DOCSLIB.ORG

Nutritional Support of Amphibians Catherine A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Nutritional Support of Amphibians Catherine A Topics in Medicine and Surgery Nutritional Support of Amphibians Catherine A. Hadfield, MA, VetMB, MRCVS, Leigh A. Clayton, DVM, Dip. ABVP (Avian), Sandra L. Barnett, BA, MA Abstract Poor body condition is a common presenting sign in amphibians, and nutritional support of the animal can be critical. Indications and contraindications for assisted feeding in amphibians will be discussed, focusing on adult anurans (e.g., frogs, toads) and urodelans or caudates (e.g., salamanders, newts, sirens). Support can include restoring hydration, syringe feeding a liquid diet, force-feeding prey items to larger amphibians, and encouragement of free feeding. In all cases, the under- lying cause—most commonly suboptimal husbandry—should be investigated and corrected. Copyright 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Key words: nutritional support; assisted feeding; amphibian; anuran; caudate; diet utritional support should be considered in common cause of poor body condition in an am- amphibians showing weight loss, inappet- phibian is inadequate food intake due to suboptimal Nance, or poor body condition. husbandry, so it is essential to collect a full history on Signs of poor body condition in amphibians in- the animal. clude reduced muscle mass over the limbs and ver- Common husbandry errors that can decrease tebral column, creating a prominent urostyle and food intake include inappropriate housing, temper- transverseprocesses(Figs1and2).Itisimportantto ature, humidity, light (spectrum, intensity, and pho- compare individual body condition with the species’ toperiod), water quality, and diet (size, source, type, normal; for example, muscle cover over the limbs in and frequency and timing of feeding). Population the Hylidae (tree frogs) is typically limited, while issues should also be considered, such as the num- stubfoot toads (Atelopus spp) should have relatively ber, size, age, sex, and species of animals held to- prominent transverse processes. Amphibians in poor gether; inappropriate groupings can lead to elevated body condition may also present with a concave levelsofstressandreducedfoodintake.2-5 abdomen and lethargy. On palpation, transillumina- Reduced food intake can also be due to ocular tion, and at necropsy, it may be possible to identify disease such as lipid keratopathy, which has been gonadal atrophy, the absence of coelomic fat bodies, associated with high cholesterol in the diet of Cuban and a distended gall bladder. In most amphibians, treefrogs(Osteopilus septentrionalis).6-8Furthermore, fat is stored in coelomic bodies and around the heart. Amphibians do not generally store fat in the From the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD subcutaneous space, although some Bufonidae (true 21202 USA. toads)useinguinalfatbodies.1Inaquaticindividuals Address correspondence to: C. A. Hadfield, National Aquarium with inappetance, generalized edema may be seen. in Baltimore, Pier 3, 501 East Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21202. Differential diagnoses for an amphibian showing E-mail: khadfi[email protected] poor body condition or weight loss can be divided © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. into reduced food intake, malabsorption and maldi- 1557-5063/06/1504-$30.00 gestion, or increased energy requirements. The most doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2006.09.004 Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, Vol 15, No 4 (October), 2006: pp 255-263 255 256 Hadfield et al mycobacteriosis, nephropathy, neoplasia, toxin ex- posure), and during vitellogenesis. Prognosis with many of these conditions is poor. It should be noted that some animals will show a physiological fast. Such fasting is evident during aes- tivation in some Sirenidae (sirens), Leptodactylidae (e.g., tropical frogs: Budgett’s frog, Lepidobatrachus asper), Bufonidae (e.g., Sonoran desert toad, Bufo alvarius), and Ranidae (e.g., true frogs: ornate- hornedfrog, Ceratophrys ornata).13Suppressionofthe feeding response is also noted during the breeding season,2andafterfeeding.14,15 Contraindications for assisted