Titel
A Unified Approach to Analysis of Body Condition in Green Toads
Autor*in
Magdalena Spießberger
Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)
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Abstract
Body condition is increasingly used to assess the status of populations and as a proxy for individual fitness. A common, quick and non-invasive approach is to estimate condition from the relation between body length and mass. Among the methods developed for this purpose, the Scaled Mass Index (SMI) appears best suited for comparisons among populations. We assembled data from 17 populations of European green toads (Bufotes viridis) with the aim of devising a standard formula applicable for monitoring this species. The mean value of the exponents describing length–mass allometry in these samples was 3.0047. Hence, we propose using 3 as a scaling coefficient for calculating the SMI in green toads. From the contrast of SMI values for both sexes within populations, estimated with either the population-specific or the standard coefficient, we conclude that applying the standard formula not only facilitates comparisons among populations but may also help to avoid misinterpretation of variation within populations.
Stichwort
amphibiabiometryconservationlife historypopulation ecology
Objekt-Typ
Sprache
Englisch [eng]
Persistent identifier
Erschienen in
Titel
Diversity
Band
15
Ausgabe
1
ISSN
1424-2818
Erscheinungsdatum
2022
Publication
MDPI AG
Erscheinungsdatum
2022
Zugänglichkeit
Rechte
Rechteangabe
© 2022 by the authors
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