湖北后河国家级自然保护区两栖爬行动物资源调查

2004年7月、2006年7～8月、2007年9月,对湖北后河国家级自然保护区的两栖爬行动物资源进行了调查.该保护区内现已知有两栖爬行动物73种,其中两栖动物29种,隶属于2目9科;爬行动物44种,隶属于2目9科.区系组成以东洋界种类占明显优势.资源量优势种两栖类有中华蟾蜍(Bufo g.gargarizans)、绿臭蛙(Odorrana margaretae)、泽陆蛙(Fejervarya multistriata)、棘腹蛙(Paa boulengeri)、崇安湍蛙(Amolops chunganensis);爬行类有王锦蛇(Elaphe carinata)、黑眉锦蛇(Elaphe taeniura)、乌梢蛇(Zaocys dhumnades)、福建竹叶青蛇(Trimeresurus stejnegeri).根据资源特点及保护现状,提出对保护区内两栖爬行动物的保护建议.     

贵州省首次发现合江棘蛙

2010年7和8月,采用样带法于贵州省习水国家级自然保护区进行两栖动物资源调查,在三叉河片区(28°30′43.67″N,106°25′03.72″E,海拔1 087 m)采集到25只形态相似的两栖动物标本,经过鉴定,该标本为无尾目(Anura)叉舌蛙科(Dicroglossidae)棘胸蛙属(Quasipaa)的合江棘蛙(Q.robertingeri),系贵州省两栖动物新纪录。标本现保存于贵阳学院生态研究中心标本室。     

江西武夷山国家级自然保护区两栖动物多样性及海拔分布特点

区域物种多样性评价是全球生物多样性研究的重要部分。研究两栖动物物种丰富度的海拔分布格局能为物种多样性的保护提供科学依据。为了解江西武夷山国家级自然保护区(简称保护区)两栖动物多样性及海拔分布特点,于2014年7月22日—8月4日,选取22条样线开展调查,同时将保护区海拔300~2161 m区间按200 m的间隔分为10个海拔段,对两栖动物的海拔分布特点进行研究。结果表明:1)保护区现已记录两栖动物29种,隶属2目9科22属,以蛙科为主,占两栖物种总数的37.9%;2)崇安湍蛙(Amolops chunganensis)为保护区新纪录;3)两栖动物物种多样性大致呈先平台后递减的海拔分布特点,这可能主要受生境复杂性的影响。此外,本研究采用Stevens法和逐种法对Rapoport法则进行了验证,结果表明,保护区的两栖动物很难判断是否支持Rapoport法则。     

湖南莽山国家级自然保护区两栖动物资源调查与分析

为掌握野生动物资源现状,促进自然保护区的有效管理,2008～2011年,作者每年在湖南莽山国家级自然保护区(以下简称莽山自然保护区)对10条调查样带(长3～6 km,单侧宽5 m)内的两栖动物资源进行实地调查,同时将该保护区海拔400～1 800 m的区域按200 m均匀地分为7个海拔小带,对两栖动物垂直分布特点进行研究。结果显示,莽山自然保护区现已记录两栖类36种,隶属2目7科。其中以蛙科17种和角蟾科6种为多;其动物区系组成以34种东洋界种类占明显优势,并以17种华中区与华南区共有种为主;有国家Ⅱ级重点保护野生动物1种,中国特有种12种。寒露林蛙(Rana hanluica)、棘腹蛙(Paa boulengeri)和中国雨蛙(Hyla chinensis)为莽山自然保护区两栖动物新纪录。莽山自然保护区两栖动物垂直分布现象较明显,大致以海拔1 400 m为分界点,两栖动物物种组成有较大变化;海拔600～800 m小带的物种数最多。最后基于历史资料,分析了两栖动物多样性的历史变迁。     

江西永丰发现长肢林蛙

正2018年6至8月在江西省永丰县、福建省明溪县和武夷山市开展两栖动物调查时采集到5个蛙类标本,经鉴定为长肢林蛙(Rana longicrus),其隶属无尾目蛙科(Ranidae)蛙属。该种最初仅发现于台湾地区(费梁等2009)。2011年10月,胡诗佳等(2012)在广东省惠东县发现该蛙;2012年3月,杨军校在福建省拍到该蛙照片(中国     