feeding include an animal that is dehydrated or moribund, or if gastro- intestinal obstruction is suspected. A gastrointestinal obstruction may present as inappetance, failure to defecate, a distended coelom, an abnormal position in the water, respiratory distress, and circulatory shock. Survey and contrast radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy, and a coeliotomy can help with the di- agnosis. The obstruction may be functional (e.g., SNHP) or mechanical (e.g., gastrointestinal foreign body which is often substrate, soft tissue mass, intus- Figure 1. American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) in poor body con- susception, torsion, and organomegaly). dition with prominent dorsal spinous processes, transverse pro- An animal in poor body condition is likely to have cesses, and urostyle, and a small coelom. a compromised immune system and is often an in- dicator of suboptimal husbandry or disease. The cause should be identified and corrected. Nutri- reduced food intake can be due to oral, musculo- tional support, after correcting any fluid deficits, skeletal, or neurological disease, most commonly often improves outcome. Even if a very limited secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism (SNHP), which has been related to inappropriate calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D3 levels in the water and diet, renal disease, imbalance of fatty acids, and hy- pervitaminosisA.9Otherdifferentialdiagnosesre- lated to inadequate food consumption include trauma,neoplasia,10toxinexposure,thiaminedefi- ciency, and hypovitaminosis A, which can cause squa- mous metaplasia of the tongue in Wyoming toads (Bufo baxteri)andpreventpreyacquisition.11 Malabsorption or maldigestion can be caused by gastrointestinal parasitism or other gastrointestinal or pancreatic disease such as neoplasia. The authors have often seen poor body condition associated with high levels of gastrointestinal nematodes, although in the literature most identified species are reported as nonpathogenic (e.g., Aplectana spp, Cosmocerca spp, Cosmocercoides spp).12Somehighlypathogenic nematodes that target other viscera, such as the lung- worm Rhabdias spp, are excreted in the feces, and can be difficult to distinguish on fecal examination. Anthelmintic treatment should be initiated if there is any doubt over the parasite classification. Catabolic states can develop secondary to any dis- ease (commonly Gram-negative bacterial septicemia, Figure 2. Green frog (Rana clamitans) in excessive body condition. Nutritional Support of Amphibians 257 workup is requested, clinician should not wait until the animal is feeding on its own; the animal is more likely to improve once it is in a positive caloric bal- ance. Normal Feeding Adult anurans and all life stages of salamanders, newts, sirens, and caecilians are strictly carnivorous or insectivorous. Studies of the stomach contents of wild amphibians are limited in terms of sample size, species, and geographic area but include some Bu- fonidae,16-18Hylidae,19Leptodactylidae,19,20Rani- dae,21Pelobatidae(spadefoottoads),18andFraser’s clawedfrog(Xenopus fraseri).22Preyitemscomprise primarily a wide variety of invertebrates, particularly insects; however, many species of large amphibians also feed on fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. When fish was added to the diet of a colony of American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana), they showed improved growth and a reduction in skeletaldisease.23Severalofthesestudieshavealso found grit and plant material in the stomachs, espe- cially in the dry season. Such material is usually considered to be ingested concomitantly with prey19; however, the Brazilian tree frog (Xenohyla truncata)is Figure 3. Oral cavity of a smooth-sided toad (Bufo guttatus) show- thought to ingest up to 40% fruit material on a dry ing wide oral cavity without teeth, and wide esophagus just dorsal to matterbasis,24andtheadultIndiangreenfrog(Rana the glottis. hexadactyla) is also thought to ingest significant plant material.25Thereisnoevidencethatamphibians produce enzymes to digest chitin, cellulose, or ker- and polyphodont and, when present, are used to atin.26 holdpreywhichareusuallyswallowedwhole.10Effi- Ultimately, the