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Distribution and Status of the Seychelles Frogs (Amphibia: Anura: Sooglossidae)

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Distribution and Status of the Seychelles Frogs (Amphibia: Anura: Sooglossidae) HERPETOLOGICAL JOURNAL 17: 115–122, 2007 Distribution and status of the Seychelles frogs (Amphibia: Anura: Sooglossidae) Justin Gerlach University Museum of Zoology Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K. The distribution and population densities of the Sooglossidae are evaluated. This family of frogs is endemic to the Seychelles islands where four species are restricted to high forests on the islands of Mahé and Silhouette. New distribution data are presented and habitat preferences quantified. Previously Sooglossus thomasseti was considered to be restricted to moss forest; here it is shown that the species is found in boulder fields, with the highest population densities in the moss forest zone, but occurs down to 80 m above sea level. Sooglossus sechellensis is also largely associated with higher altitudes, but suitable microclimates may occur at 300 m a.s.l. Sooglossus pipilodryas is restricted to palm-rich habitat on Silhouette island. Sooglossus gardineri is the most widespread and tolerant species and the only one to occur in degraded habitats. Monitoring methods are evaluated, with direct estimation from quadrats being the preferred method. All four species are considered Vulnerable due to their restricted ranges; S. thomasseti and S. sechellensis may also be threatened by habitat loss. Key words: Mahé, monitoring, population, Sooglossus, status INTRODUCTION are restricted to a small number of species (e.g. Fiji with two endemic frog species). In contrast, the Seychelles are mphibian populations have been noted to be in de- occupied by six species of caecilian, one introduced ranid Acline over the past few decades because of habitat frog (Ptychadena mascareniensis), one endemic loss. More recently there has been an increase in the at- hyperoliid (Tachycnemis seychellensis) and four species tention amphibian populations receive due to other of the endemic frog family Sooglossidae. This family ap- causes of decline and their role as potential indicators of pears to be a Gondwana relict with distant relationships to climate and ultraviolet radiation change. Dramatic de- the Nasikabatrachidae of India (Biju & Bossuyt, 2003), clines have been identified in several species and having been isolated on the Seychelles for some 65 mil- recognized as a global phenomenon. The Global Amphib- lion years. Frost et al. (2006) placed Nasikabatrachus in ian Assessment classified 32.5% of amphibian species as the Sooglossidae; however, this obscures the evolution- threatened, with 43.2% experiencing some form of popula- ary history of these taxa and is not followed here, the tion decline (Stuart et al., 2004). The main causes of these Sooglossidae being restricted to the Seychelles. These declines have been identified as habitat loss or degrada- form a monophyletic grouping comprising two genera (re- tion, pollution and disease (Baillie et al., 2004). Enigmatic defined in Meijden et al., 2007). declines considered to be largely due to infection by Sooglossid frogs are largely restricted to high forest chytrid fungi (Stuart et al., 2004) affect 17% of threatened on the islands of Mahé and Silhouette. Relatively little is species (Baillie et al., 2004). Many amphibians (22.5%) known of the ecology of the four species. The first to be remain too poorly known for reliable assessment to be described was Sooglossus sechellensis (Boettger, 1896), a possible; these are considered Data Deficient (Stuart et high-forest, tadpole-carrying species calling from the leaf al., 2004). The distribution of Data Deficient taxa reflects litter. Sooglossus gardineri (Boulenger, 1911) is a more research effort, with the highest proportions being found widespread species with direct development in terrestrial in African countries. Research into amphibian eggs. This leaf-litter dwelling species is one of the world’s populations is largely concentrated in a few areas of smallest frogs, with an adult size of 8.9–16.4 mm snout– North America, Europe, South Africa and Australia. Given vent length (Gerlach & Willi, 2002). Sooglossus the widespread nature of the threat of sudden amphibian thomasseti (Boulenger, 1909) is restricted to boulder declines monitoring is needed across the geographical fields and mist forest and was suspected to be extinct and ecotypic range of amphibians. (Vesey Fitzgerald, 1947) until its relocation in 1976 One of the amphibian families identified as having a (Nussbaum, 1984). It has since been recorded as “locally higher proportion of threatened species than is expected abundant” (Nussbaum, 1984). This is a nocturnal species by chance is the Sooglossidae (Baillie et al., 2004). This that calls from boulders and low vegetation. It