Resource Allocation to Reproduction in Animals

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Resource Allocation to Reproduction in Animals Biol. Rev. (2014), 89, pp. 849–859. 849 doi: 10.1111/brv.12082 Resource allocation to reproduction in animals Sebastiaan A. L. M. Kooijman1,∗ and Konstadia Lika2 1Department of Theoretical Biology, VU University Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece ABSTRACT The standard Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) model assumes that a fraction κ of mobilised reserve is allocated to somatic maintenance plus growth, while the rest is allocated to maturity maintenance plus maturation (in embryos and juveniles) or reproduction (in adults). All DEB parameters have been estimated for 276 animal species from most large phyla and all chordate classes. The goodness of fit is generally excellent. We compared the estimated values of κ with those that would maximise reproduction in fully grown adults with abundant food. Only 13% of these species show a reproduction rate close to the maximum possible (assuming that κ can be controlled), another 4% have κ lower than the optimal value, and 83% have κ higher than the optimal value. Strong empirical support hence exists for the conclusion that reproduction is generally not maximised. We also compared the parameters of the wild chicken with those of races selected for meat and egg production and found that the latter indeed maximise reproduction in terms of κ, while surface-specific assimilation was not affected by selection. We suggest that small values of κ relate to the down-regulation of maximum body size, and large values to the down-regulation of reproduction. We briefly discuss the ecological context for these findings. Key words: animal reproduction, dynamic energy budget, allocation to soma, chicken egg production, selection. CONTENTS I. Introduction ................................................................................................ 849 II. Materials and methods ..................................................................................... 850 III. Sub- and supra-optimality .................................................................................. 851 IV. Selection for maximum reproduction ...................................................................... 853 V. Discussion .................................................................................................. 854 VI. Conclusions ................................................................................................ 857 VII. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................... 857 VIII. References .................................................................................................. 857 IX. Appendix ................................................................................................... 858 X. The standard deb model with acceleration ................................................................. 858 I. INTRODUCTION Herein we aim to quantify resource allocation to reproduction in animals within the context of DEB theory. Investment in reproduction is subject to intense ecological One of the parameters of the standard DEB model is of and evolutionary debate (Roff, 1992; Stearns, 1992; Flatt & particular interest here: the fraction κ of mobilised reserve Heyland, 2011). Some species have many small offspring, that is allocated to soma (somatic maintenance plus growth), others a few large ones, but we are unaware of a broad as opposed to maturity maintenance plus reproduction. All comparative study of relative investment in reproduction parameters of the standard DEB model have now been compared to growth. This is probably because a single estimated for 276 species, see the add my pet collection metabolic framework is required that applies to all species for at http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/deb/deblab/add_my_pet/ their full life cycle (including embryo development). Dynamic Species.html. We evaluated the reproduction rate of a fully Energy Budget (DEB) theory offers such a framework for grown female with abundant food for each species and metabolic organisation (Kooijman, 2010). compared it with the value assuming an optimal value of κ, * Address for correspondence (Tel: +31 20 5987130; E-mail: [email protected]). Biological Reviews 89 (2014) 849–859 © 2014 The Authors. Biological Reviews © 2014 Cambridge Philosophical Society 850 Sebastiaan A. L. M. Kooijman and Konstadia Lika here defined as the value that maximises reproduction rate. organisation is discussed in Lika & Kooijman (2011). The At an early stage of the formation of this large collection mobilisation rate is such that weak homeostasis is preserved: we reported that most animal species in the collection reserve density, i.e. the ratio of the amounts of reserve invest remarkably little in reproduction (Lika, Kearney and structure, does not change during growth after birth & Kooijman, 2011b). Now, with five times more species as long as food density remains constant. A fraction κ available, we reconsider this observation and report on a of this mobilised flux is allocated to somatic maintenance case-study with different races of chickens, the wild race, and growth (soma), the rest to maturity maintenance and one selected for meat production and one selected for egg maturation (in embryos and juveniles) or reproduction (in production. Selection can be shown to have affected some adults). Food intake is proportional to surface area, which is parameters in a remarkable way. proportional to volume to the 2/3 power in isomorphs, but embryos do not eat. Somatic maintenance is proportional