dietary requirements of most spe- cient swallowing can involve coordinated activity of cies and life stages of amphibians are unknown. For the head, tongue, mandible, hyoid, eyes, and fore- the purpose of short-term nutritional support, it is limbs.28,29Retractionoftheeyesisnotessentialfor sufficient to assume they should be fed a diet with swallowing in the northern leopard frog (Rana pipi- high protein (approximately 50%), moderate fat ens)29orforcaecilians,whichhavehighlyreduced (approximately 45%), and low carbohydrate and fi- eyes. Feeding methods can be modified based on ber (less than 5%), with a positive calcium to phos- preytypeandsize.30-33Peristalsismovestheingesta phorus ratio and adequate levels of vitamins A, B1, alongthewide,shortesophagus(Fig3),assistedby 9 26,27 D3,andE. mucussecretionsandcilia. Upperandlower Healthy anurans and caudates should show an esophagealsphinctersexist,26,27butarerarelyappre- immediate response to live prey, whether they use a ciated grossly. The stomach lies on the left side of sit-and-wait strategy (e.g., Ranidae) or are active the coelom and has storage, contractile, and proteo- hunters (e.g., Bufonidae). The response is based lyticfunctions.27Thegastrointestinaltractisshort primarily on visual cues and consists of orientation, andsimple(Fig4).26,27 approach, and capture. Larval anurans (tadpoles) may be herbivorous, Most terrestrial anurans and caudates
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Catalogue of the Amphibians of Venezuela: Illustrated and Annotated Species List, Distribution, and Conservation 1,2César L
    Mannophryne vulcano, Male carrying tadpoles. El Ávila (Parque Nacional Guairarepano), Distrito Federal. Photo: Jose Vieira. We want to dedicate this work to some outstanding individuals who encouraged us, directly or indirectly, and are no longer with us. They were colleagues and close friends, and their friendship will remain for years to come. César Molina Rodríguez (1960–2015) Erik Arrieta Márquez (1978–2008) Jose Ayarzagüena Sanz (1952–2011) Saúl Gutiérrez Eljuri (1960–2012) Juan Rivero (1923–2014) Luis Scott (1948–2011) Marco Natera Mumaw (1972–2010) Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 13(1) [Special Section]: 1–198 (e180). Catalogue of the amphibians of Venezuela: Illustrated and annotated species list, distribution, and conservation 1,2César L. Barrio-Amorós, 3,4Fernando J. M. Rojas-Runjaic, and 5J. Celsa Señaris 1Fundación AndígenA, Apartado Postal 210, Mérida, VENEZUELA 2Current address: Doc Frog Expeditions, Uvita de Osa, COSTA RICA 3Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales, Museo de Historia Natural La Salle, Apartado Postal 1930, Caracas 1010-A, VENEZUELA 4Current address: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Río Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Laboratório de Sistemática de Vertebrados, Av. Ipiranga 6681, Porto Alegre, RS 90619–900, BRAZIL 5Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Altos de Pipe, apartado 20632, Caracas 1020, VENEZUELA Abstract.—Presented is an annotated checklist of the amphibians of Venezuela, current as of December 2018. The last comprehensive list (Barrio-Amorós 2009c) included a total of 333 species, while the current catalogue lists 387 species (370 anurans, 10 caecilians, and seven salamanders), including 28 species not yet described or properly identified. Fifty species and four genera are added to the previous list, 25 species are deleted, and 47 experienced nomenclatural changes.
    [Show full text]
  • Managing Diversity in the Riverina Rice Fields—
    Reconciling Farming with Wildlife —Managing diversity in the Riverina rice fields— RIRDC Publication No. 10/0007 RIRDCInnovation for rural Australia Reconciling Farming with Wildlife: Managing Biodiversity in the Riverina Rice Fields by J. Sean Doody, Christina M. Castellano, Will Osborne, Ben Corey and Sarah Ross April 2010 RIRDC Publication No 10/007 RIRDC Project No. PRJ-000687 © 2010 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 1 74151 983 7 ISSN 1440-6845 Reconciling Farming with Wildlife: Managing Biodiversity in the Riverina Rice Fields Publication No. 10/007 Project No. PRJ-000687 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication.
