The Príncipe giant tree frog Leptopelis palmatus is endemic to the small oceanic island of Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea. For several decades, this charismatic but poorly known species was confused with another large tree frog species from continental Africa, L. rufus. Phylogenetic relationships within the African genus Leptopelis are poorly understood and consequently the evolutionary history of L. palmatus and its affinity to L. rufus remain unclear. In this study, we combined mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), morphological, and acoustic data for L. palmatus and L. rufus to assess different axes of divergence between the species. Our mtDNA gene tree for the genus Leptopelis indicated that L. palmatus is not closely related to L. rufus or other large species of Leptopelis. Additionally, we found low mtDNA diversity in L. palmatus across its range on Príncipe. We found significant morphological differences between females of L. rufus and L. palmatus, but not between males. We characterised the advertisement call of L. palmatus for the first time, which is markedly distinct from L. rufus. Finally, we summarised our observations of L. palmatus habitats and additional notes on phenotypic variation and behaviour. Our study reinforces the distinctiveness of L. palmatus and provides information important for the conservation of this endangered species. A rã gigante de Príncipe, Leptopelis palmatus, é endêmica da pequena ilha oceânica de Príncipe no Golfo da Guiné. Por várias décadas, esta espécie carismática mas pouco conhecida foi confundida com outra espécie grande de rã da África continental, L. rufus. As relações filogenéticas dentro do gênero africano Leptopelis são mal compreendidas e, conseqüentemente, a história evolutiva de L. palmatus e sua afinidade com L. rufus permanecem obscuras. Neste estudo, combinamos dados de DNA mitocondrial (mtDNA), morfológicos e acústicos de L. palmatus e L. rufus para avaliar diferentes eixos de divergência entre as espécies. Nossa árvore de genes de mtDNA para o gênero Leptopelis indicou que L. palmatus não está proximamente relacionada a L. rufus ou outras espécies grandes de Leptopelis, e encontramos baixa diversidade de mtDNA em L. palmatus em toda a sua distribuição em Príncipe. Encontramos diferenças morfológicas significativas entre as fêmeas de L. rufus e L. palmatus, mas não entre os machos. Caracterizamos o canto reprodutor de L. palmatus pela primeira vez, que é marcadamente distinto do de L. rufus. Finalmente, resumimos nossas observações dos habitats de L. palmatus e notas adicionais sobre variação fenotípica e comportamento. Nosso estudo fornece informações importantes para a conservação dessa espécie ameaçada de extinção
Príncipe巨型树蛙是几内亚湾小岛Príncipe的特有物种。几十年来，这种极具魅力但鲜为人知的物种与另一种来自非洲大陆的大型树蛙物种L. rufus混淆了。非洲Leptopelis属的系统发育关系尚不清楚，因此，L. palmatus的进化史及其与L. rufus的亲缘关系仍不清楚。在这项研究中，我们结合了L. palmatus和L. rufus的线粒体DNA (mtDNA)、形态学和声学数据来评估物种之间不同的分化轴。我们的mtDNA基因树分析结果表明，L. palmatus与L. rufus或其他大型Leptopelis物种没有亲缘关系。此外，我们在Príncipe上发现L. palmatus在其范围内的mtDNA多样性较低。结果表明，鲁弗斯L. rufus和掌纹L. palm的雌性形态差异显著，而雄性形态差异不显著。本文首次对掌叶橐吾的广告叫声进行了表征，发现其与鲁弗斯橐吾的广告叫声有明显区别。最后，总结了本研究对掌叶橐吾生境的观察结果以及对表型变异和行为的补充说明。我们的研究加强了掌叶橐吾的独特性，并为这一濒危物种的保护提供了重要的信息。A rã gigante de Príncipe, Leptopelis palmatus， endêmica da pequena ilha ocean nica de Príncipe no Golfo da guin。Por várias daca, esta espacei, carismática mas pouco conconcida focondida com超过espacei grande rã da África continental, L. rufus。由于relações filogenasticas dentro do gênero africano Leptopelis s o mal comppredidas e，因此， entemente，一个história进化的L. palmatus e sua afinidade com L. rufus permanecem obscuras。Neste estudo, DNA线粒体(mtDNA)的组合，morfológicos e acústicos掌叶线虫和掌叶线虫的异位线虫的变异，divergência entre as espacimcies。Nossa árvore de genes de mtDNA para o gênero瘦肉鼠(Leptopelis indicou que L. palmatus) n o estest近缘亲缘关系(proximamente relacionada) a L. rufus u outras espcies grandes de Leptopelis)， e encontramos baixa diversidade de mtDNA em L. palmatus em em toda a sua distributes em Príncipe。Encontramos;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;)本章之特征描述:一种长掌蛾，一种长掌蛾，一种长掌蛾。最后，resume immos nossas observações do生境de L. palmatus e notas adicionais sobre variataal o fenotípica e comcomamento。noso estudo fornece informações importantes para a conservatal o dessa espacrecie a ada de exin o
