DOCSLIB.ORG

Froglog and Cruiting and Alumni Manager Support

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Froglog and Cruiting and Alumni Manager Support Atelopus exiguus © Luis Coloma ROGLOG FNewsletter of the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Saving the World one Drawing at a Time VOL 84 DECEMBR 2007 aving the World One Drawing at a Time is the inspiration of WHAt’s INSIDE Brenda Sherburn, a sculptor living in Fairfax, Virginia. The idea S Cover story behind her project is to have teens & children volunteer to make and donate drawings which are then auctioned with proceeds going Saving the World One Drawing at a Time towards the “wish lists” of various environmental organizations and Page 1 people working to save threatened species. Money raised is sent in News from the ASG support of a specifically chosen environmental project, which the Changing Faces in the ASG Page 3 kids designate from a list of those partnering with Saving the World One Drawing at a Time. Global ASG Network in place Page 4 Seed Grant Reports Reports from Previous DAPTF Seed Grants Page 4 Population and Health of common toads across agricultural lands Page 4 More Research Bd infects M. moreirae from an Atlantic rain- forest, Brazil Page 6 Conference Updates International Conference on Bd Page 8 Global Bd Mapping Project Page 10 Funding Opportunities Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Page 10 News from the Field: Drawing by Garin W. New Philatus Species Discovered from the As Brenda explains: “As a teacher, I could not find easy ways for chil- Western Ghats Page 11 dren and teens to volunteer for environmental causes. I thought there should be a website that connects the youth with organizations that Journal Update need help. Providing something from a “wish list” for these organiza- New Section in “Hereptological Review” tions and individuals looked like an obtainable goal to me. So here I Page 12 am giving it a try. If I can get 100 kids to auction off their artwork Instructions to Authors Page 12 1 SavING THE WORLD ONE DRawING at A TIME Continued from page 1 for as little as $10 each, that is $1000 towards some very needed wishes for an organization. Thus in our small way we can make an important contribution to these organizations, which do the much needed and difficult work to help save out planet.” Golden frog, Panama There are ten great projects cur- Drawing by Lauren W. grade 4 rently being supported around the with photos of her survey and the “I was trying to get a website set world, two of which are focused on amphibians that she finds. In a let- up, but have been struggling with amphibians. Brenda recently meet ter written by Jodi, she shares some dengue fever at the same time with a group of 3rd & 4th grad- of the struggles she is faced with: (that’s one downside to work- ers at Marin En- ing over here- the richment and they tropical diseases!). talked about Jodi Anyway, I decided Rowley and De- to focus on Viet- nise Quelquejeu’s nam in particular, Amphibian Proj- as the amphibians ects in Vietnam & of Vietnam are Panama respective- much more diverse, ly. She explained and under greater the significance of threats. I prepared Densise’s work and the website specifi- that seeing a Gold- cally for your pro- en Frog in Panama gram.”. Both these is a symbol of good researchers need fortune. Jodi will money for equip- actually give the ment and surveys kids in Vietnam throughout the who volunteer a year. The 25 young follow-up report A gratetful Jodi Rowley and frog in Vietnam artists at Kentfield 2 SavING THE WORLD ONE DRawING at A TIME Continued from previous page these organizations are trying to do and the problems they are that participated produced beauti- facing, people are encouraged to ful frog drawings and we even got be part of the solution and to a salamander drawing! They will be adopt the missions of the orga- nizations and people working to save these species. You can follow the projects that are being sup- ported by visiting their webpage on saveworlddraw.org. Brenda Drawing by Matt B. grade 4 will be doing ongoing write-ups for every project so those partici- pants in the program can follow Drawing by Claire K. grade 4 the progress being made. There is positive energy at the Saving The posted and auctioned off to directly World One Drawing At A Time help Jodi & Denise’s work. If you website, as each of projects deals have a business and would like to with a critical situation, and the match the money Marin Enrich- website focuses on solutions. ment kids bring in, you can spon- The ongoing saga for the proj- sor these children and help Jodi & ects is still