FROGLOG Newsletter of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force
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Atelopus spumarius by Tim Halliday ISSN 1026-0269 FROGLOG Newsletter of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force February 2006, Number 73 Decline of the endemic frog Breeding habitats of this deeper zones of the lagoons (Cuello Atelognathus patagonicus from species vary from small, temporal & Perotti, 2004). These Laguna Blanca, Neuquén, ponds (“mallines”) to permanent microhabitats, in which the Argentina: assessment of the large lakes. In this wetland system Patagonian frog larvae were most effect of fish introduction. A. patagonicus breed from abundant, are now occupied by November to January. predatory perch in fished lagoons By: María Elena Cuello and María Overwintering tadpoles can survive (Cuello, 2002; Ortubay et al. in Gabriela Perotti extreme winter with snow and press). Atelognathus patagonicus occurs in temperatures as low as –23°C, We also have experimental the Laguna Blanca wetland system, reaching metamorphosis in the next evidence about the direct predatory in the province of Neuquén, summer. After breeding in effect of the introduced perch on A. northwestern Patagonia, Argentina temporary ponds, adult A. patagonicus tadpoles. A factorial (Cei, 1980). This Patagonian frog patagonicus are highly terrestrial design combining predator and has shown a significant contraction and are found around water bodies, refuge (macrophytes) showed that of its original range, with a complete hiding under stones (Cuello & the survival proportion of tadpoles decline of the main population in Perotti, 2004). was high (100%) in treatments Laguna Blanca lake. The decline of Competition or predation are without predator compared with the this formerly endemic species is one frequently proposed to explain null survivorship (0%) in predator of the most dramatic examples of population declines or habitat shifts treatments. Ortubay et al. (in press) amphibian decline in the Patagonian of native species after exotic reported a high abundance of adult fauna and it has been listed as introduction, but such mechanisms perch in the littoral zone and the threatened by the IUCN (2004). The are rarely isolated and tested in an presence of macrophytes in the gut introduction of perch is suspected to experimental setting. Following the contents, constituting an important have contributed to the decline of hypothesis that predation and consumer of these resources. Atelognathus patagonicus. competition has been operating after They hypothesized that Historically, A. patagonicus bred the introduction of fishes, we predation/competition interactions throughout the steppe lagoon designed a project that focused on affect the complex trophic cascade system in eastern Neuquén two levels of study: (1) Field affecting frog populations. province, Argentina, but is now surveys and distributional records Here we report that fish largely restricted to small lagoons and, (2) Outdoor experiments to test introduction has a negative impact belonging to the Laguna Blanca the direct predatory effect of fish and on the Patagonian frog wetland system. The dramatic early the role of habitat complexity. We (Atelognathus patagonicus) by direct decline began in 1986 and was conducted field surveys in lagoons predation. However the reduction of associated with human introduction inside and near the national park to frog populations can be attributed to of perch and salmonids. Possible date the current extant populations a combination of effects due in part mechanisms of the complete loss of A. patagonicus. A strong negative to the similar habitat requirements of from Laguna Blanca, the main lake correlation was observed between these two taxa. Life history of this associated to the wetland system, introduced fish and amphibians at endemic amphibian is characterized include habitat loss and the landscape scale. A total of 23 by larvae living in both shallow and degradation, competition with and wetlands were surveyed from deep zones of the lagoons (Cuello & predation by introduced perch January 2001 through April 2004, Perotti, 2004), overwintering larvae (Percichthys colhuapiensis) (Fox et detecting the presence of (requiring more than a year to al. in press; Ortubay et al. in press). amphibians in 21 unfished lagoons complete metamorphosis), and a Two morphotypes have been while amphibians were absent in diet rich in benthic invertebrates described for the species: an two remaining lagoons containing (Cuello, et al. 2003). Frog biology aquatic form, with baggy skin and fish. Our records of microhabitat reveals overlapping habitat use and extensive webbing between the toes distribution of larvae indicate a diet with fish, indicating competition of the hind feet and a litoral form preference for complex