Phyllomedusa 14-2.Indd

Short CommuniCation Bamboo traps as refugia for Pristimantis olivaceus (Anura: Craugastoridae) and as breeding site for Osteocephalus castaneicola (Anura: Hylidae)

Lawrence Whittaker1, Andrew Whitworth1,2, Alex Fowler1, Marcus Brent-Smith1, Christopher Beirne1,3, and Jaime Villacampa1 1 The Crees Foundation, Mariscal Gamarra, B-5, Zona-1, 2da Etapa, Cuzco, Peru. 2 Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Glasgow, UK. E-mail: [email protected]. 3 Centre for Ecology & Conservation, School of Biosciences, University Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK.

Keywords: bamboo internodes, breeding site, neotropics, phytotelmata, PVC traps.

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Ecological and reproductive information on Reichle, and Aparicio, 1998) and Osteocephalus tropical amphibians remains sparse; particularly castaneicola (Moravec, Aparicio, Guerrero- with respect to the use of phytotelm breeding sites (von May et al. 2009). Phytotelmatas, such 2009). as leaf axils, bromeliads, brazil-nut husks, tree Osteocephalus castaneicola is a hylid cavities, and bamboo internodes are important breeding sites for several amphibians throughout International Union for Conservation of Nature the tropics (Caldwell 1993, Moravec et al. 2009). (IUCN) Red List (IUCN 2013); little is known Bamboo internodes are one of the least about its ecology (Moravec et al. 2009, documented of these, known only to be utilized AmphibiaWeb 2015). However, some congeners in the Neotropics by Ranitomeya sirensis, have been recorded utilising phytotelmata Fritziana ohausi, Nyctimantis rugiceps, and breeding sites (e.g., Ferreira et al. 2012). Aparasphenodon pomba (Duellman and Grey Pristimantis olivaceus is an arboreal member of 1983, Lehtinen et al. 2004, Waldram 2008, Assis Craugastoridae; currently, it is considered “Data et al. 2013). Here we provide new information et al. 2008, IUCN 2015) about the use of bamboo internodes by and information about its ecology is scarce Pristimantis olivaceus (Köhler, Morales, Lötters, (Duellman and Lehr 2009). The Manu Learning Centre (MLC) is a research facility owned and operated by The Received 21 July 2015. Crees Foundation (www.crees-manu.org) on a Accepted 17 September 2015. reserve known locally as Fundo Mascoitania. Distributed December 2015.

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The reserve is located on the Alto Madre de Díos River, situated in the Manu Biosphere Reserve of frogs, tadpoles, or eggs (von May et al. 2009). in southeastern Peru (12o47'21.849'' S, In every check we recorded presence of frogs, 71o23'28.06'' W, 460 m a.s.l., ~ 643 ha). From tadpoles or eggs. Tadpoles of Osteocephalus 2011 to 2014, the average seasonal rainfall in the castaneicola were brought back to the MLC wet season (October–March) was 3098 mm but research station and raised to verify their just 1557 mm in the dry season (April– September; weather data collected from the and a single individual was taken as a specimen MLC). The reserve contains a patch of bamboo (Figure 2). Stored at Universidad Nacional (Guadua sp.)–dominated forest of approximately Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. (MUSM 18.2 ha. The hollow, segmented internodes of number 31606). the bamboo naturally collect rain water and are A Mann Whitney-U test was conducted to an ideal reproductive site for amphibians that are determine if Osteocephalus castaneicola showed able to enter them through a breakage event in any preference for the height of the breeding site the bamboo or a hole made by another animal or the kind of opening (Hollander and Wolfe (Waldram 2008). 1999). Thirty-two reproductive observations We initiated a pilot study from July to August (froglets, tadpoles, or eggs) of O. castaneicola 2012 to determine whether crafted pieces of were made during the structured study period (total of 34 including occurrences from the pilot would attract amphibians. Traps were cut from period). Seventeen reproductive observations cross sections of bamboo internodes and were found within both closed and open-top fashioned into lengths of 50 cm. We discovered traps, showing no preference between trap two instances of tadpoles of Osteocephalus openings (w = 112, p = 0.436). Although more castaneicola in the traps, as well as three adult anurans were observed in the high traps than the Pristimantis olivaceus. The latter were brought low (21 and 13, respectively), the difference was back to the MLC to be photographed and taken w = 88, p = 0.584). as specimens (Figure 1); stored at Universidad Osteocephalus castaneicola used the traps Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru from mid-July through November; however, no (MUSM numbers 31665, 31701, 31728). observations were made from December to June We continued the study with a structured (Figure 3). Reproductive activity (recorded as sampling design for a year beginning in mid- the presence of froglets, tadpoles, or eggs) in O. October 2012. The traps were designed with two castaneicola seems to begin in the middle of the different types of openings: (1) a large circular dry season (July) and reach a peak by the onset opening in the top of the bamboo made by of the wet season (October). Subsequently, removing the top, and (2) a 2 × 5-cm rectangular records drastically fall off as the wet season window cut in the side of the bamboo near the continues through to November, after which no closed top. There were 14 sampling locations, activity is recorded. The onset of egg deposition each of which contained a total of four traps, as in July may be correlated with the presence follow: a high open-top trap, a high closed-top standing water from the previous wet season; trap, a low open-top trap and a low closed-top such water may be characterized by a stable high trap. Low traps were 60 cm and high traps 170 nutrient content and abundance of potential food cm from the ground. resources such as mosquito larvae (von May et Traps were checked once every two weeks to al. 2009). The onset of the heavy wet season ensure that a liter of water was present. If may disturb this stable high nutrient environment necessary, water was replenished from a nearby and limit the available resources for tadpoles of stream, because if the volume of water is too O. castaneicola to feed and develop.