{"title":"New evidence for distinctiveness of the island-endemic Príncipe giant tree frog (Arthroleptidae: Leptopelis palmatus)","authors":"Kyle E Jaynes","doi":"10.33256/31.3.162169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/31.3.162169","url":null,"abstract":"The Príncipe giant tree frog Leptopelis palmatus is endemic to the small oceanic island of Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea. For several decades, this charismatic but poorly known species was confused with another large tree frog species from continental Africa, L. rufus. Phylogenetic relationships within the African genus Leptopelis are poorly understood and consequently the evolutionary history of L. palmatus and its affinity to L. rufus remain unclear. In this study, we combined mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), morphological, and acoustic data for L. palmatus and L. rufus to assess different axes of divergence between the species. Our mtDNA gene tree for the genus Leptopelis indicated that L. palmatus is not closely related to L. rufus or other large species of Leptopelis. Additionally, we found low mtDNA diversity in L. palmatus across its range on Príncipe. We found significant morphological differences between females of L. rufus and L. palmatus, but not between males. We characterised the advertisement call of L. palmatus for the first time, which is markedly distinct from L. rufus. Finally, we summarised our observations of L. palmatus habitats and additional notes on phenotypic variation and behaviour. Our study reinforces the distinctiveness of L. palmatus and provides information important for the conservation of this endangered species. \u0000\u0000A rã gigante de Príncipe, Leptopelis palmatus, é endêmica da pequena ilha oceânica de Príncipe no Golfo da Guiné. Por várias décadas, esta espécie carismática mas pouco conhecida foi confundida com outra espécie grande de rã da África continental, L. rufus. As relações filogenéticas dentro do gênero africano Leptopelis são mal compreendidas e, conseqüentemente, a história evolutiva de L. palmatus e sua afinidade com L. rufus permanecem obscuras. Neste estudo, combinamos dados de DNA mitocondrial (mtDNA), morfológicos e acústicos de L. palmatus e L. rufus para avaliar diferentes eixos de divergência entre as espécies. Nossa árvore de genes de mtDNA para o gênero Leptopelis indicou que L. palmatus não está proximamente relacionada a L. rufus ou outras espécies grandes de Leptopelis, e encontramos baixa diversidade de mtDNA em L. palmatus em toda a sua distribuição em Príncipe. Encontramos diferenças morfológicas significativas entre as fêmeas de L. rufus e L. palmatus, mas não entre os machos. Caracterizamos o canto reprodutor de L. palmatus pela primeira vez, que é marcadamente distinto do de L. rufus. Finalmente, resumimos nossas observações dos habitats de L. palmatus e notas adicionais sobre variação fenotípica e comportamento. Nosso estudo fornece informações importantes para a conservação dessa espécie ameaçada de extinção","PeriodicalId":56131,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43628442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Short-tailed ground agama or Hardwicke’s bloodsucker Calotes minor (Hardwicke & Gray, 1827) is known to occur in the Indian subcontinent and is largely confined to arid to semiarid environments, such as hard barren desert and abandoned fields. The precise distribution of this species is largely unknown to date, with few locality records spread biogeographically across Eastern Pakistan, Central and Western India. To improve on the existing spatial knowledge on this species and assess the ability to predict species distributions for taxa with few locality records, we studied the distribution of C. minor using a species distribution modelling framework. Our study allowed us to predict the distribution range of C. minor and help define a niche for this habitat-specific species. Highly probable habitats for C. minor were arid and semi-arid dryland habitats, characterised by plains or less rugged terrain with moderately narrow temperature range, lower aridity index, moderate to low vegetation index, and wide precipitation range. Furthermore, we report four additional occurrence records of C. minor from central Rajasthan.