also has family currently comprises four recognized species en- terrestrial eggs (Boistel, pers. comm.). The most recently demic to the Seychelles islands. These islands are notable described species, Sooglossus pipilodryas (Gerlach & for being the most isolated island group to be inhabited Willi, 2002) is arboreal; nothing is known of its reproduc- by significant and diverse amphibian populations. Other tive biology. Much of the literature discusses the oceanic island populations of amphibians exist, but these phylogenetic relationships (Boettger, 1896; Boulenger, Correspondence: Justin Gerlach, 133 Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge CB1 7BX, U.K. E-mail: [email protected] 115 J. Gerlach 1906, 1909, 1911; Noble, 1926, 1931; Griffiths, 1959; Comparisons were made between frog abundance and Gorham, 1974; Duellman, 1975; Laurent, 1975; Biju & the density of different animal taxa in the leaf litter. Data Bossuyt, 2003; Meijden et al., 2007) of the Sooglossidae, for invertebrate abundance were collected as part of the but only a small number of publications relate to their be- Indian Ocean Biodiversity Assessment 2000–2005; col- haviour or ecology (Brauer, 1898; Honegger, 1966; lection methods are described in Gerlach (2003). All data Nussbaum, 1980, 1984; Nussbaum et al., 1982; Michell & were analysed as described below. Altig, 1983; Dodd, 1984; Gerlach, 2001) and none have Calling behaviour addressed population size. The Global Amphibian As- sessment categorized all sooglossids as Vulnerable (D2) As sooglossids can be identified easily by their calls and on the basis of restricted ranges (IUCN et al., 2004) in the this facilitates distribution mapping, the rate of calling (in absence of any population or trend data. Since 1990 the this context the number of frog calls detectable in a given distribution and populations of sooglossids have been time period) is potentially useful in population estimation. investigated; the results of these studies are reported This requires data on the frequency and variability of call- here with an evaluation of monitoring approaches for the ing rates, and temporal and spatial variation. From July to family. September 1990 data on frog calls were recorded on Sil- houette island at upper Jardin Marron during the Oxford METHODS University Silhouette Expedition 1990, and at the lower part of this site, and at Gratte Fesse, several times a year Surveys were carried out between 1990 and 2006. Until since 1997. The upper Jardin Marron and Gratte Fesse 2000 surveys were opportunistic, recording frog sites are 450 m above sea level and have constantly high populations during field work for other projects. In 2000– humidity levels. In contrast the lower Jardin Marron site is 2005 a large number of field sites were visited during the 390 m above sea level and experiences strong seasonal Indian Ocean Biodiversity Assessment 2000–2005, for changes in rainfall and humidity. The average number of which frogs were recorded as part of a comprehensive calls of each species audible in 20 one-minute time peri- biodiversity assessment of all Seychelles islands. Specific ods was recorded at each site on five separate days. As S. research on Sooglossidae was carried out from 1997 on pipilodryas and S. gardineri were not recognized as a Silhouette island. This forms the basis of monitoring distinct species until 2003, the 1990 data represent a com- method evaluations. bination of both species. At upper Jardin Marron the available data cover different times of day and night. Data Distribution were recorded separately for periods of rain and dry Between 1990 and 2005 all localities where Sooglossidae weather. had been reported were visited. In each locality records were kept of frog identifications from calls or from capture. Population estimates In addition, searches were made for frogs outside these As sooglossids are small and cryptic in habits, areas. All four species are easily identified by call populations were estimated using three approaches: (Nussbaum et al., 1982), with a single high-pitched note quadrats, palm tree searches and acoustic survey. For di- being produced by S. gardineri, S. pipilodryas produc- rect estimation by quadrats, 1 × 1 m sample areas were ing a similar call but repeated 4–6 times, S. sechellensis used in all habitats occupied by Sooglossidae. Leaf litter having a deep croak with four rapid repeats, and a similar was removed from a 10 cm band around the quadrat perim- but more prolonged call being produced by S. thomasseti eter, and then each leaf was removed, starting from one – this has the lowest dominant frequency and longest du- corner. This systematic approach ensured that no frogs ration. were overlooked or escaped from the quadrat before be- On Silhouette island the distribution of sooglossids ing detected. Twenty quadrats were used at each site. was mapped on to a grid of 250
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