Shelter from the sand: microhabitat selection by the bromelicolous tree frog Scinax cuspidatus (Anura, Hylidae) in a Brazilian restinga

Habitat selection is one of the main factors influencing life-history evolution in animals, and is especially relevant for amphibians that must avoid desiccation. In environments such as the Brazilian restinga, where freshwater is scarce, bromeliads can provide suitable microhabitats and be an important determinant of amphibian diversity. Here, we used multiple logistic regression to investigate microhabitat selection by the bromelicolous tree frog Scinax cuspidatus in a restinga in the Brazilian southeastern coast in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Bromeliad use by S. cuspidatus was mainly influenced by pH and volume of stored water, while temperature of the water, potential prey abundance, number of leaves, height, and radius of the plant had little influence. There was no relationship between body size of S. cuspidatus and bromeliad size. Our results provide further evidence that microhabitat selection in the region is closely linked to some bromeliads characteristics such as water volume and pH, and highlight the important role of bromeliads as fundamental freshwater sources for amphibians in the restinga.