unwritten. Brenda Denise’s program thrive! Please, hopes for strong support from email [email protected] parents and schools. The donated for more information. art for the auction can be found By learning about the work Drawing by Thomas S.J. grade 3 by visiting the website. ASG NEWS Changing Faces in the ASG vationists from all over the world. look forward to our paths cross- I wish the recently appointed ing again in the near future! “ fter three successful years as ASG Working Group Chairs ev- We are enormously grateful to Athe International Coordina- ery success with their amphibian Jeanne for ensuring a seamless tor for the Declining Amphibian research and conservation pur- and successful transition of the Population Task Force (DAPTF) suits. I would especially like to former DAPTF into the ASG and throughout its transition to thank the former international and wish her well for the future. the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Spe- Director of the DAPTF, Tim Hal- Robin Moore, Conserva- cialist Group (ASG), Jeanne Mc- liday, for his enormous contribu- tion International’s Amphibian Kay will be leaving to continue tion to amphibian research and Conservation Officer, will take her conservation work as the Re- for his continued guidance and over as Editor of Froglog and cruiting and Alumni Manager support. It has been a pleasure together with Don Church will for the Rare Pride program, UK. to work with the ASG co-Chairs, be responsible for managing the Jeanne said, “It has been a great Claude Gascon and Jim Collins as ASG’s Seed Grant Program and privilege to work with innumerable well as the ASG secretariat staff, Global Working Group network. amphibian researchers and conser- Don Church and Robin Moore. I 3 ASG Global Network position as Chair or Co-Chair and of the world, we will facilitate e are pleased to announce look forward to working with all of communication among conser- Wthat the complete ASG you. One of the aims of the ASG is vationists and researchers. Please Global Network of Regional and to catalyze conservation actions by contact the appropriate regional National Chairs is posted at www. forging partnerships and collabo- Chair regarding any amphibian amphibians.org. We are very grate- ration - we hope that by having work that you are undertaking or ful to all those who have accepted a points of contact in each Region planning in your region. SEED GRANT REPORTS Reports and publications from previous DAPTF Seed Grants ecipients of former DAPTF Muhammad Iqbal Setiadi, Ben bielefeld.de) RSeed Grants are generally ex- Evans, Amir Hamidy, Zainal Abi- • The following papers report work pected to publish the results of din Yusufpati & Dwi Susanto. supported by former DAPTF Seed their projects in refereed journals, (2006) Speciation and Distribu- Grants: or as articles in Froglog. They are tion Patterns of Amphibians and Alemu, I. J. B., Cazabon, N. M. E., also required to send reports, so Reptiles in Halmahera, Indonesia. Dempewolf, L., Hailey, A., Lehtinen, that their results can be made ([email protected]) R. M., Mannette, R. P., Naranjit, available to ASG members. Below J. Susanne Hauswaldt, Jessika K., & Roach, A. C. J. (2007) Eco- is a report that has been received Füssel, Claudio Angelini, Diethard logical observations on the critically recently. Anyone wanting a copy Tautz, Sebastian Steinfartz. (2006) endangered Tobago endemic frog of it should contact the author in Population genetics of the endan- Mannophryne olmonae. Applied the first instance; if you cannot gered Spectacled Salamander, Sala- Herpetol: 4; 377-386. (Grants to reach the author, please contact mandrina perspicillata and S. ter- Adrian Hailey et al., 2005, funded by Tim Halliday - t.r.halliday@open. digitata. Chester Zoo.) ac.uk. (sebastian.steinfartz@uni- ([email protected]) Population and Health of Common Toads Across Agricultural Lands: Implications in Worldwide Declines Paola M. Peltzer, Rafael C. Lajmanovich, Andrés M. Attademo, Mariana Cabagna, Gabriela Fiorenza, Celina M. Junges and Agustín Bassó es. The overall goal of this research local scale. merging evidence indicates was to determine the diversity and The Primary Objectives of this that loss of habitat as a result health of toad populations on agri- study were: a) estimate the diversity ofE agricultural development may cultural lands of Entre Ríos Prov- and composition of toads in soybean be contributing to reductions in ince (Argentina). The three select- cropland; b) determine the extent of anuran diversity in some locations. ed species in this study (Chaunus cholinesterase activity in common Although, this vertebrate group is