    [Show full text]
  • Myxozoan and Helminth Parasites of the Dwarf American Toad, Anaxyrus Americanus Charlesmithi (Anura: Bufonidae), from Arkansas and Oklahoma Chris T
    51 Myxozoan and Helminth Parasites of the Dwarf American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi (Anura: Bufonidae), from Arkansas and Oklahoma Chris T. McAllister Science and Mathematics Division, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Idabel, OK 74745 Charles R. Bursey Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University-Shenango Campus, Sharon, PA 16146 Matthew B. Connior Health and Natural Sciences, South Arkansas Community College, El Dorado, AR 71730 Stanley E. Trauth Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 72467 Abstract: We examined 69 dwarf American toads, Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi, from McCurtain County, Oklahoma (n = 37) and Miller, Nevada and Union counties, Arkansas (n = 32) for myxozoan and helminth parasites. The following endoparasites were found: a myxozoan, Cystodiscus sp., a trematode, Clinostomum marginatum, two tapeworms, Cylindrotaenia americana (Oklahoma only) and Distoichometra bufonis, five nematodes, acuariid larvae, Cosmocercoides variabilis, Oswaldocruzia pipiens, larval Physaloptera sp. (Arkansas only), and Rhabdias americanus (Arkansas only), and acanthocephalans (Oklahoma only). We document six new host and four new geographic distribution records for these select parasites.©2014 Oklahoma Academy of Science Introduction (McAllister et al. 2008), Cosmocercoides The dwarf American toad, Anaxyrus variabilis (McAllister and Bursey 2012a) and americanus charlesmithi, is a small anuran tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. (McAllister that ranges from southwestern Indiana and et al. 2014c) from A. a. charlesmithi from southern Illinois south through central Arkansas, and Clinostomum marginatum from Missouri, western Kentucky and Tennessee, dwarf American toads from Oklahoma (Cross and all of Arkansas, to eastern Oklahoma and and Hranitz 2000). In addition, Langford and northeastern Texas (Conant and Collins 1998). Janovy (2013) reported Rhabdias americanus It occurs in various habitats, from suburban from A.
    [Show full text]
  • Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in Anuran of Leptodactylidae (Amphibia)
    CASO CLÍNICO REVISTA COLOMBIANA DE CIENCIA ANIMAL Rev Colombiana Cienc Anim 2015; 7(2):217-220. FIRST REPORT OF MYIASIS (DIPTERA: SARCOPHAGIDAE) IN ANURAN OF LEPTODACTYLIDAE (AMPHIBIA) PRIMER REGISTRO DE MIASIS (DIPTERA: SARCOPHAGIDAE) EN ANUROS DE LEPTODACTYLIDAE (AMPHIBIA) GERSON AZULIM MÜLLER,1*Dr, CARLOS RODRIGO LEHN,1 M.Sc, ABEL BEMVENUTI,1 M.Sc, CARLOS BRISOLA MARCONDES,2 Dr. 1Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Farroupilha, Campus Panambi, RS, Brasil. 2 Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, SC, Brasil. Key words: Abstract Anura, This note is the first report of myiasis caused by Sarcophagidae flies in an anuran of Brazil, Leptodactylidae. The frog, identified asLeptodactylus latrans (Steffen, 1815), was Leptodactylus latrans, collected in Atlantic forest bioma, southern Brazil. The frog had extensive muscle parasitism. damage and orifices in the tegument caused by presence of 21 larvae, identified as Sarcophagidae. Ecological interactions between dipterans and anuran are poorly known. The impact of sarcophagid flies in anuran popuilations requires further study. Palabras Clave: Resumen Anura, Esta nota es el primer registro de ocurrencia de miasis generada por moscas Brasil, Sarcophagidae en anuro de la familia Leptodactylidae. El anfibio, identificado Leptodactylus latrans, como Leptodactylus latrans (Steffen, 1815), fue recolectado en el bioma Mata parasitismo. Atlântica, en el sur de Brasil. La rana presentaba extensas lesiones musculares y orificios en el tegumento generados por la presencia de 21 larvas, identificadas como Sarcophagidae. Las interacciones ecológicas entre insectos dípteros y anuros son poco conocidas. El impacto de las moscas Sarcophagidae en las poblaciones de anuros requiere más estudio.