to the amount of structure, maturity maintenance to the II. MATERIALS AND METHODS level of maturity. Maturity has no mass or energy and is quantified as cumulative investment of reserve. Feeding and allocation to reproduction are initiated if maturity reaches The data collection does not consist of randomly chosen threshold values. Allocation to reproduction is accumulated species. Indeed, a randomly chosen sample of all species would consist largely of insects, probably mostly beetles, in a reproduction buffer; the rules for converting this buffer and data on these species are few. The number of extant to eggs are species specific. Investment in an egg is such that undescribed animal species is unknown, but may be large reserve density of the neonate equals that of the mother at relative to the described species. Thus, data availability egg laying (known as the maternal effect). Apart from rules is a serious problem that constrains the choice of species, for food searching and ageing, these few criteria fully specify although we tried to include as many phyla as possible. Apart the standard DEB model. Biomass is, therefore, assumed from sponges, nemerteans and nematomorphs, all phyla to consist of reserve, structure and, possibly, a reproduction with more than 400 species are included, incorporating buffer; these types are treated as (formal) pools of metabolites 13 chordate classes, and all bird and mammal orders each with constant composition. (apart from marsupial moles). The collection spans a Application to a large number of animal species revealed body size range from 10−8 to 108 g, from hairy back that many species accelerate their metabolism after birth Aspidiophorus polystictos to blue whale Balaenoptera musculus. (Kooijman et al., 2011). This can be captured realistically as It includes over 100 different data types on all aspects a simple extension of the standard DEB model by assuming of energetics (growth, reproduction, respiration, product that these species deviate from isomorphy during their early formation, feeding) and all life stages (embryo, juvenile, juvenile phase, where surface area is (temporarily) propor- adult), collected in a collaborative effort involving more tional to volume, rather than to volume to the 2/3 power. than 60 researchers. The parameters of the standard DEB Acceleration affects both specific assimilation and energy model have been estimated using the covariation method conductance, which is why acceleration is of importance to (Lika et al., 2011a) and the software package DEBtool allocation to reproduction. Surface-area-specific assimilation (http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/deb/deblab/debtool/). The increases during ontogeny and fuels reproduction, and mean goodness of fit is very high, 8.3 on a scale from energy conductance controls reserve mobilisation, so -∞to10, but the mean completeness level of the data is dominates developmental rate and cumulative maintenance low, 2.5 on a scale from 0 to 10; see Lika et al. (2011a)for costs until birth, when feeding starts. This affects the cost criteria. The data, as extracted from the literature, are given per offspring. with references, the species-specific code, the predictions for The most essential feature of the standard DEB model the data that we obtained, the resulting parameter values in the present context is that the energy cost for a and a list of over 100 implied properties can be inspected neonate follows from the cost for structure, maturation for each species. All of this can be found at the website and maintenance, in combination with size at birth. This of the collection (information about the DEB research involves parameters that can be estimated from data on program is available at: http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/deb/; post-embryonic development; embryo data are available the add my pet collection is available at http://www.bio. for a few species only. To our knowledge, the standard
Recommended publications
  • White-Bellied and Orange-Bellied Frogs Geocrinia Species
    White-bellied and Orange-bellied Frogs Geocrinia species Conservation Status: Critically Endangered and Vulnerable Identification The white-bellied frog Geocrinia alba and orange-bellied frog Geocrinia vitellina are two small species of frogs that are endemic to Western Australia and are both restricted to small areas in the lower southwest. There are also two other Geocrinia species found in the similar habitats in the southwest. The white-bellied frog has a light brown to grey back with two parallel rows of darker brown wart-like spots along the body. The belly is white, with or without a very faint yellow wash. Toes are short and unwebbed. The males make a mating call that is a series of 11-18 rapid pulses repeated irregularly. White-bellied frog. Photo: Perth Zoo You can listen to a recording of the call on the Western Australian Museum’s website. White-bellied Length: 2.0-2.4cm (males) and 1.7cm (females) The orange-bellied frog is similar-looking to the white-bellied frog, except that it has a bright orange or egg-yolk yellow coloured belly. The males making a mating call that is a series of 9-15 slow pulses repeated irregularly. You can listen to a recording of the call on the Western Australian Museum’s website. Orange-bellied Length 2.1-2.5cm (males) 1.8cm (females) Taxonomy Orange-bellied frog. Photo: Perth Zoo Family: Myobatrachidae Genus: Geocrinia Species (white-bellied): alba Species (orange-bellied): vitellina Other common names: the orange-bellied frog is also sometimes referred to as the yellow-bellied frog, because some have a bright yellow belly rather than a bright orange belly.