fernandezae, C. arenarum, and C. adult toads of agricultural sites; c) commonly used in laboratory tox- schneideri) are widely distributed establish hematological parameters icity tests, few field studies have in Argentina and have relatively of adults, and d) detect genotoxic ef- produced evidence a significant small home ranges (Lajmanovich fects of pesticide in erythrocytes of relationship between agricultural 1995), making them excellent bio- tadpoles. activities and amphibian respons- indicators of contamination at a We studied agricultural sites in the 4 POPUlatION AND HEaltH OF COMMON TOADS ACROSS AG LANDS Continued from previous page cell hemoglobin concentrations, neideri varied significantly among Mid-west region of Entre Ríos Prov- red blood cell, and white blood cell agricultural ponds and referencce ince.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Demografía De Melanophryniscus Montevidensis En Un Área Protegida De Uruguay, Posibles Amenazas Y Estrategias De Conservación
    Demografía de Melanophryniscus montevidensis en un área protegida de Uruguay, posibles amenazas y estrategias de conservación. Tesis de Doctorado en Biología PEDECIBA BIOLOGÍA Mag. Cecilia Bardier Orientador Co-Orientador Dr. Luís Felipe Toledo Dr. Raúl Maneyro Agosto de 2017 1 Tesis de Doctorado: “Demografía de Melanophryniscus montevidensis en un área protegida de Uruguay, posibles amenazas y estrategias de conservación” PEDECIBA/ Biología/ Zoología Autor: Mag. Cecilia Inés Bardier Suárez Correo electrónico: [email protected] Orientador: Dr. Luís Felipe Toledo Laboratório de História Natural de Anfíbios Brasileiros Instituto de Biologia Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil Co-Orientador: Dr. Raúl Maneyro Laboratorio de Sistemática e Historia Natural de Vertebrados Instituto de Ecología y Ciencias Ambientales Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de la República (Udelar), Montevideo, Uruguay Tribunal: Dr. Alejandro Brazeiro, Dra. Lorena Rodríguez-Gallego y Dr. Claudio Borteiro Montevideo, Uruguay Agosto de 2017 Citar como: Bardier, C. 2017. Demografía de Melanophryniscus montevidensis en un área protegida de Uruguay, posibles amenazas y estrategias de conservación. Tesis de Doctorado, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. Imagen: Alejandro Fallabrino, Created by Creative_hat - Freepik.com 2 Agradecimientos En primer lugar quiero agradecer a mis orientadores Luís Felipe Toledo y Raúl Maneyro, que posibilitaron académicamente la realización de esta tesis, dándome su apoyo y confianza en la realización de este ambicioso proyecto. También a los integrantes del tribunal Alejandro Brazeiro, Lorena Rodríguez-Gallego y Claudio Borteiro, quienes realizaron valiosos aportes y participaron en su culminación. Al Programa de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas, la Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación y la Comisión Académica de Posgrados de la UdelaR, por permitirme realizar este proyecto y financiarlo durante su desarrollo.
    [Show full text]
  • <I>Eleutherodactylus Planirostris</I>
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2011 Diet, Density, and Distribution of the Introduced Greenhouse Frog, Eleutherodactylus planirostris, on the Island of Hawaii Christina A. Olson Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons Recommended Citation Olson, Christina A., "Diet, Density, and Distribution of the Introduced Greenhouse Frog, Eleutherodactylus planirostris, on the Island of Hawaii" (2011). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 866. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/866 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DIET, DENSITY, AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE INTRODUCED GREENHOUSE FROG, ELEUTHERODACTYLUS PLANIROSTRIS, ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII by Christina A. Olson A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Ecology Approved: _____________________ _______________________ Karen H. Beard David N. Koons Major Professor Committee Member _____________________ _____________________ Edward W. Evans Byron R. Burnham Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2011 ii Copyright © Christina A. Olson 2011 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Diet, Density, and Distribution of the Introduced Greenhouse Frog, Eleutherodactylus planirostris, on the Island of Hawaii by Christina A. Olson, Master of Science Utah State University, 2011 Major Professor: Dr. Karen H. Beard Department: Wildland Resouces The greenhouse frog, Eleutherodactylus planirostris, native to Cuba and the Bahamas, was recently introduced to Hawaii.