Phyllomedusa - 14(2), December 2015 158 Bamboo traps as refugia for Pristimantis olivaceus and as breeding site for Osteocephalus castaneicola

Osteocephalus castaneicola has been docu- occurrences, along with the lack of preference for open or closed-top bamboo traps, indicate nuts (Moravec et al. 2009) and to avoid that O. castaneicola opportunistically selects appropriate reproductive sites that had already standing water sources for breeding. However, been used by other species of anurans or by O. castaneicola predacious insect larvae (Lehtinen et al. 2004, associated with seasonal rainfall patterns to von May et al. 2009). At the MLC reserve, we initiate reproductive events (Figure 3). also found O. castaneicola to breed in pitfall- Pristimantis olivaceus only used bamboo internodes as refugia during the dry season to protect itself from increased heat and sun in a moist, secure environment (Glorioso and Waddle 2014). We also have observed a few P. olivaceus conclusions cannot be made from these data about breeding sites. Nevertheless, both bamboo internodes and bromeliads likely are important microhabitats and refugia for this species. Other studies utilizing PVC traps have reported amphibians to use the traps as refugia, rather than as water-containing breeding sites (Glorioso and Waddle 2014, Trimble and Aarde 2014). The use of naturally occurring bamboo internodes is a convenient, cost effective way to study phytotelmata breeding/dwelling species, especially because the traps can be made from Figure 1. Individual of Pristimantis olivaceus collected bamboo naturally present within the study area. at the MLC study area (SVL = 24.1mm). Von May et al. (2009) suggested that there is no

30mm

Figure 2. Stages of development of Osteocephalus castaneicola in the bamboo refugia from the MLC study area (average adult SVL = 52.5mm).

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Figure 3. Presence of Osteocephalus castaneicola eggs, tadpoles or froglets each month (white bars) throughout the study period alongside total monthly rainfall.

Centre (MLC). We gratefully acknowledge the traps. Although originally considered to be TJMF Foundation who provided crucial support “uncharacteristic” of anurans, phytotelmata- for this work through their Amazon Research breeding species now are thought to comprise of Programme grant to the University of Glasgow. 154 species worldwide (Lannoo et al. 1987, Lehtinen et al. 2004, Moravec et al. 2009). In support of the Sustainable Manu project, a terms of future research, phytotelmata provide collaborative initiative between The Crees unique opportunities to study development, Foundation and The University of Glasgow. We tadpole behavior, and predator/prey relationships thank the MLC and Crees for providing a of anurans. These microhabitats are natural comfortable and beautiful place to conduct our laboratories in which to control environmental factors such as water level, prey/predator team for collecting data. The Ministerio de presence, and size-factors that cannot be Agricultura of Peru provided the permit for this controlled in larger bodies of water and fast- research (Number “Codigo de Tramite”: 25397; et al. 2004). “Autorización No.” 2904-2012-AG- DGFFS- DGEFFS). Additional support was provided by Acknowledgments.—The Crees Foundation the Chicago Herpetological Society, the Louise (www.crees-manu.org) and its director Quinn Hiom Fund, and Glasgow Natural History Meyer supported this research as part of their conservation and biodiversity-monitoring programme. The University of Glasgow supported

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