江西桃红岭梅花鹿国家级自然保护区两栖动物资源调查

江西桃红岭梅花鹿国家级自然保护区自成立以来,一直未进行过两栖动物资源调查。为掌握两栖动物本底资源现状,评价当地的生物多样性,作者于2005年4月下旬至5月上旬、8月中旬、2006年7月下旬,前后3次对该保护区两栖动物资源进行了实地调查。保护区现已记录两栖动物19种,隶属2目7科,占江西省39种两栖动物的48.72%。其中以16种东洋界物种为主,广布种3种,无古北界物种。东洋界物种包括10种华中区与华南区共有种及6种华中区物种。这种动物区系组成特点与保护区在动物地理区划上属东洋界华中区东部丘陵平原亚区一致。此次考察增加赣北(鄱阳湖)平原省两栖动物新纪录6种,分别是中国雨蛙(Hyla chinensis)、弹琴蛙(Hylarana adenopleura)、阔褶水蛙(H.latouchii)、花臭蛙(Odorrana schmackeri)、斑腿树蛙(Rhacophorus megacephalus)和小弧斑姬蛙(Microhyla heymonsi)。最后,结合调查结果对保护区内两栖动物的分布和资源现状进行了分析。     

重庆四面山两栖动物物种多样性研究

2005年至2007年对重庆四面山的两栖动物进行了野外调查采集,共有两栖动物1目5科11属18种,其中无尾目弧胸类(蟾类)2种、固胸类(蛙类) 16种.建议加强对该地区两栖动物物种多样性及其生境的保护.     

静水型无尾类蝌蚪数量资源调查方法的探究

根据不同无尾类蝌蚪的实际分布状态,设计了体积面积像素换算法(VAPT法)、样方拍照计数法,并结合经典的标志重捕法,通过对宽阔水国家级自然保护区的中华蟾蜍指名亚种(Bufo gargarizans gargarizans)、泽陆蛙(Fejervarya multistriata)、黑斑侧褶蛙(Pelophylax nigromaculata)蝌蚪群体进行数量资源调查,以探究蝌蚪数量调查的方法及适用性。结果表明,VAPT法、样方拍照计数法具有科学性与适用性,值得探讨。新方法的设计与应用可以对无尾类蝌蚪数量调查方法作有益补充及完善,对无尾类种群数量调查数据的准确与完整性有较大意义。     

黔西北石漠化地区两栖动物多样性及其生境选择

对两栖动物多样性及其生境选择的调查, 可为两栖动物的保护提供基础性资料。我们于2018年9-10月、2019年3-8月对贵州省毕节市撒拉溪石漠化综合治理示范区30个研究样方的两栖动物进行了调查, 共观察到两栖动物5,688只, 隶属2目6科9属10种。采用Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数、Pielou均匀度指数等分析了不同等级石漠化区域中的两栖动物物种多样性, 采用Sorenson相似性系数、聚类分析等方法分析了群落的相似性与差异性。结果显示: (1)云南小狭口蛙(Glyphoglossus yunnanensis)为优势种, 贵州疣螈(Tylototriton kweichowensis)、红点齿蟾(Oreolalax rhodostigmatus)、中华蟾蜍(Bufo gargarizans)、华西雨蛙(Hyla annectans)和昭觉林蛙(Rana chaochiaoensis)为常见种, 粗皮姬蛙(Microhyla butleri)、沼水蛙(Hylarana guentheri)、筠连臭蛙(Odorrana junlianensis)和威宁蛙(Rana weiningensis)为稀有种。(2)无石漠化区域与潜在石漠化区域两栖动物物种数、个体数以及生境类型较之其他3个等级石漠化区域更为丰富, 多样性指数、丰富度指数以无石漠化区域为最大。(3)无石漠化区域和潜在石漠化区域之间、无石漠化区域和潜在石漠化区域分别与其他3个等级石漠化区域之间表现出较强的差异性。研究表明, 喀斯特地区石漠化导致的生境差异是两栖动物分布差异的重要原因, 加强石漠化的生态治理是喀斯特地区保护两栖动物的重要途径。     