    [Show full text]
  • 1704632114.Full.Pdf
    Phylogenomics reveals rapid, simultaneous PNAS PLUS diversification of three major clades of Gondwanan frogs at the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary Yan-Jie Fenga, David C. Blackburnb, Dan Lianga, David M. Hillisc, David B. Waked,1, David C. Cannatellac,1, and Peng Zhanga,1 aState Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; bDepartment of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611; cDepartment of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Collections, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712; and dMuseum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 Contributed by David B. Wake, June 2, 2017 (sent for review March 22, 2017; reviewed by S. Blair Hedges and Jonathan B. Losos) Frogs (Anura) are one of the most diverse groups of vertebrates The poor resolution for many nodes in anuran phylogeny is and comprise nearly 90% of living amphibian species. Their world- likely a result of the small number of molecular markers tra- wide distribution and diverse biology make them well-suited for ditionally used for these analyses. Previous large-scale studies assessing fundamental questions in evolution, ecology, and conser- used 6 genes (∼4,700 nt) (4), 5 genes (∼3,800 nt) (5), 12 genes vation. However, despite their scientific importance, the evolutionary (6) with ∼12,000 nt of GenBank data (but with ∼80% missing history and tempo of frog diversification remain poorly understood. data), and whole mitochondrial genomes (∼11,000 nt) (7). In By using a molecular dataset of unprecedented size, including 88-kb the larger datasets (e.g., ref.
    [Show full text]
  • Diet of Melanophryniscus Paraguayensis (Anura: Bufonidae): an Endemic Species to Paraguay
    Herpetological Conservation and Biology 16(2):251–258. Submitted: 5 October 2020; Accepted: 3 May 2021; Published 31 August 2021. DIET OF MELANOPHRYNISCUS PARAGUAYENSIS (ANURA: BUFONIDAE): AN ENDEMIC SPECIES TO PARAGUAY KARINA NÚÑEZ1,3, MARTA DURÉ2, GRISELDA ZÁRATE1, FÁTIMA ORTIZ1, AND MEDES MENDOZA1 1Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biología, Colección Zoológica, San Lorenzo, Paraguay 2Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CECOAL, CONICET-UNNE)/ Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura (FACENA-UNNE), Corrientes, Argentina 3Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract.—Melanophryniscus paraguayensis (no common name) is an endemic toad of the central grasslands in the eastern region of Paraguay. Details about its natural history are poorly understood and it is categorized nationally as Vulnerable. This work describes the diet composition of this species and the relationship between toad body size and the number and volume of prey consumed. We analyzed the stomach content of 162 individuals, using the stomach flushing technique, after measuring and weighing them. For each prey category, we calculated the volume, number, and frequency of occurrence, and we estimated the relative importance index (IRI) with these data. We also estimated the standardized Shannon Diversity Index and Levins Niche Breadth Index for prey categories, and we analyzed the correlation between size of the anurans and prey size. Seventy-six individuals had identifiable content, which consisted of 1,357 prey classified into 16 categories, mostly at the order level. Ants and mites were the prey taxa with the greatest contribution in number and frequency and represent the most important prey based on IRI.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relationship Between Poison Frog Chemical Defenses and Age, Body Size, and Sex Jeckel Et Al
    The relationship between poison frog chemical defenses and age, body size, and sex Jeckel et al. Jeckel et al. Frontiers in Zoology (2015) 12:27 DOI 10.1186/s12983-015-0120-2 Jeckel et al. Frontiers in Zoology (2015) 12:27 DOI 10.1186/s12983-015-0120-2 RESEARCH Open Access The relationship between poison frog chemical defenses and age, body size, and sex Adriana M. Jeckel1, Ralph A. Saporito2 and Taran Grant1* Abstract Introduction: Amphibians secrete a wide diversity of chemicals from skin glands as defense against predators, parasites, and pathogens. Most defensive chemicals are produced endogenously through biosynthesis, but poison frogs sequester lipophilic alkaloids from dietary arthropods. Alkaloid composition varies greatly, even among conspecific individuals collected at the same time and place, with some individuals having only a few micrograms of one or a few alkaloids and others possessing >1 mg of >30 alkaloids. The paucity of alkaloids in juveniles and their abundance in adults suggests that alkaloids accumulate over time; however, alkaloid diversity is highly variable among adult poison frogs and has never been studied in relation to individual age. Using skeletochronology to infer individual ages and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and vapor phase Fourier-transform infrared spectral analysis to identify the defensive chemicals of 63 individuals, we tested the relationship between defensive chemicals and age, size, and sex in the Brazilian red-belly toad, Melanophryniscus moreirae, a poison frog that possesses both sequestered alkaloids and the biosynthesized indolealkylamine bufotenine. Results: Adult females were, on average, older and larger than adult males. Juveniles were smaller but not necessarily younger than adults and possessed bufotenine and 18 of the 37 alkaloids found in adults.