{"title":"Potential distribution of the endemic Short-tailed ground agama Calotes minor (Hardwicke & Gray, 1827) in drylands of the Indian sub-continent","authors":"Ashish Kumar Jangid","doi":"10.33256/31.3.132141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/31.3.132141","url":null,"abstract":"The Short-tailed ground agama or Hardwicke’s bloodsucker Calotes minor (Hardwicke & Gray, 1827) is known to occur in the Indian subcontinent and is largely confined to arid to semiarid environments, such as hard barren desert and abandoned fields. The precise distribution of this species is largely unknown to date, with few locality records spread biogeographically\u0000across Eastern Pakistan, Central and Western India. To improve on the existing spatial knowledge on this species and assess the ability to predict species distributions for taxa with few locality records, we studied the distribution of C. minor using a species distribution modelling framework. Our study allowed us to predict the distribution range of C. minor and help define a niche for this habitat-specific species. Highly probable habitats for C. minor were arid and semi-arid dryland habitats, characterised by plains or less rugged terrain with moderately narrow temperature range, lower aridity index, moderate to low vegetation index, and wide precipitation range. Furthermore, we report four additional occurrence records of C. minor from central Rajasthan.","PeriodicalId":56131,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43255113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Specimens belonging to the genus Cruziohyla from Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras, collected by the scientific community as Cruziohyla calcarifer are now known to represent a different species, Cruziohyla sylviae. Similarly, the tadpole previously described for C. calcarifer also now represents that of C. sylviae. Here we describe the tadpole of the true C. calcarifer for the first time, including information on ontogenetic changes during larval development. The tadpole of C. calcarifer is characterised in having distinctive morphology, mouthpart features and markings.
{"title":"Description of the tadpole of Cruziohyla calcarifer (Boulenger, 1902) (Amphibia, Anura, Phyllomedusidae)","authors":"A. Gray","doi":"10.33256/31.3.170176","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/31.3.170176","url":null,"abstract":"Specimens belonging to the genus Cruziohyla from Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras, collected by the scientific community as Cruziohyla calcarifer are now known to represent a different species, Cruziohyla sylviae. Similarly, the tadpole previously described for C. calcarifer also now represents that of C. sylviae. Here we describe the tadpole of the true C. calcarifer for the first time, including information on ontogenetic changes during larval development. The tadpole of C. calcarifer is characterised in having distinctive morphology, mouthpart features and markings.","PeriodicalId":56131,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48864120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Oviparous snakes deposit their egg clutches in sites sheltered from predation and from strong thermal and hydric fluctuations. Appropriate laying sites with optimum thermal and hydric conditions are generally scarce and are not necessarily localised in the home range. Thus, many gravid females undertake extensive trips for oviposition, and many may converge at the best egg laying sites. Dispersal mortality of neonates post-hatchling is also a critical factor. Assessing the parameters involved in this intergenerational trade-off is difficult however, and no study has succeeded in embracing all of them. Here we report data indicating that gravid females of the highly mobile European whip snake, Hierophis viridiflavus exhibit nest site fidelity whereby they repeatedly deposit their eggs in cavities under sealed roads over many decades. These anthropogenic structures provide benefits of relative safety and suitable incubation conditions (due to the protective asphalted layer?), but they expose both females and neonates to high risk of road mortality. Artificial laying sites constructed at appropriate distances from busy roads, along with artificial continuous well protected pathways (e.g. dense hedges) that connect risky laying sites to safer areas, should be constructed.
