WHAT DRIVES GUILD DISTRIBUTION IN TROPICAL TADPOLES? A FORTY-YEAR QUEST FOR PATTERNS

Abstract

Tadpoles can be found in a number of different aquatic habitats, ranging from relatively simple predictable ecosystems such as bromeliad ponds, to permanent complex ecosystems like streams and rivers. Knowing about the interactions between biotic and abiotic within these habitats is crucial to understand how tadpole communities are structured. The present review attempted to provide a closer analysis of each of these factors and their relative relevance in order to determine if they exert negative or positive influence over the establishment of toad pole species over the diverse habitat range.