    [Show full text]
  • Low Res, 720 KB
    Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 12(1) [General Section]: 18–26 (e153). Captive management, reproduction, and comparative larval development of Klappenbach’s Red-bellied Frog, Melanophryniscus klappenbachi Prigioni and Langone, 2000 1,2Nils Behr and 1,3Dennis Rödder 1Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, D - 53113 Bonn, GERMANY Abstract.—In this study, we report on the successful keeping, breeding, and rearing of Klappenbach’s Red- bellied Frog, Melanophryniscus klappenbachi Prigioni and Langone, 2000. Breeding and spawning took place after a relatively dry period without using a brumation period. To initiate mating behavior the toads were introduced into a rain chamber with a raised water level and constant irrigation in accordance with the toad’s natural habitat and heavy rainfalls. The fast developing tadpoles started metamorphosis after 19 days at a constant water temperature of 23 °C and pH values between 6.5 and 7.9. A higher pH value led to slightly faster growth irrespective if tadpoles were reared singly or in groups. Keywords. Amphibians, Anura, captive breeding, conservation breeding, environmental factors, spawning Citation: Behr N, Rödder D. 2018. Captive management, reproduction, and comparative larval development of Klappenbach’s Red-bellied Frog, Melanophryniscus klappenbachi Prigioni and Langone, 2000. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 12(1) [General Section]: 18–26 (e153). Copyright: © 2018 Behr and Rödder. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommer- cialNoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use for non-commercial and education purposes only, in any medium, provided the original author and the official and authorized publication sources are recognized and properly credited.
    [Show full text]
  • The Diversity and Evolution of Amphibia: What Are They and Where Did They Come From?
    The diversity and evolution of Amphibia: What are they and where did they come from? Lecture goal To familiarize students with characteristics of the Class Amphibia, the diversity of extant amphibians, and the fossil record of amphibians. Reading assignments: Wells: pp. 1-15, 41-58, 65-74, 77-80 Supplemental readings on amphibian taxa: Wells: pp. 16-41, 59-65, 75-77 Lecture roadmap Characteristics of amphibians Extant amphibian orders Characteristics of amphibian orders and diversity Amphibian fossil record and evolution 1 What are amphibians? These foul and loathsome animals are abhorrent because of their cold body, pale color, cartilaginous skeleton, filthy skin, fierce aspect, calculating eye, offensive smell, harsh voice, squalid habitation, and terrible venom; and so their Creator has not exerted his powers to make many of them. Carl von Linne (Linnaeus) Systema Naturae (1758) What are amphibians? Ectothermic tetrapods that have a biphasic life cycle consisting of anamniotic eggs (often aquatic) and a terrestrial adult stage. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Amphibia (amphibios: “double life”) Subclass: Lissamphibia Orders: •Anura (frogs) •Caudata (salamanders) •Gymnophiona (caecilians) Amphibia characteristics 1) Cutaneous respiration Oxygen and CO2 Transfer Family Plethodontidae Plethodon dorsalis Gills (larvae, few adult salamanders), 2 Lungs (adults) 2) Skin glands Mucous glands Granular glands 2 Amphibia characteristics 3) Modifications of middle and inner ear Middle ear consists of 2 elements
    [Show full text]
  • Local Extinction of Melanophryniscus Montevidensis (Anura: Bufonidae) in the Argentine Pampas