    [Show full text]
  • Amphibian Alliance for Zero Extinction Sites in Chiapas and Oaxaca
    Amphibian Alliance for Zero Extinction Sites in Chiapas and Oaxaca John F. Lamoreux, Meghan W. McKnight, and Rodolfo Cabrera Hernandez Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 53 Amphibian Alliance for Zero Extinction Sites in Chiapas and Oaxaca John F. Lamoreux, Meghan W. McKnight, and Rodolfo Cabrera Hernandez Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 53 The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN or other participating organizations. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland Copyright: © 2015 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Lamoreux, J. F., McKnight, M. W., and R. Cabrera Hernandez (2015). Amphibian Alliance for Zero Extinction Sites in Chiapas and Oaxaca. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. xxiv + 320pp. ISBN: 978-2-8317-1717-3 DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.CH.2015.SSC-OP.53.en Cover photographs: Totontepec landscape; new Plectrohyla species, Ixalotriton niger, Concepción Pápalo, Thorius minutissimus, Craugastor pozo (panels, left to right) Back cover photograph: Collecting in Chamula, Chiapas Photo credits: The cover photographs were taken by the authors under grant agreements with the two main project funders: NGS and CEPF.
    [Show full text]
  • Amphibia: Anura: Eleutherodactylidae), from Eastern Cuba
    124 SOLENODON 12: 124-135, 2015 Another new cryptic frog related to Eleutherodactylus varleyi Dunn (Amphibia: Anura: Eleutherodactylidae), from eastern Cuba Luis M. DÍAZ* and S. Blair HEDGES** *Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Cuba, Obispo #61, Esquina Oficios, Plaza de Armas, Habana Vieja, CP 10100, Cuba. [email protected] **Department of Biology, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-530, USA. [email protected] ABSTRacT. A new cryptic frog, Eleutherodactylus beguei sp. nov., is described from the pine forests of La Munición, Yateras, Guantánamo Province, Cuba. It is sympatric with E. feichtin- geri, another recently described grass frog closely related to E. varleyi, but differs in morphol- ogy, vocalization and DNA sequences of the mitochondrial Cyt-b gene. One female of the new species was found vocalizing in response to a calling male, a behavior that is still poorly documented in anurans. Same male and female were found in axillary amplexus and sur- rounded by 9 eggs (3.5–3.7 mm in diameter) 5 hours after being isolated in a small container. Key words: Amphibia, Anura, Eleutherodactylidae, Eleutherodactylus, new species, Terrarana, Euhyas, West Indies, Guantánamo, female reciprocation calls, eggs. INtrODUCtION After a recent review of the geographic variation of the Cuban Grass Frog Eleutherodactylus varleyi Dunn, Díaz et al. (2012) described E. feichtingeri, a cryptic species widely distributed in central and eastern Cuba. the two species differ primarily in tympanum size, supratympanic stripe pattern, and advertisement calls. Species recognition was also supported by genetic and cytogenetic data. One of the authors (SBH) conducted DNA sequence analyses that confirmed the existence of two species at La Munición, Humboldt National Park.
    [Show full text]
  • This Article Appeared in a Journal Published by Elsevier. the Attached
    (This is a sample cover image for this issue. The actual cover is not yet available at this time.) This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier’s archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright Author's personal copy Toxicon 60 (2012) 967–981 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Toxicon journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/toxicon Antimicrobial peptides and alytesin are co-secreted from the venom of the Midwife toad, Alytes maurus (Alytidae, Anura): Implications for the evolution of frog skin defensive secretions Enrico König a,*, Mei Zhou b, Lei Wang b, Tianbao Chen b, Olaf R.P. Bininda-Emonds a, Chris Shaw b a AG Systematik und Evolutionsbiologie, IBU – Fakultät V, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany b Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Center, Queen’s University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK article info abstract Article history: The skin secretions of frogs and toads (Anura) have long been a known source of a vast Received 23 March 2012 abundance of bioactive substances.