{"title":"Repeated use of high risk nesting areas in the European whip snake, Hierophis viridiflavus","authors":"X. Bonnet","doi":"10.33256/31.3.142150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/31.3.142150","url":null,"abstract":"Oviparous snakes deposit their egg clutches in sites sheltered from predation and from strong thermal and hydric fluctuations. Appropriate laying sites with optimum thermal and hydric conditions are generally scarce and are not necessarily localised in the home range. Thus, many gravid females undertake extensive trips for oviposition, and many may converge at the best egg laying sites. Dispersal mortality of neonates post-hatchling is also a critical factor. Assessing the parameters involved in this intergenerational trade-off is difficult however, and no study has succeeded in embracing all of them. Here we report data indicating that gravid females of the highly mobile European whip snake, Hierophis viridiflavus exhibit nest site fidelity whereby they repeatedly deposit their eggs in cavities under sealed roads over many decades. These anthropogenic structures provide benefits of relative safety and suitable incubation conditions (due to the protective asphalted layer?), but they expose both females and neonates to high risk of road mortality. Artificial laying sites constructed at appropriate distances from busy roads, along with artificial continuous well protected pathways (e.g. dense hedges) that connect risky laying sites to safer areas, should be constructed.","PeriodicalId":56131,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44856147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yole Caruso, Daniele Macale, L. Luiselli, L. Vignoli
Lizard thermoregulation is costly and is largely behavioural. Podarcis raffonei, endemic of few islets of the Aeolian archipelago (southern Italy), is one of the most threatened lizards in Europe, its survival being under threat also due to the presence of the congeneric P. siculus, a successful invader characterised by behavioural plasticity and effectiveness and precision at regulating body temperature (Tb). We tested whether thermoregulation behaviour diverges between the two species by analysing (i) the heating rates under a standard thermal condition, and (ii) the temperature at which lizards ended basking (Tfinal) along a thermal gradient. Overall, we found behavioural differences between the two lizards (i.e. P. siculus exhibited lower Tfinal), although both species had comparable heating rates and thermoregulated in the same thermal conditions. The invasive P. siculus had lower Tfinal and, since heating rates were similar between species, it expended less time basking than native P. raffonei. We speculate that the observed thermal ecology differences could provide a selective advantage to P. siculus in the harsh island environment.
{"title":"Thermoregulation comparisons between a threatened\u0000native and an invasive lizard species","authors":"Yole Caruso, Daniele Macale, L. Luiselli, L. Vignoli","doi":"10.33256/HJ31.2.7076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/HJ31.2.7076","url":null,"abstract":"Lizard thermoregulation is costly and is largely behavioural. Podarcis raffonei, endemic of few islets of the Aeolian archipelago (southern Italy), is one of the most threatened lizards in Europe, its survival being under threat also due to the presence of the congeneric P. siculus, a successful invader characterised by behavioural plasticity and effectiveness and precision at regulating body temperature (Tb). We tested whether thermoregulation behaviour diverges between the two species by analysing (i) the heating rates under a standard thermal condition, and (ii) the temperature at which lizards ended basking (Tfinal) along a thermal gradient. Overall, we found behavioural differences between the two lizards (i.e. P. siculus exhibited lower Tfinal), although both species had comparable heating rates and thermoregulated in the same thermal conditions. The invasive P. siculus had lower Tfinal and, since heating rates were similar between species, it expended less time basking than native P. raffonei. We speculate that the observed thermal ecology differences could provide a selective advantage to P. siculus in the harsh island environment.","PeriodicalId":56131,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48801135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amphibians often select oviposition sites based on a variety of cues that indicate the level of risk in the oviposition habitat. Surprisingly, the role of aquatic vegetation or habitat structure/complexity in anuran oviposition site selection has not been extensively studied even though it might affect perceived risk. We examined the effects of free-ranging invasive western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and artificial vegetation/habitat structure on colonisation of experimental pools by gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor). Hyla versicolor avoided ovipositing in mesocosms with G. affinis. The presence of artificial vegetation/habitat structure had no effect on oviposition site selection by H. versicolor, whether alone or in interaction with G. affinis. Our experiment provides evidence for the avoidance of fish, and more specifically G. affinis, by ovipositing H. versicolor; but provides no evidence for a role of vegetation/habitat structure.