    [Show full text]
  • An Annotated Type Catalogue of the Dragon Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) in the Collection of the Western Australian Museum Ryan J
    RECORDS OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 34 115–132 (2019) DOI: 10.18195/issn.0312-3162.34(2).2019.115-132 An annotated type catalogue of the dragon lizards (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) in the collection of the Western Australian Museum Ryan J. Ellis Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986, Australia. Biologic Environmental Survey, 24–26 Wickham St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT – The Western Australian Museum holds a vast collection of specimens representing a large portion of the 106 currently recognised taxa of dragon lizards (family Agamidae) known to occur across Australia. While the museum’s collection is dominated by Western Australian species, it also contains a selection of specimens from localities in other Australian states and a small selection from outside of Australia. Currently the museum’s collection contains 18,914 agamid specimens representing 89 of the 106 currently recognised taxa from across Australia and 27 from outside of Australia. This includes 824 type specimens representing 45 currently recognised taxa and three synonymised taxa, comprising 43 holotypes, three syntypes and 779 paratypes. Of the paratypes, a total of 43 specimens have been gifted to other collections, disposed or could not be located and are considered lost. An annotated catalogue is provided for all agamid type material currently and previously maintained in the herpetological collection of the Western Australian Museum. KEYWORDS: type specimens, holotype, syntype, paratype, dragon lizard, nomenclature. INTRODUCTION Australia was named by John Edward Gray in 1825, The Agamidae, commonly referred to as dragon Clamydosaurus kingii Gray, 1825 [now Chlamydosaurus lizards, comprises over 480 taxa worldwide, occurring kingii (Gray, 1825)].
    [Show full text]
  • Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania Regional Focus
    November 2011 Vol. 99 www.amphibians.orgFrogLogNews from the herpetological community Regional Focus Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania INSIDE News from the ASG Regional Updates Global Focus Recent Publications General Announcements And More..... Spotted Treefrog Nyctixalus pictus. Photo: Leong Tzi Ming New The 2012 Sabin Members’ Award for Amphibian Conservation is now Bulletin open for nomination Board FrogLog Vol. 99 | November 2011 | 1 Follow the ASG on facebook www.facebook.com/amphibiansdotor2 | FrogLog Vol. 99| November 2011 g $PSKLELDQ$UN FDOHQGDUVDUHQRZDYDLODEOH 7KHWZHOYHVSHFWDFXODUZLQQLQJSKRWRVIURP $PSKLELDQ$UN¶VLQWHUQDWLRQDODPSKLELDQ SKRWRJUDSK\FRPSHWLWLRQKDYHEHHQLQFOXGHGLQ $PSKLELDQ$UN¶VEHDXWLIXOZDOOFDOHQGDU7KH FDOHQGDUVDUHQRZDYDLODEOHIRUVDOHDQGSURFHHGV DPSKLELDQDUN IURPVDOHVZLOOJRWRZDUGVVDYLQJWKUHDWHQHG :DOOFDOHQGDU DPSKLELDQVSHFLHV 3ULFLQJIRUFDOHQGDUVYDULHVGHSHQGLQJRQ WKHQXPEHURIFDOHQGDUVRUGHUHG±WKHPRUH \RXRUGHUWKHPRUH\RXVDYH2UGHUVRI FDOHQGDUVDUHSULFHGDW86HDFKRUGHUV RIEHWZHHQFDOHQGDUVGURSWKHSULFHWR 86HDFKDQGRUGHUVRIDUHSULFHGDW MXVW86HDFK 7KHVHSULFHVGRQRWLQFOXGH VKLSSLQJ $VZHOODVRUGHULQJFDOHQGDUVIRU\RXUVHOIIULHQGV DQGIDPLO\ZK\QRWSXUFKDVHVRPHFDOHQGDUV IRUUHVDOHWKURXJK\RXU UHWDLORXWOHWVRUIRUJLIWV IRUVWDIIVSRQVRUVRUIRU IXQGUDLVLQJHYHQWV" 2UGHU\RXUFDOHQGDUVIURPRXUZHEVLWH ZZZDPSKLELDQDUNRUJFDOHQGDURUGHUIRUP 5HPHPEHU±DVZHOODVKDYLQJDVSHFWDFXODUFDOHQGDU WRNHHSWUDFNRIDOO\RXULPSRUWDQWGDWHV\RX¶OODOVREH GLUHFWO\KHOSLQJWRVDYHDPSKLELDQVDVDOOSUR¿WVZLOOEH XVHGWRVXSSRUWDPSKLELDQFRQVHUYDWLRQSURMHFWV ZZZDPSKLELDQDUNRUJ FrogLog Vol. 99 | November
    [Show full text]
  • Fowlers Gap Biodiversity Checklist Reptiles
    Fowlers Gap Biodiversity Checklist ow if there are so many lizards then they should make tasty N meals for someone. Many of the lizard-eaters come from their Reptiles own kind, especially the snake-like legless lizards and the snakes themselves. The former are completely harmless to people but the latter should be left alone and assumed to be venomous. Even so it odern reptiles are at the most diverse in the tropics and the is quite safe to watch a snake from a distance but some like the Md rylands of the world. The Australian arid zone has some of the Mulga Snake can be curious and this could get a little most diverse reptile communities found anywhere. In and around a disconcerting! single tussock of spinifex in the western deserts you could find 18 species of lizards. Fowlers Gap does not have any spinifex but even he most common lizards that you will encounter are the large so you do not have to go far to see reptiles in the warmer weather. Tand ubiquitous Shingleback and Central Bearded Dragon. The diversity here is as astonishing as anywhere. Imagine finding six They both have a tendency to use roads for passage, warming up or species of geckos ranging from 50-85 mm long, all within the same for display. So please slow your vehicle down and then take evasive genus. Or think about a similar diversity of striped skinks from 45-75 action to spare them from becoming a road casualty. The mm long! How do all these lizards make a living in such a dry and Shingleback is often seen alone but actually is monogamous and seemingly unproductive landscape? pairs for life.