海南黎母山自然保护区两栖动物多样性及区系特征

2003年7月和2004年1月对海南省黎母山自然保护区两栖动物资源进行了调查,结果表明,该区内有两栖动物1目5科13属25种,全部为东洋界种类,其中华南区成分有15种,华中华南区有10种,分别占黎母山两栖动物总数的60%和40%,海南特有种有7种,具有典型的华南区系成分和热带山地林灌动物群特征。国家Ⅱ级保护动物有虎纹蛙1种;数量优势种有黑眶蟾蜍、小湍蛙、泽蛙、细刺蛙、海南溪树蛙和背条跳树蛙;保护区内两栖动物物种多样性指数为37109,均匀性指数为08321。     

From widespread to microendemic: molecular and acoustic analyses show that Ischnocnema guentheri (Amphibia: Brachycephalidae) is endemic to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Many species of tropical amphibians are restricted to very small ranges, and this microendemism coupled with ongoing habitat loss and susceptibility to emerging pathogens imperils the long-term persistence of these species. Incomplete taxonomic and distributional knowledge may obscure conservation assessment, particularly in putatively widespread species that are typically considered to be of Least Concern in Red List assessments, but that in fact may constitute complexes of partly microendemic species. Such is the case in the Steindachner’s Robber Frog, Ischnocnema guentheri which, together with the recently recognized Ischnocnema henselii, is thought to occupy most of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. To test whether these taxa may constitute a species complex of range-restricted and thus potentially threatened species, we analyzed 160 samples of I. guentheri and/or I. henselii for two molecular markers, 16S rRNA (16S) and recombination activation gene 1 (RAG1). To verify the monophyly of the complex, closely related species were also included in the 16S analysis. Congruent evidence from the molecular data and from analyses of advertisement calls support the existence of six distinct species within the complex: I. guentheri and I. henselii as well as four candidate new species. The lineages are distributed as a mosaic in the Atlantic Forest and are sympatric at some localities without indication of admixture. Their phylogeographical pattern partially agrees with paleo-models for the Atlantic Forest, but also suggests the existence of micro-refugia in less stable areas. I. guentheri, previously considered to be widespread, was found only in its type locality, a reserve within the urban area of Rio de Janeiro city. Although none of the species studied appears highly threatened with extinction, we recommend their IUCN threat status to be re-evaluated carefully for the next comprehensive update of the Red List of Brazil’s amphibians.     

Amphibians distribution and habitats in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia

This study surveyed 205 wetland sites in the Southwestern Saudi Arabia. We found seven species of amphibians (Anura), which belong to four families: Bufonidae; which includes four species, Sclerophrys tihamica; S. Arabica, Duttaphrynus dhufarensis, and Bufotes viridis; Hylidae, represented by only one species, the tree frog Hyla savignyi; Ranidae, which represented by one species, Pelophylax ridibundus and finally the Dicroglossidae, represented by one species, Euphlyctis ehrenbergii. The reasonable amount of rain received in southwest Arabia, and habitat diversity contribute to the relative abundance of amphibians in the region. Five types of wetland habitats were found in the study area. Valley streams, irrigated farms, seasonal ponds, dam reservoir and lagoons of treated sewage water. The current study revealed the wide spread of amphibians in southwestern Saudi Arabia than what had been reported earlier and confirmed the presence of the Bufotes viridis at three new sites in Asir Heights. It also showed the wide spread of S. arabica in all types of habitats in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Habitat degradation was evident in the region, which might lead to species loss.     

Biodiversity patterns of nutrient-rich fish ponds and implications for conservation

Nutrient-rich water bodies are usually expected to host low species richness at the local scale (water body). Nevertheless, they can support a diverse and sometimes unique biodiversity when diversity is considered at a regional scale. This discrepancy between the two scales is well documented for natural water bodies, but little is known about biodiversity of artificial water bodies, like fish ponds. We hypothesise that nutrient-rich water bodies can collectively host high species richness at the regional scale. Thus, these are important ecosystems for the regional conservation of biodiversity. We investigated 84 fish ponds in the Dombes region, France, with five taxonomic groups: macrophytes, phytoplankton, macroinvertebrates, dragonflies, and amphibians. Species richness patterns were determined for α- (single pond), β- (between ponds), and γ- (regional pond network) levels. For most studied species groups, richness per fish pond and at the regional level proved to be relatively high in comparison with natural ponds in other landscapes. Contribution of α-diversity to regional diversity was highest for dragonflies with 41 %, and lowest for amphibians and macrophytes with 16 and 18 %, respectively. For macroinvertebrate families and phytoplankton genera it was intermediate. Contribution of β-diversity to regional diversity was similar for all species groups with 22–25 %. Furthermore, some ponds hosted a large number of less frequent species and some endangered species, indicating that the conservation of biodiversity of fish ponds must be established at a regional scale.     