{"title":"Influence of the presence of invasive mosquitofish and\u0000submerged vegetation on oviposition site selection by gray\u0000treefrogs (Hyla versicolor)","authors":"Geoffrey R. Smith, Jessica E. Rettig","doi":"10.33256/31.2.8590","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/31.2.8590","url":null,"abstract":"Amphibians often select oviposition sites based on a variety of cues that indicate the level of risk in the oviposition habitat. Surprisingly, the role of aquatic vegetation or habitat structure/complexity in anuran oviposition site selection has not been extensively studied even though it might affect perceived risk. We examined the effects of free-ranging invasive western\u0000mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and artificial vegetation/habitat structure on colonisation of experimental pools by gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor). Hyla versicolor avoided ovipositing in mesocosms with G. affinis. The presence of artificial vegetation/habitat structure had no effect on oviposition site selection by H. versicolor, whether alone or in interaction\u0000with G. affinis. Our experiment provides evidence for the avoidance of fish, and more specifically G. affinis, by ovipositing H. versicolor; but provides no evidence for a role of vegetation/habitat structure.","PeriodicalId":56131,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41675835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Understanding the distribution of genetic variation is central for both population biology and conservation genetics. Genetic population structure can be primarily affected by the species’ dispersal ability, which is assumed to be limited in many amphibians. In this study, we estimated allelic differentiation metrics and FST indices to investigate genetic variation among natural breeding ponds of smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) over a small spatial scale. Based on six microsatellite loci, we found a small, but significant allelic differentiation among clusters of natural breeding ponds (i.e. ‘local regions’), which result was in line with the calculation of corresponding hierarchical FST values. Analysis of molecular variance also indicated significant between-region variation in the study area. Pairwise estimations showed that only the furthermost regions differed from each other in both differentiation measures, but this difference was not attributable to geographic distances between ponds. Our results provide evidence that hierarchical genetic structure can be characteristic to breeding ponds of smooth newts on a small spatial scale in their natural breeding habitat, but dispersal distance may be less limited than previously thought in these philopatric caudates.
{"title":"Genetic differentiation over a small spatial scale in the\u0000smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)","authors":"Z. Tóth, Fanni Mihók, E. Nemesházi","doi":"10.33256/31.2.6169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/31.2.6169","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the distribution of genetic variation is central for both population biology and conservation genetics. Genetic population structure can be primarily affected by the species’ dispersal ability, which is assumed to be limited in many amphibians. In this study, we estimated allelic differentiation metrics and FST indices to investigate genetic variation among natural breeding ponds of smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) over a small spatial scale. Based on six microsatellite loci, we found a small, but significant allelic differentiation among clusters of natural breeding ponds (i.e. ‘local regions’), which result was in line with the calculation of corresponding hierarchical FST values. Analysis of molecular variance also indicated significant between-region variation in the study area. Pairwise estimations showed that only the furthermost regions differed from each other in both differentiation measures, but this difference was not attributable to geographic distances between ponds. Our results provide evidence that hierarchical genetic structure can be characteristic to breeding ponds of smooth newts on a small spatial scale in their natural breeding habitat, but dispersal distance may be less limited than previously thought in these philopatric caudates.","PeriodicalId":56131,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45665071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Leroy Soria-Díaz, Claudia C. Astudillo-Sánchez, Yuriana Gómez-Ortiz, J. Manjarrez, Victor Mundo-Hernández, Tamara Rubio-Blanco, H. Domínguez-Vega
Human activities have caused several changes in biotic communities all over the world. Some species maintain viable populations in altered environments through different adaptations, however, knowledge in this regard is scarce for certain taxa, including reptiles. We analysed the detectability and habitat selection of the rattlesnake Crotalus triseriatus to contribute to our knowledge about how this species responds to anthropogenic landscape change. Rattlesnakes were monitored for two years in two anthropized landscapes using visual encounter surveys. We analysed detectability in relation to climatic factors and human activity, and habitat selection was analysed in native and non-native vegetation. Our study shows that detectability of C. triseriatus is differentially affected in anthropized landscapes; human activity may be determinant in landscapes such as agricultural fields, whilst climatic factors may be determinant in landscapes where people are less active such as the protected areas within urban parks. The analyses of habitat selection shows that native vegetation is crucial for the persistence of C. triseriatus in the studied landscapes. Several strategies may allow rattlesnakes to persist in different anthropized landscapes; nonetheless, native habitat remnants should be protected in anthropized areas to conserve wildlife.