    [Show full text]
  • About the Book the Format Acknowledgments
    About the Book For more than ten years I have been working on a book on bryophyte ecology and was joined by Heinjo During, who has been very helpful in critiquing multiple versions of the chapters. But as the book progressed, the field of bryophyte ecology progressed faster. No chapter ever seemed to stay finished, hence the decision to publish online. Furthermore, rather than being a textbook, it is evolving into an encyclopedia that would be at least three volumes. Having reached the age when I could retire whenever I wanted to, I no longer needed be so concerned with the publish or perish paradigm. In keeping with the sharing nature of bryologists, and the need to educate the non-bryologists about the nature and role of bryophytes in the ecosystem, it seemed my personal goals could best be accomplished by publishing online. This has several advantages for me. I can choose the format I want, I can include lots of color images, and I can post chapters or parts of chapters as I complete them and update later if I find it important. Throughout the book I have posed questions. I have even attempt to offer hypotheses for many of these. It is my hope that these questions and hypotheses will inspire students of all ages to attempt to answer these. Some are simple and could even be done by elementary school children. Others are suitable for undergraduate projects. And some will take lifelong work or a large team of researchers around the world. Have fun with them! The Format The decision to publish Bryophyte Ecology as an ebook occurred after I had a publisher, and I am sure I have not thought of all the complexities of publishing as I complete things, rather than in the order of the planned organization.
    [Show full text]
  • Pirra Jungku Project Species Guide
    The Pirra Jungku Project is a collaboration between the Karajarri Rangers, Environs Kimberley Pirra Jungku Project and the Threatened Species Recovery Hub with funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program and the species guide Western Australian Government’s NRM Program. Reptiles * Asterix means the animal can be tricky to ID. Take a good photo, or bring it back to camp for checking, but do this as a last resort. Don’t bring back any snakes, in case they are poisonous. Dragons Upright posture (stick their heads up), have small, rough scales, each leg has 5 clawed fingers/toes. MATT FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA CC BY 2.0 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS JESSSARAH MILLER LEGGE Slater’s ring-tailed dragon Central military dragon (Ctenophorus slaterii) (Ctenophorus isolepis) Rocky country. Reddish colour with black Sandy country. Very fast on ground. spots on back and dark rings on the tail. Reddish colour with white spots and stripes. JESSCHRISTOPHER MILLER WATSON CC BY SA 3.0 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS ARTHUR CHAPMAN NICOLAS RAKOTOPARE Pindan dragon Horner’s dragon Northern Pilbara tree dragon (Diporiphora pindan) (Lophognathus horneri) (Diporiphora vescus) Thin, slender body. Two long white stripes Ta-ta lizard. White stripe from lip to back legs. Lives in spinifex. Plain colour, sometimes down back that cross over black and orange Tiny white spot in ear. with orange tail, and long white and grey tiger stripes.* stripes down body.* CHRISTOPHERSARAH LEGGE WATSON CC BY SA 3.0 WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Dwarf bearded dragon (Pogona minor) Grey with flat body with spiny edges. Has small spines on either side of the jaw and on the back of the head.
    [Show full text]
  • North Central Waterwatch Frogs Field Guide
    North Central Waterwatch Frogs Field Guide “This guide is an excellent publication. It strikes just the right balance, providing enough information in a format that is easy to use for identifying our locally occurring frogs, while still being attractive and interesting to read by people of all ages.” Rodney Orr, Bendigo Field Naturalists Club Inc. 1 The North Central CMA Region Swan Hill River Murray Kerang Cohuna Quambatook Loddon River Pyramid Hill Wycheproof Boort Loddon/Campaspe Echuca Watchem Irrigation Area Charlton Mitiamo Donald Rochester Avoca River Serpentine Avoca/Avon-Richardson Wedderburn Elmore Catchment Area Richardson River Bridgewater Campaspe River St Arnaud Marnoo Huntly Bendigo Avon River Bealiba Dunolly Loddon/Campaspe Dryland Area Heathcote Maryborough Castlemaine Avoca Loddon River Kyneton Lexton Clunes Daylesford Woodend Creswick Acknowledgement Of Country The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) acknowledges Aboriginal Traditional Owners within the North Central CMA region, their rich culture and their spiritual connection to Country. We also recognise and acknowledge