Data for: Temperature and hygrometry of amphibian agar models in behavioral simulation and operational temperature of two forested areas

We investigated how thermoregulatory behaviors affect
hydro-thermoregulation in anurans, using agar models as a sampling unit,
simulating four behaviors related to behavioral fever and sickness
behavior. We collected data in two forest environments (Wet forest and
transitional forest) in the Parque Estadual Intervales (PEI), an Integral
Conservation Unit of the Atlantic Forest (24°12' - 24°25' S;
48°03 - 48°30' W). The Wet forest is a mature Atlantic Forest, and
the Transitional forest is a young secondary forest adjacent to open
areas.  We measured operational temperatures (temperatures of
inanimate objects comparable to real frog species in size and shape) of
agar models across 8 replicates in the two forest environments. We also
measured agar models' temperature and water loss in different
behavior simulations. In each transect, we used eight sampling unit
(called tetrad) that was composed of two sets of four sensor-fit agar
models. One of the sets was used to collect the operational temperature of
the forest areas. These agar models were fitted with a 170 cm HOBO® Data
Logger (U12-008) sensor programmed to record the temperature every 15
min.  The second set of tetrads was used to collect the agar
models' body temperature and water loss in different behavior
simulations. The behavioral simulations were defined as: (a) strong
behavioral fever (SBF); (b) apathy behavior (AB); (c) single
thermoregulatory event (STE); and (d) control model (CO). After the
temperature data were collected at 0600 h, three of the agar models (SBF,
AB, and STE) were moved immediately, each one according to their
corresponding protocol (SBF: Warmest Neighboring Site, AB: closest
shelter, mainly small burrows, or accumulations of leaf litter; STE:
Alternative Warmest Neighboring site). The selection of the places was
made by using a FLIR TG165 Thermal Imaging Thermometer. One hour later, at
about 0700 h, and hereafter hourly, a similar procedure was repeated, but
only the SBF model required movement. We placed each model within 5 cm of
another in this set to ensure similar initial thermal conditions. These
tetrads were left undisturbed overnight, and no manipulation occurred
after 2000 h. On the next day, at 0600 h, we measured the surface
temperatures of the models and immediately applied the corresponding
behavioral rule. This procedure was performed hourly until 2000 h. To
analyze water loss, we recorded the mass of each model at 0600 h just
after measuring temperature and repeated this every two hours. We used a
portable balance (A&D Newton EJ-123, 0.01g accuracy) and
calculated water loss rates from the difference between the initial model
mass and mass measured at each subsequent 2-hour period. We express water
loss as a percentage of maximum hydration.