{"title":"Hidden in plain sight: detectability and habitat selection\u0000of the central plateau dusky rattlesnake in anthropized landscapes","authors":"Leroy Soria-Díaz, Claudia C. Astudillo-Sánchez, Yuriana Gómez-Ortiz, J. Manjarrez, Victor Mundo-Hernández, Tamara Rubio-Blanco, H. Domínguez-Vega","doi":"10.33256/31.2.9198","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/31.2.9198","url":null,"abstract":"Human activities have caused several changes in biotic communities all over the world. Some species maintain viable populations in altered environments through different adaptations, however, knowledge in this regard is scarce for certain taxa, including reptiles. We analysed the detectability and habitat selection of the rattlesnake Crotalus triseriatus to contribute to our knowledge about how this species responds to anthropogenic landscape change. Rattlesnakes were monitored for two years in two anthropized landscapes using visual encounter surveys. We analysed detectability in relation to climatic factors and human activity, and habitat selection was analysed in native and non-native vegetation. Our study shows that detectability of C. triseriatus is differentially affected in anthropized landscapes; human activity may be determinant in landscapes such as agricultural fields, whilst climatic factors may be determinant in landscapes where people are less active such as the protected areas within urban parks. The analyses of habitat selection shows that native vegetation is crucial for the persistence of C. triseriatus in the studied landscapes. Several strategies may allow rattlesnakes to persist in different anthropized landscapes; nonetheless, native habitat remnants should be protected in anthropized areas to conserve wildlife.","PeriodicalId":56131,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42653353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Agriculture intensification is among one of the major threats affecting terrestrial reptiles worldwide. There is however a lack of information available on the ecology of these vertebrates in agricultural landscapes. Basic information like the pattern of occurrence in cultivated fields is key to assess the probability of an animal being affected by threats driven by agricultural managing. Focussing on the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus), we performed a field study to assess in detail its distribution and abundance in two cultivations, vineyards and cereal fields. Lizard distribution and abundance significantly varied among land uses, regardless of the arthropod fauna composition and diversity (analysed in the same fields), and the management activities. In the cereal fields, lizards were present exclusively along the field margins while in the vineyards they also occurred in the inner portions of the cultivated areas, even if they were more abundant next to the borders. The widespread presence of lizards in the vineyards suggest that P. siculus can likely adapt to such cultivated areas. This partly lowers the effect of habitat loss due to vineyard planting but exposes animals to the risks related to management activities, including mechanical practices and chemical application. In contrast, the presence of sowed lands, as extremely simplified habitats, results primarily in a definitive loss of habitat for lizards that are unable to settle within them, while the exposure to threats driven by management is less direct than in vineyards.