the contribution and interests of Aboriginal people and organisations in the management of land and natural resources. Acknowledgements North Central Waterwatch would like to acknowledge the contribution and support from the following organisations and individuals during the development of this publication: Britt Gregory from North Central CMA for her invaluable efforts in the production of this document, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority for allowing use of their draft field guide, Lydia Fucsko, Adrian Martins, David Kleinert, Leigh Mitchell, Peter Robertson and Nick Layne for use of their wonderful photos and Mallee Catchment Management Authority for their design support and a special thanks to Ray Draper for his support and guidance in the development of the Frogs Field Guide 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • ARAZPA Amphibian Action Plan
    Appendix 1 to Murray, K., Skerratt, L., Marantelli, G., Berger, L., Hunter, D., Mahony, M. and Hines, H. 2011. Guidelines for minimising disease risks associated with captive breeding, raising and restocking programs for Australian frogs. A report for the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. ARAZPA Amphibian Action Plan Compiled by: Graeme Gillespie, Director Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria; Russel Traher, Amphibian TAG Convenor, Curator Healesville Sanctuary Chris Banks, Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria. February 2007 1 1. Background Amphibian species across the world have declined at an alarming rate in recent decades. According to the IUCN at least 122 species have gone extinct since 1980 and nearly one third of the world’s near 6,000 amphibian species are classified as threatened with extinction, placing the entire class at the core of the current biodiversity crisis (IUCN, 2006). Australasia too has experienced significant declines; several Australian species are considered extinct and nearly 25% of the remainder are threatened with extinction, while all four species native to New Zealand are threatened. Conventional causes of biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and invasive species, are playing a major role in these declines. However, emergent disease and climate change are strongly implicated in many declines and extinctions. These factors are now acting globally, rapidly and, most disturbingly, in protected and near pristine areas. Whilst habitat conservation and mitigation of threats in situ are essential, for many taxa the requirement for some sort of ex situ intervention is mounting. In response to this crisis there have been a series of meetings organised by the IUCN (World Conservation Union), WAZA (World Association of Zoos & Aquariums) and CBSG (Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, of the IUCN Species Survival Commission) around the world to discuss how the zoo community can and should respond.
    [Show full text]
  • Survey of Reptiles and Amphibians at Bimblebox Nature Reserve - Queensland
    Summary of an Observational Survey of Reptiles and Amphibians at Bimblebox Nature Reserve - Queensland Graham Armstrong – May, 2016 Objective - to provide an updated and more complete list of the herpetofauna recorded from Bimblebox Nature Refuge. Approach - 1. Review available data and records pertaining to the herpetofauna at Bimblebox Nature Refuge. 2. Visit Bimblebox Nature Refuge during Spring, Summer and Autumn seasons to make observational and photographic records of the herpetofauna observed. Methodology - In order to maximise the number of species recorded, 3 successive 2.5 day visits were made to BNR, one in September 2015, Jan 2016 and the end of April 2016. This approach potentially broadens the range of weather conditions experienced and hence variety of reptiles and amphibians encountered when compared to a single field visit. Survey methodology involved walking and driving around the nature refuge during the day and after dark (with the aid of a head torch to detect eye-shine). Active reptiles including those that ran for or from cover while passing by were recorded. Frequently, in situ photographic evidence of individuals was obtained and the photographs are available for the purpose of corroborating identification. To avoid any double counting of individual animals the Refuge was traversed progressively and the locations of animals were recorded using a GPS. During any one visit no area was traversed twice and when driving along tracks, reptiles were only recorded the first time a track was traversed unless a new species was detected at a later time. Available Records The most detailed list of reptiles and amphibians recorded as occurring on Bimblebox Nature Reserve comes from the standardised trapping program of Eric Vanderduys of CSIRO in Townsville.
