Lurking in the depth: Pond depth predicts microhabitat selection by Rhinella icterica (Anura: Bufonidae) tadpoles at two different sampling scales

Habitat selection has long been a central theme in ecology and historically considered both physiological responses ecological factors affecting species establishment. Investigating habitat patterns at different scales can provide important information on the relative roles of environmental influencing organisms’ abilities to use their surrounding habitat. This work aimed investigating which determine by Rhinella icterica tadpoles, also took opportunity investigate how scale tadpoles data are sampled might influence results. A total 2.240 were counted whole sampling area, while substrate cover depth variables that better explained abundance larger (plot level), water turbidity tadpoles’ smaller (subplot level). The results suggest avoiding predation matching background color is likely process explaining occupancy scales. Depth known tadpole tropics, although its combination with varied between scales, our study suggests not affect inferred processes driving selection. be useful predict micro-environmental perturbations help guiding choice parameters should taken into account when analyzing effects degradation Atlantic Forest amphibian populations.