    13 4 11–15 Date 2017 NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Check List 13 (4): 11–15 https://doi.org/10.15560/13.4.11 Local extinction of Melanophryniscus montevidensis (Anura: Bufonidae) in the Argentine Pampas Federico L. Agnolin,1, 2 Elián L. Guerrero3 1 Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2 Fundación de Historia Natural “Félix de Azara”, Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BDB, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 3 División Plantas Vasculares. Museo de La Plata. Paseo del Bosque s/n, La Plata, 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina. CONICET. Corresponding author: Federico L. Agnolin, [email protected] Abstract Melanophryniscus montevidensis inhabits sandy dunes along the Rio de la Plata shoreline and Atlantic coast in Uru- guay and southern Brazil. Here we report 2 specimens from different localities at eastern Buenos Aires province, Argentina, that were collected prior to the 1970s. Melanophryniscus montevidensis probably inhabited patchy sand dune environments in Buenos Aires. It is possible that the disappearance of natural environments (including dunes) in the Argentine Pampas resulted in the local extinction of M. montevidensis, a species sensitive to habitat fragmentation and anthropic modifications. Key words Sand dunes; Melanophryniscus montevidensis; local extinction; Buenos Aires; Argentina. Academic editor: Ross MacCulloch | Received 12 January 2017 | Accepted 1 May 2017 | Published 10 July 2017 Citation: Agnolin FL, Guerrero EL (2017) Local extinction of Melanophryniscus montevidensis (Anura: Bufonidae) in the Argentine Pampas. Check List 13 (4): 11–15. https://doi.org/10.15560/13.4.11 Introduction groups (Céspedez and Motte 2001, Cruz and Caramaschi 2003) that are poorly known with regard to specific con- Melanophryniscus is an endemic Neotropical bufonid tent and most behavioral aspects (Céspedez et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Are the Unken Reflex and the Aposematic Colouration of Red-Bellied Toads Efficient Against Bird Predation?
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Are the unken reflex and the aposematic colouration of Red-Bellied Toads efficient against bird predation? Debora Wolff Bordignon1*, Valentina Zaffaroni Caorsi1, Patrick Colombo2, Michelle Abadie3, Ismael Verrastro Brack3, Bibiana Terra Dasoler3, MaÂrcio Borges- Martins1 1 Programa de PoÂs-GraduacËão em Biologia Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, 2 Museu de Ciências Naturais, FundacËão ZoobotaÃnica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, 3 Programa a1111111111 de PoÂs-GraduacËão em Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto a1111111111 Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil a1111111111 a1111111111 * [email protected] a1111111111 Abstract Aposematic signals as well as body behaviours may be important anti-predator defences. OPEN ACCESS Species of the genus Melanophryniscus are characterised by having toxic lipophilic alka- Citation: Bordignon DW, Caorsi VZ, Colombo P, loids in the skin and for presenting a red ventral colouration, which can be observed when Abadie M, Brack IV, Dasoler BT, et al. (2018) Are they perform the behaviour called the unken reflex. Both the reflex behaviour and the col- the unken reflex and the aposematic colouration of Red-Bellied Toads efficient against bird predation? ouration pattern are described as defence mechanisms. However, there are currently no PLoS ONE 13(3): e0193551. https://doi.org/ studies testing their effectiveness against predators. This study aimed to test experimentally 10.1371/journal.pone.0193551 if both ventral conspicuous colouration and the unken reflex in Melanophryniscus cambar- Editor: Daniel Osorio, University of Sussex, aensis function as aposematic signals against visually oriented predators (birds).