    [Show full text]
  • (Geocrinia Alba and Geocrinia Vitellina) Recovery Plan
    White-bellied and Orange-bellied Frogs (Geocrinia alba and Geocrinia vitellina) Recovery Plan Geocrinia alba Geocrinia vitellina Western Australian Wildlife Management Program No. 59 Department of Parks and Wildlife August 2014 Western Australian Wildlife Management Program No. 59 White-bellied and Orange-bellied Frogs (Geocrinia alba and Geocrinia vitellina) Recovery Plan August 2014 Department of Parks and Wildlife Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Foreword Recovery Plans are developed within the framework laid down in Department of Parks and Wildlife Policy Statements Nos 44 and 50 (CALM 1992; CALM 1994), and the Australian Government Department of the Environment’s Recovery Planning Compliance Checklist for Legislative and Process Requirements (DEWHA 2008). Recovery Plans delineate, justify and schedule management actions necessary to support the recovery of threatened species and ecological communities. Recovery plans are a partnership between the Department of the Environment and the Department of Parks and Wildlife. The Department of Parks and Wildlife acknowledges the role of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Department of the Environment in guiding the implementation of this recovery plan. The attainment of objectives and the provision of funds necessary to implement actions are subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address a range of priorities. Recovery Plans do not necessarily represent the views or the official position of individuals or organisations represented on the Recovery Team. This Recovery Plan was approved by the Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia. Approved Recovery Plans are subject to modification as dictated by new findings, changes in status of the taxon or ecological community and the completion of recovery actions.
    [Show full text]
  • Water Relations of the Burrowing Sandhill Frog, Arenophryne Rotunda (Myobatrachidae)
    J Comp Physiol B (2005) DOI 10.1007/s00360-005-0051-x ORIGINAL PAPER V. A. Cartledge Æ P. C. Withers Æ G. G. Thompson K. A. McMaster Water relations of the burrowing sandhill frog, Arenophryne rotunda (Myobatrachidae) Received: 24 July 2005 / Revised: 17 October 2005 / Accepted: 26 October 2005 Ó Springer-Verlag 2005 Abstract Arenophryne rotunda is a small (2–8 g) terres- Keywords Arid Æ Dehydration Æ Osmolality Æ trial frog that inhabits the coastal sand dunes of central Rehydration Æ Soil water potential Western Australia. While sand burrowing is a strategy employed by many frog species inhabiting Australia’s Abbreviations EWL: Evaporative water loss semi-arid and arid zones, A. rotunda is unique among burrowing species because it lives independently of free water and can be found nocturnally active on the dune Introduction surface for relatively extended periods. Consequently, we examined the physiological factors that enable this Despite the low and irregular rainfall, frogs are found in unique frog to maintain water balance. A. rotunda was most Australian desert regions and are often the most not found to have any special adaptation to reduce EWL abundant vertebrate species in a given area (Main 1968; (being equivalent to a free water surface) or rehydrate Read 1999). Most frogs inhabiting Australia’s semi-arid from water (having the lowest rehydration rate mea- and arid regions burrow into the soil to reduce desic- sured for 15 Western Australian frog species), but it was cation. Some of these burrowing frogs (Neobatrachus able to maintain water balance in sand of very low and Cyclorana spp.) form a cocoon by accumulating moisture (1–2%).
    [Show full text]
  • ARAZPA YOTF Infopack.Pdf
    ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign Information pack ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign Printing: The ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign pack was generously supported by Madman Printing Phone: +61 3 9244 0100 Email: [email protected] Front cover design: Patrick Crawley, www.creepycrawleycartoons.com Mobile: 0401 316 827 Email: [email protected] Front cover photo: Pseudophryne pengilleyi, Northern Corroboree Frog. Photo courtesy of Lydia Fucsko. Printed on 100% recycled stock 2 ARAZPA 2008 Year of the Frog Campaign Contents Foreword.........................................................................................................................................5 Foreword part II ………………………………………………………………………………………… ...6 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................9 Section 1: Why A Campaign?....................................................................................................11 The Connection Between Man and Nature........................................................................11 Man’s Effect on Nature ......................................................................................................11 Frogs Matter ......................................................................................................................11 The Problem ......................................................................................................................12 The Reason
    [Show full text]