Microbial community dynamics and effect of environmental microbial reservoirs on red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)

Beneficial cutaneous bacteria on amphibians can protect against the lethal disease chytridiomycosis, which has devastated many amphibian species and is caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. We describe the diversity of bacteria on red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) in the wild and the stability of these communities through time in captivity using culture-independent Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing. After field sampling, salamanders were housed with soil from the field or sterile media. The captive conditions led to different trajectories of bacterial communities. Eight OTUs present on >90% of salamanders in the field, through time, and in both treatments were defined as the core community, suggesting that some bacteria are closely associated with the host and are independent of an environmental reservoir. One of these taxa, a Pseudomonas sp., was previously cultured from amphibians and found to be antifungal. As all host-associated bacteria were found in the soil reservoir, environmental microbes strongly influence host–microbial diversity and likely regulate the core community. Using PICRUSt, an exploratory bioinformatics tool to predict gene functions, we found that core skin bacteria provided similar gene functions to the entire community. We suggest that future experiments focus on testing whether core bacteria on salamander skin contribute to the observed resistance to chytridiomycosis in this species even under hygenic captive conditions. For disease-susceptible hosts, providing an environmental reservoir with defensive bacteria in captive-rearing programs may improve outcomes by increasing bacterial diversity on threatened amphibians or increasing the likelihood that defensive bacteria are available for colonization.     

Patterns of Assemblage Structure Indicate a Broader Conservation Potential of Focal Amphibians for Pond Management

Small freshwater ponds host diverse and vulnerable biotic assemblages but relatively few conspicuous, specially protected taxa. In Europe, the amphibians Triturus cristatus and Pelobates fuscus are among a few species whose populations have been successfully restored using pond restoration and management activities at the landscape scale. In this study, we explored whether the ponds constructed for those two target species have wider conservation significance, particularly for other species of conservation concern. We recorded the occurrence of amphibians and selected aquatic macro-invertebrates (dragonflies; damselflies; diving beetles; water scavenger beetles) in 66 ponds specially constructed for amphibians (up to 8 years post construction) and, for comparison, in 100 man-made ponds (created by local people for cattle or garden watering, peat excavation, etc.) and 65 natural ponds in Estonia. We analysed nestedness of the species assemblages and its dependence on the environment, and described the co-occurrence patterns between the target amphibians and other aquatic species. The assemblages in all ponds were significantly nested, but the environmental determinants of nestedness and co-occurrence of particular species differed among pond types. Constructed ponds were most species-rich irrespective of the presence of the target species; however, T. cristatus was frequent in those ponds and rare elsewhere, and it showed nested patterns in every type of pond. We thus conclude that pond construction for the protected amphibians can serve broader habitat conservation aims in the short term. However, the heterogeneity and inconsistent presence of species of conservation concern observed in other types of ponds implies that long-term perspectives on pond management require more explicit consideration of different habitat and biodiversity values. We also highlight nestedness analysis as a tool that can be used for the practical task of selecting focal species for habitat conservation.     

Establishment risk and potential invasiveness of the selected exotic amphibians from pet trade in the European Union

The pet trade has grown in recent years and become the most important pathway for the introduction of non-indigenous species of amphibians and reptiles worldwide. Amphibians traded on the pet market have been widely overlooked in systematic invasion studies, so their establishment potential and invasion dynamics remain poorly understood, despite the fact that the impact of invaders from this taxonomic group on native biota may be considerable. The determination of the most common species of amphibians traded as pets was based on a survey of the market in the Czech Republic, which is an export hub for ornamental aquatic animals into the European Union (EU). Subsequently, the establishment potential of the most common species for EU was determined using a proven risk assessment model. Amphibians that scored higher than the established species Xenopus laevis were additionally evaluated for their invasion potential using the Amphibian Invasiveness Screening Kit (AmphISK).Sixteen species of amphibians in pet market (14 Anura, 2Caudata) have an establishment potential in the EU. However, none of these species have reached the invasion potential score of already spreading species X. laevis and Lithobates catesbeianus. The species closest to the threshold value were Lithobates pipiens and Pelophylax saharicus. Amphibians represent a rather small group within all traded animals but this fact should not lead us to an underestimation of their potential invasiveness.     