    [Show full text]
  • Chytridiomycosis Causes Amphibian Mortality Associated with Population Declines in the Rain Forests of Australia and Central America
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 95, pp. 9031–9036, July 1998 Population Biology Chytridiomycosis causes amphibian mortality associated with population declines in the rain forests of Australia and Central America LEE BERGERa,b,c,RICK SPEAREa,PETER DASZAKd,D.EARL GREENe,ANDREW A. CUNNINGHAMf,C.LOUISE GOGGINg, RON SLOCOMBEh,MARK A. RAGANi,ALEX D. HYATTb,KEITH R. MCDONALDj,HARRY B. HINESk,KAREN R. LIPSl, GERRY MARANTELLIm, AND HELEN PARKESb aSchool of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; bAustralian Animal Health Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Ryrie Street, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia; dSchool of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, United Kingdom; eMaryland Animal Health Laboratory, College Park, MD 20740; fInstitute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom; gCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Marine Research, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; hVeterinary Clinical Centre, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia; iCanadian Institute for Advanced Research, Program in Evolutionary Biology, National Research Council of Canada, Halifax, NS Canada B3H 3Z1; jConservation Strategy Branch, Queensland Department of Environment, Atherton, Queensland 4883, Australia; kConservation Resource Unit, Queensland Department of Environment, Moggill, Queensland 4070, Australia; lDepartment of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-6501; and mAmphibian Research Centre, 15 Suvla Grove, Nth Coburg, Victoria 3058, Australia Edited by Robert May, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, and approved May 18, 1998 (received for review March 9, 1998) ABSTRACT Epidermal changes caused by a chytridiomy- primary degraders or saprobes, using substrates such as chitin, cete fungus (Chytridiomycota; Chytridiales) were found in plant detritus, and keratin.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecological Functions of Neotropical Amphibians and Reptiles: a Review
    Univ. Sci. 2015, Vol. 20 (2): 229-245 doi: 10.11144/Javeriana.SC20-2.efna Freely available on line REVIEW ARTICLE Ecological functions of neotropical amphibians and reptiles: a review Cortés-Gomez AM1, Ruiz-Agudelo CA2 , Valencia-Aguilar A3, Ladle RJ4 Abstract Amphibians and reptiles (herps) are the most abundant and diverse vertebrate taxa in tropical ecosystems. Nevertheless, little is known about their role in maintaining and regulating ecosystem functions and, by extension, their potential value for supporting ecosystem services. Here, we review research on the ecological functions of Neotropical herps, in different sources (the bibliographic databases, book chapters, etc.). A total of 167 Neotropical herpetology studies published over the last four decades (1970 to 2014) were reviewed, providing information on more than 100 species that contribute to at least five categories of ecological functions: i) nutrient cycling; ii) bioturbation; iii) pollination; iv) seed dispersal, and; v) energy flow through ecosystems. We emphasize the need to expand the knowledge about ecological functions in Neotropical ecosystems and the mechanisms behind these, through the study of functional traits and analysis of ecological processes. Many of these functions provide key ecosystem services, such as biological pest control, seed dispersal and water quality. By knowing and understanding the functions that perform the herps in ecosystems, management plans for cultural landscapes, restoration or recovery projects of landscapes that involve aquatic and terrestrial systems, development of comprehensive plans and detailed conservation of species and ecosystems may be structured in a more appropriate way. Besides information gaps identified in this review, this contribution explores these issues in terms of better understanding of key questions in the study of ecosystem services and biodiversity and, also, of how these services are generated.
    [Show full text]
  • High Abundance of Invasive African Clawed Frog Xenopus Laevis in Chile: Challenges for Their Control and Updated Invasive Distribution
    Management of Biological Invasions (2019) Volume 10, Issue 2: 377–388 CORRECTED PROOF Research Article High abundance of invasive African clawed frog Xenopus laevis in Chile: challenges for their control and updated invasive distribution Marta Mora1, Daniel J. Pons2,3, Alexandra Peñafiel-Ricaurte2, Mario Alvarado-Rybak2, Saulo Lebuy2 and Claudio Soto-Azat2,* 1Vida Nativa NGO, Santiago, Chile 2Centro de Investigación para la Sustentabilidad & Programa de Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Republica 440, Santiago, Chile 3Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Departamento de Matemáticas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Republica 470, Santiago, Chile Author e-mails: [email protected] (CSA), [email protected] (MM), [email protected] (DJP), [email protected] (APR), [email protected] (MAR), [email protected] (SL) *Corresponding author Citation: Mora M, Pons DJ, Peñafiel- Ricaurte A, Alvarado-Rybak M, Lebuy S, Abstract Soto-Azat C (2019) High abundance of invasive African clawed frog Xenopus Invasive African clawed frog Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802) are considered a major laevis in Chile: challenges for their control threat to aquatic environments. Beginning in the early 1970s, invasive populations and updated invasive distribution. have now been established throughout much of central Chile. Between September Management of Biological Invasions 10(2): and December 2015, we studied a population of X. laevis from a small pond in 377–388, https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2019. 10.2.11 Viña del Mar, where we estimated the population size and evaluated the use of hand nets as a method of control. First, by means of a non-linear extrapolation Received: 26 October 2018 model using the data from a single capture session of 200 min, a population size of Accepted: 7 March 2019 1,182 post-metamorphic frogs (range: 1,168–1,195 [quadratic error]) and a density Published: 16 May 2019 of 13.7 frogs/m2 (range: 13.6–13.9) of surface water were estimated.