habitats between these species. Thus, we with less development of these characterized by gravel, boulder or hypothesise that, during periods features (Cei & Roig 1966, 1968). bedrock in the littoral zone and when both species share the same aquatic vegetation (macrophytes) in habitats, strong competition and direct 1 predation could have been a decisive Fox, S.F., Yoshioka, J.H., Cuello, M.E. Status and life factor in the decline of frog & Úbeda, C. (In Press) Status, history of populations. distribution, and ecology of harlequin frogs Acknowledgements endangered semiaquatic frog (Atelopus, (Atelognathus patagonicus) of This note is based on a paper in Bufonidae) in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina preparation. The research was Suriname (COPEIA) supported by the Wildlife Society Ortubay, S.V., Cussac, V., Battini, M., By Martina Luger Conservation (Research Fellowship Program) and Rufford Small Grant Barriga, J., Aigo, J., Alonso, M., It is well known that Neotropical (for Nature Conservation) in Macchi, P., Reissig, M., Yoshika, J. & harlequin frogs, genus Atelopus association with Whitley Laing Fox, S. (In Press) Is the decline of (Bufonidae), have suffered from Foundation (to ME Cuello) and birds and amphibians in a steppe lake dramatic population declines or even Laboratory of Fotobiology, Centro of northern Patagonia a consequence extinctions since the 1980’s (La Marca Regional Universitario Bariloche of limnological changes following fish et al. 2005). These trends also affect introduction? (Aquatic Conservation) populations in protected areas (e.g. (equipment and laboratory facilities), Administración de Parques For further information please contact: Pounds & Crump 1994, Lips 1998, Nacionales, Argentina (field María Elena Cuello: 1999). According to the IUCN Global transportation and facilities) and [email protected] Amphibian Assessment, all Andean Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones or María Gabriela Perotti: and trans-Andean Atelopus are Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET) [email protected] considered “Critically Endangered” (MG Perotti). or even “Extinct” DAPTF GRANTS 2006 (http://www.globalamphibians.org). References Possible reasons include increased SEED GRANTS Cei, J.M (1980) Amphibians of mortality due to infections with the We have received 32 applications this Argentina. Monitore Zool. Italiano, epizooic fungus Batrachochytrium Monografia 2:1-609. year, from 23 countries. Seven dendrobatidis (Bd) (La Marca et al. applications are for Chester Zoo Cei, J.M. & Roig, V.G. (1966) Los 2005) in combination with climatic grants, 7 for ARMI grants and 17 for caracteres biocenóticos de las change (e.g. Pounds & Puschendorf Unrestricted grants. For the first time, lagunas basálticas del Oeste de 2004), as well as direct human impact we have received proposals from Neuquén. Boletín de Estudios like habitat destruction. Albania, Bolivia, Indonesia and Geográficos (Argentina) 13: 182-201. But what about Atelopus Tobago. Successful applicants will be populations from the lowlands east of Cei, J.M. & Roig, V.G. (1968) notified in February. Telmatobiinos de las lagunas the Andes, i.e. the Amazon Basin and 1DAPTF/CEPF GRANTS basálticas de Neuquén (Anura, the Guiana Shield? There are A reminder that the closing date for Leptodactylidae). Physis (Argentina) indications that species of Atelopus applications for these grants, 27: 265-284. occurring in these regions probably announced in FROGLOG 71, is 1st exhibit stable populations (Lötters et Cuello, M.E. (2002) Atelognathus March, 2006. We would like to take al. 2004). However, data are limited patagonicus (Anura, Leptodactylidae): this opportunity to emphasise that we regarding this species’ taxonomy and distribución, hábitat, fenología y welcome applications for projects that distributions. estado de conservación en el Parque will lead to the development of The aim of this study was to Nacional Laguna Blanca y integrated conservation programs for assess the population status and to alrededores. Licenciate Thesis. Centro red-listed taxa, for example: study spatial distribution, site fidelity, Regional Universitario Bariloche. - getting key participants, especially home range aspects as well as Universidad Nacional del Comahue, from developing countries with rich confirm the presence/absence of Bd in Argentina. but critically threatened amphibian a population of Atelopus spumarius Cuello, M.E., Klum, M. & Ubeda, C. faunas, to international meetings to sensu lato, at Brownsberg Nature (2003): Dieta estival de adultos y coordinate appropriate responses to Park (BNP), Suriname. This study was juveniles de Atelognathus patagonicus the amphibian extinction crisis, conducted between April and (Anura, Leptodactylidae) en la Laguna - bringing amphibian biologists from September 2004 at Brownsberg del Burro