    [Show full text]
  • Lecture Goal Lecture Roadmap
    The diversity and evolution of Amphibia: Lecture goal To familiarize students with characteristics of the Class Amphibia and the diversity of extant amphibians. Required readings: Wells: pp. 1-15, 41-58, 65-74, 77-80 Supplemental readings: Wells: pp. 16-41, 59-65, 75-77 http://amphibiaweb.org/aw/index.html Lecture roadmap Characteristics of amphibians Extant amphibian orders Characteristics of amphibian orders and diversity 1 What are amphibians? These foul and loathsome animals are abhorrent because of their cold body, pale color, cartilaginous skeleton, filthy skin, fierce aspect, calculating eye, offensive smell, harsh voice, squalid habitation, and terrible venom; and so their Creator has not exerted his powers to make many of them. Carl von Linne (Linnaeus) Systema Naturae (1758) What are amphibians? Ectothermic tetrapods that have a biphasic life cycle consisting of anamniotic eggs (often aquatic) and a terrestrial adult stage. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Amphibia (amphibios: “double life”) Subclass: Lissamphibia Orders: •Anura (frogs) •Caudata (salamanders) •Gymnophiona (caecilians) Amphibia characteristics 1) Cutaneous respiration Oxygen and CO2 Transfer (moist) Family Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders) Plethodon dorsalis Gills (larvae, few adult salamanders), 2 Lungs (adults) 2) Skin glands Mucous g lan ds (cu taneous resp ira tion, an tibio tic proper ties) Granular glands (toxic secretions - neurotoxins, alkaloids) ¾ Paratoid Glands Other glands (not in all species) •Nuptial •Wax 2 Amphibia
    [Show full text]
  • Melanophryniscus Spectabilis Caramaschi and Cruz, 2002 (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae): Northern Distribution Extension of a Rare Microendemic Species
    Herpetology Notes, volume 11: 593-597 (2018) (published online on 04 August 2018) Melanophryniscus spectabilis Caramaschi and Cruz, 2002 (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae): Northern distribution extension of a rare microendemic species Camila C. Reynaud¹,*, Cristiane Hiert², Rafael L. Balestrin³, and João M. D. Miranda² The genus Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 is species M. spectabilis, describing the first record of this restricted to South America and currently comprises taxon in Paraná state. 29 species (Frost, 2017). It is a monophyletic genus The species was recorded in the Faxinal do Céu with its species divided into three phenetic groups: (1) Botanical Garden (JBFC), Pinhão municipality, Melanophryniscus stelzneri (Weyenbergh, 1875), (2) M. Paraná state, Southern Brazil (25.9091°S; 51,5941°E, moreirae (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) and (3) M. tumifrons 1,100 meters above sea level) (Fig. 1). The JBFC has (Boulenger, 1905) (Graybeal and Cannatella, 1995; 152 hectares of green areas kept by the Company of Pyron and Wiens, 2011). Most species belonging to this Electrical Energy of Paraná State (COPEL). The climate taxon show small geographic ranges, being considered rare or little detectable (Zank et al., 2014). Melanophryniscus spectabilis Caramaschi and Cruz, 2002, included in the group of M. tumifrons, was recently described (Caramaschi and Cruz, 2002) and until 2011 it was known only from its type locality: Nova Teutônia, municipality of Seara, Santa Catarina state, Southern Brazil (Giasson et al., 2011). Almost one decade after the description, its distribution was extended, but no more than 42 km in any direction from its type locality (Giasson et al., 2011). Until the present moment, the species’ known distributional range is very small, with records restricted to localities from 380 to 875 meters of altitude and only in the Deciduous Forests of the Atlantic Forest of Santa Catarina state (Giasson et al., 2011).
    [Show full text]
  • The Oral Bacterial Community in Melanophryniscus Admirabilis (Admirable Red-Belly Toads): Implications for Conservation
    microorganisms Article The Oral Bacterial Community in Melanophryniscus admirabilis (Admirable Red-Belly Toads): Implications for Conservation Michele Bertoni Mann 1 , Janira Prichula 2 , Ícaro Maia Santos de Castro 2 , Juliana Mello Severo 2, Michelle Abadie 3, Thayná Mendes De Freitas Lima 4, Valentina Caorsi 4,5 ,Márcio Borges-Martins 4, Jeverson Frazzon 6 and Ana Paula Guedes Frazzon 1,* 1 Post-Graduation Program in Agricole and Environmental Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil; [email protected] 2 Department of Health Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil; [email protected] (J.P.); [email protected] (Í.M.S.d.C.); [email protected] (J.M.S.) 3 Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91509-900, Brazil; [email protected] 4 Post-Graduation Program in Animal Biology, Department of Zoology, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91509-900, Brazil; thaynamfl@gmail.com (T.M.D.F.L.); [email protected] (V.C.); [email protected] (M.B.-M.) 5 Research and Innovation Centre, The Institute Agrario di San Michele all’Adige, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 1 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy 6 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Citation: Mann, M.B.; Prichula, J.; Porto Alegre 91509-900, Brazil; [email protected] de Castro, Í.M.S.; Severo, J.M.; * Correspondence: [email protected] Abadie, M.; De Freitas Lima, T.M.; Caorsi, V.; Borges-Martins, M.; Abstract: Melanophryniscus admirabilis (admirable red-belly toad) is a microendemic and critically Frazzon, J.; Frazzon, A.P.G.
    [Show full text]