth rates of P. This limitation could explain its low growth palpebrosus are slow compared with those of rate compared with that of other small other crocodilians. However, there is current- crocodilians (e.g., Caiman crocodilus; Mag- ly no published information on the growth of nusson and Sanaiotti, 1995). Paleosuchus P. palpebrosus in the wild. palpebrosus also probably has lower body Data on growth are used to estimate mean growth trajectories, effects of environmental temperatures than other crocodilians and factors on growth rates, age at maturity, occurs at higher altitudes than other sympatric causes of sexual dimorphism, and many other crocodilians (Medem, 1981). Despite having aspects of a species’ biology. Growth rates can an extensive range and occurring in many be estimated from sizes of known-age animals, South American countries, P. palpebrosus is mark–recapture measurements, growth annu- one of the least studied crocodilians, and most li, or demographic structure, and there are conclusions about its biology are speculative correspondingly many methods to estimate (Magnusson, 1989). size–age relationships (Andrews, 1982). The most appropriate analysis depends on the data 4 CORRESPONDENCE: e-mail, zilca.campos@embrapa. available and the questions being addressed. br Individuals might show marked differences in 405 406 HERPETOLOGICA [Vol. 69, No. 4 growth trajectories (Webb et al., 1983; Mag- al. (1995), especially during the rainy period nusson and Sanaiotti, 1995; Eaton and Link, when water levels increase quickly because of 2011), and mean growth rates might provide runoff from the headwaters. The dry season uncertain estimates of growth for most extends from August to October, and the rainy individuals. season usually starts in November (Soriano, Most studies of crocodilian growth have 2000). Caimans were captured and recaptured used mark–recapture data to estimate the by hand or with nooses, along the major growth rates of different-sized individuals streams and their tributaries in nocturnal (Abercrombie, 1992). The relationship be- surveys on foot in January–May and Septem- tween size and age can be constructed by ber–October each year. All caimans were integration of the growth rate on size rela- individually marked with numbered plastic tionship, but this process is prone to mathe- tags attached to the raised single tail scutes, matical error if the time interval between aluminum numbered tags attached to the captures is long, and measurement error if the interdigital membrane of the left hind leg, time interval is short (Andrews, 1982). There- and/or by removing the tips of single and fore, most researchers use nonlinear estimates double tail scutes in unique combinations. of the integrated form of the size–age The snout–vent length (SVL; 60.1 cm) was relationship to describe growth (Andrews, measured, using a measuring tape, from the 1982; Brisbin et al., 1987). The integrated tip of the snout to the end of the cloacal scales, form of the size–age relationship is known for with the caiman lying on it back. The sex of only a relatively small number of sigmoidal caimans was recognized from the presence of curves, however, such as those in the Richards penis or clitoris. We could not confidently family (Brisbin, 1990). The relationships determine the sex of juveniles under 30 cm between size and growth rate for several SVL, and they were recorded as indetermi- species of crocodilians do not fit these models, nate. especially if data on small individuals are The growth rate was estimated as the included (Magnusson and Sanaiotti, 1995). difference in SVL between captures divided Furthermore, models of the growth rate-on- by the interval between recaptures. We used size relationship are needed if the objective is the geometric mean SVL to illustrate the to determine the effects of environmental relationship between growth rate and size. variables on growth rate. The age of juveniles ,30 cm SVL was In this study, we use mark–recapture data estimated as the interval between the month collected over 6 yr to describe patterns in of capture and April, the month in which growth rate and estimate age at first repro- individuals hatch at our study site (Campos et duction of P. palpebrosus in hillside streams al., 2012). The relationship between age and that drain into the Brazilian Pantanal. We also size was estimated by integrating the straight- evaluate the effects of seasonal variation in line segments using the von Bertalanffy by- weather conditions and individual differences length model (Andrews, 1982). Parameters on deviations from the mean growth trajectory. describing the two straight-line segments and their intersection were estimated using break- MATERIALS AND METHODS point regression in the SYSTAT program (Wilkinson, 1990). Temperature (618C) and Our study was conducted between October 6 2005 and November 2011, in streams in the rainfall ( 1 mm) data were obtained from the ´ 8 Esta¸ca˜o Ecologica´ Serra das Araras (EESA; Corumba Meteorological Station (18.9967 S, 0 0 57.63758W). 15837 S, 57812 W; datum ¼ WGS84), in the Taquari River (188220S, 548360W; datum ¼ Original data have been deposited in WGS84), in Serra da Bodoquena (208660S, repository of Programa de Pesquisa em 568750W), and in the Serra do Urucum Biodiversidade (www.ppbio.inpa.gov.br). (198080S, 578340W), all of which are areas surrounding the Pantanal. The streams have RESULTS rocky substrates, and the water is fast flowing, In 6 yr, we captured 143 Dwarf Caimans similar to the streams described by Campos et (87 in streams of the EESA, 29 in Pedras December 2013] HERPETOLOGICA 407 FIG. 1.––Relationship between growth rate and geo- metric-mean snout–vent length (between capture and FIG. 2.––Estimated relationship between snout–vent length and age of male and female Paleosuchus palpe- recapture) of (þ) juveniles of indeterminate sex, (*) female and (A) male Paleosuchus palpebrosus in streams around brosus. Circles represent known-age individuals and the the Pantanal, Brazil.