    [Show full text]
  • Pre-Incursion Plan PIP003 Toads and Frogs
    Pre-incursion Plan PIP003 Toads and Frogs Scope This plan is in place to guide prevention and eradication activities and the management of non-indigenous populations of Toads and Frogs (Order Anura) in the wild in Victoria. Version Document Status Date Author Reviewed By Approved for Release 1.0 First Draft 26/07/11 Dana Price M. Corry, S. Wisniewski and A. Woolnough 1.1 Second Draft 21/10/11 Dana Price S. Wisniewski 2.0 Final Draft 11/01/12 Dana Price S.Wisniewski 2.1 Final 27/06/12 Dana Price M.Corry Visual Standard approved by ADP 3.0 New Final 6/10/15 Dana Price A.Kay New DEDJTR template and document revision Acknowledgement and special thanks to Peter Courtenay, Senior Curator, Zoos Victoria, for reviewing this document and providing comments. Published by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Agriculture Victoria, May 2016 © The State of Victoria 2016. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne 3000. Front cover: Cane Toad (Rhinella marinus) Photo: Image courtesy of Ryan Melville, HRIA Team, DEDJTR For more information about Agriculture Victoria go to www.agriculture.vic.gov.au or phone the Customer Service Centre on 136 186. ISBN 978-1-925532-37-1 (pdf/online) Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
    [Show full text]
  • 80-80-1-PB.Pdf (1.515Mb)
    Muñoz-QuesadaBiota Colombiana 1 (3) 289 - 319, 2000 Trichoptera of Colombia - 289 Ranas, Salamandras y Caecilias (Tetrapoda: Amphibia) de Colombia Andrés Rymel Acosta-Galvis Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Apartado Aéreo 15098, Bogotá D.C. - Colombia. [email protected] Palabras Clave: Colombia, Amphibia, Diversidad, Distribución, Lista de Especies Con una amplia variedad de ambientes producto de la factores como la existencia de colecciones que hasta el pre- interacción de procesos bióticos y abióticos, Colombia es sente no han sido reportadas en la literatura y la ausencia uno de los países neotropicales con mayor número de de inventarios sistematizados en zonas inexploradas cientí- vertebrados en el ámbito global, ocupando el primer lugar ficamente. Entre éstas podemos enumerar: las zonas altas y en cuanto al número de especies de aves y anfibios presen- medias del norte y centro de las Cordilleras Occidental y tes en su territorio; para el caso específico de los anfibios, Oriental, en particular las vertientes oriental y occidental de algunos autores sugieren que tal diversidad es una res- la Cordillera Occidental; la Serranía de Los Paraguas, Tatamá puesta ante factores como la posición geográfica, la y el Páramo de Frontino (en el Valle del Cauca, Risaralda y pluviosidad y la complejidad orográfica del país, y los cua- Antioquia, respectivamente); a lo largo de las partes altas les han generado una amplia gama de hábitats óptimos para Serranía del Perijá en el Departamento del Cesar, y los pára- el desarrollo de esta fauna (Ruiz et al.1996). mos y subpáramos del sur de Cundinamarca y Tolima en la Cordillera Oriental; y el norte de la Cordillera Central (en Durante la última mitad del siglo XX, el reporte de nuevas Antioquia).
    [Show full text]