{"title":"Occurrence of lizards in agricultural land and implications\u0000for conservation","authors":"M. Biaggini","doi":"10.33256/31.2.7784","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/31.2.7784","url":null,"abstract":"Agriculture intensification is among one of the major threats affecting terrestrial reptiles worldwide. There is however a lack of information available on the ecology of these vertebrates in agricultural landscapes. Basic information like the pattern of occurrence in cultivated fields is key to assess the probability of an animal being affected by threats driven by agricultural managing. Focussing on the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus), we performed a field study to assess in detail its distribution and abundance in two cultivations, vineyards and cereal fields. Lizard distribution and abundance significantly varied among land uses, regardless of the arthropod fauna composition and diversity (analysed in the same fields), and the management activities. In the cereal fields, lizards were present exclusively along the field margins while in the vineyards they also occurred in the inner portions of the cultivated areas, even if they were more abundant next to the borders. The widespread presence of lizards in the vineyards suggest that P. siculus can likely adapt to such cultivated areas. This partly lowers the effect of habitat loss due to vineyard planting but exposes animals to the risks related to management activities, including mechanical practices and chemical application. In contrast, the presence of sowed lands, as extremely simplified habitats, results primarily in a definitive loss of habitat for lizards that are unable to settle within them, while the exposure to threats driven by management is less direct than in vineyards.","PeriodicalId":56131,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42096639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Manon Dalibard, L. Buisson, O. Calvez, Morgan Nguyen-Hong, Audrey Trochet, P. Laffaille
Individual recognition of animal species is a prerequisite for capture-mark-recapture (CMR) studies. For amphibians, photoidentification of body pattern is a non-invasive and less expensive alternative than classical marking methods (e.g. passive integrated transponder). However, photo-identification is effective only if the patterns are (i) sufficiently variable between individuals, and (ii) stable over time. This method also depends on the observer’s judgment. In the present study, we assessed the effectiveness of an automatic algorithm (AmphIdent) to recognise ventral colour patterns of the Pyrenean brook newt (Calotrion asper), endemic to the Pyrenees Mountains of France. To assess the performance of the tested method, 113 individuals from two different streams were marked with passive integrated transponders (PIT-tags). We used false rejection rate (FRR), false acceptance rate (FAR) and true acceptance rate (TAR) as metrics to evaluate performances of photoidentification. Mean FRR was 7.3 %, FAR was 5.2 %, and TAR was 92 % across both streams, both sexes and all the observers. FAR was significantly different between sexes, while FRR and TAR were significantly influenced by the interaction between the sex and the stream. Despite these differences, our error rates are among the lowest values found in the literature for both amphibian and non-amphibian computer-assisted photo-identification. We found that poor-quality reference pictures could lead to an increasing difficulty to achieve a correct match when time since first capture rose. Consequently, individual photo-identification using AmphIdent software is a reliable tool to aid in the monitoring the Pyrenean brook newts, provided that pictures are taken with care, reference images are regularly updated and observers are properly trained to use the software and interpret images.
{"title":"Can ventral pattern be used for individual recognition\u0000of the vulnerable Pyrenean brook newt (Calotriton asper)?","authors":"Manon Dalibard, L. Buisson, O. Calvez, Morgan Nguyen-Hong, Audrey Trochet, P. Laffaille","doi":"10.33256/31.2.99110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.33256/31.2.99110","url":null,"abstract":"Individual recognition of animal species is a prerequisite for capture-mark-recapture (CMR) studies. For amphibians, photoidentification of body pattern is a non-invasive and less expensive alternative than classical marking methods (e.g. passive integrated transponder). However, photo-identification is effective only if the patterns are (i) sufficiently variable between individuals, and (ii) stable over time. This method also depends on the observer’s judgment. In the present study, we assessed the effectiveness of an automatic algorithm (AmphIdent) to recognise ventral colour patterns of the Pyrenean brook newt (Calotrion asper), endemic to the Pyrenees Mountains of France. To assess the performance of the tested method, 113 individuals from two different streams were marked with passive integrated transponders (PIT-tags). We used false rejection rate (FRR), false acceptance rate (FAR) and true acceptance rate (TAR) as metrics to evaluate performances of photoidentification. Mean FRR was 7.3 %, FAR was 5.2 %, and TAR was 92 % across both streams, both sexes and all the observers. FAR was significantly different between sexes, while FRR and TAR were significantly influenced by the interaction between the sex and the stream. Despite these differences, our error rates are among the lowest values found in the literature for both amphibian and non-amphibian computer-assisted photo-identification. We found that poor-quality reference pictures could lead to an increasing difficulty to achieve a correct match when time since first capture rose. Consequently, individual photo-identification using AmphIdent software is a reliable tool to aid in the monitoring the Pyrenean brook newts, provided that pictures are taken with care, reference images are regularly updated and observers are properly trained to use the software and interpret images.","PeriodicalId":56131,"journal":{"name":"Herpetological Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46896605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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