摘要：In Amphibians, both positive and negative correlations between activity and
full moon phase have been observed. In this study, we present data for two
anuran species (Hyla intermedia and Rana dalmatina)
studied in a hilly Mediterranean area of central
Italy. We analysed, in a two-year survey, the relationships between the
number of egg clutches laid each night and the moon phases by means of
circular statistics. Moreover, the studied species exhibited clear
oviposition site selection behaviour influenced, at least in H. intermedia, by moon
phases. We observed the occurrence of an avoidance effect by amphibians for
oviposition and specific egg-laying behaviour during moon phases around the
full moon. This apparent lunar phobia was evident in both species when
yearly data were pooled. On the other hand, while this pattern continued to
be also evident in H. intermedia when single years were considered,
in R. dalmatina it stood just in
one year of study. Nonetheless, during cloudy nights, when moonlight
arriving on the ground was low, the frogs' behaviour was similar to that
observed in new moon phases. We interpreted the observed pattern as an
anti-predatory strategy. Overall, comparisons between our own study and
previous research suggest that there was insufficient evidence to establish
any unequivocal patterns and that further research in this regard is needed.
