FACTORS INFLUENCING CHOICE OF BREEDING SITE BY BUFO-MARINUS IN ITS NATURAL HABITAT

Waterbodies in diverse habitats throughout Venezuela were sampled for biotic and abiotic characteristics that might influence breeding site choice in Bufo marinus. Sites where breeding by B. marinus was present differed in many respects from sites where breeding was absent, and t hese differences varied between habitat types. The combination of vari ables that best explained the difference between breeding sites and no nbreeding sites across all habitats was the transparency and pH of the water, the density of the vegetation surrounding the waterbody, and w hether the waterbody was temporary or permanent. The size and abundanc e of fish apparently was not important in breeding site choice.