Morphological and molecular differentiation of two new species of Pseudoacanthocephalus Petrochenko, 1958 (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) from amphibians and reptiles in the Philippines, with identification key for the genus

The genus Pseudoacanthocephalus Petrochenko, 1958 currently includes 14 species of acanthocephalans parasitic in amphibians and reptiles worldwide. This work describes two new species of Pseudoacanthocephalus from amphibians and reptiles collected in several localities on Luzon Island, Philippines. Pseudoacanthocephalus nickoli n. sp. was found in two species of frogs, Rana luzonensis Boulenger and Rana similis (Günther), and Pseudoacanthocephalus smalesi n. sp. was found in a scincid lizard, Sphenomorphus abdictus Brown & Alcala. Differential diagnoses of the two new species of Pseudoacanthocephalus from their congeners are provided. Comparative analysis of nuclear ribosomal rRNA sequences encompassing the 3′ end of 18S nuclear rDNA gene, internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1+5.8S+ITS2), and 5′ end of the 28S gene strongly corroborated the morphological evidence and demonstrated significant differences between the two new species as well as between these species and closely related species from continental China and Vietnam. No intraspecific sequence variability was detected among different individuals representing each of the examined species. This is the first report of Pseudoacanthocephalus in the Philippines. A key to known species of Pseudoacanthocephalus is provided.     

Most of the Dominant Members of Amphibian Skin Bacterial Communities Can Be Readily Cultured

Currently, it is estimated that only 0.001% to 15% of bacteria in any given system can be cultured by use of commonly used techniques and media, yet culturing is critically important for investigations of bacterial function. Despite this situation, few studies have attempted to link culture-dependent and culture-independent data for a single system to better understand which members of the microbial community are readily cultured. In amphibians, some cutaneous bacterial symbionts can inhibit establishment and growth of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and thus there is great interest in using these symbionts as probiotics for the conservation of amphibians threatened by B. dendrobatidis. The present study examined the portion of the culture-independent bacterial community (based on Illumina amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene) that was cultured with R2A low-nutrient agar and whether the cultured bacteria represented rare or dominant members of the community in the following four amphibian species: bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus), eastern newts (Notophthalmus viridescens), spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), and American toads (Anaxyrus americanus). To determine which percentage of the community was cultured, we clustered Illumina sequences at 97% similarity, using the culture sequences as a reference database. For each amphibian species, we cultured, on average, 0.59% to 1.12% of each individual''s bacterial community. However, the average percentage of bacteria that were culturable for each amphibian species was higher, with averages ranging from 2.81% to 7.47%. Furthermore, most of the dominant operational taxonomic units (OTUs), families, and phyla were represented in our cultures. These results open up new research avenues for understanding the functional roles of these dominant bacteria in host health.     

Molecular insight into systematics,host associations,life cycles and geographic distribution of the nematode family Rhabdiasidae

Rhabdiasidae Railliet, 1915 is a globally distributed group of up to 100 known species of nematodes parasitic in amphibians and reptiles. This work presents the results of a molecular phylogenetic analysis of 36 species of Rhabdiasidae from reptiles and amphibians from six continents. New DNA sequences encompassing partial 18S rDNA, ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, ITS2 and partial 28S rDNA regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA were obtained from 27 species and pre-existing sequences for nine species were incorporated. The broad taxonomic, host and geographical coverage of the specimens allowed us to address long-standing questions in rhabdiasid systematics, evolution, geographic distribution, and patterns of host association. Our analysis demonstrated that rhabdiasids parasitic in snakes are an independent genus sister to the rest of the Rhabdiasidae, a status supported by life cycle data. Based on the combined evidence of molecular phylogeny, morphology and life cycle characteristics, a new genus Serpentirhabdias gen. nov. with the type species Serpentirhabdias elaphe (Sharpilo, 1976) comb. nov. is established. The phylogeny supports the monophyly of Entomelas Travassos, 1930, Pneumonema Johnston, 1916 and the largest genus of the family, Rhabdias Stiles and Hassall, 1905. DNA sequence comparisons demonstrate the presence of more than one species in the previously monotypic Pneumonema from Australian scincid lizards. The distribution of some morphological characters in the genus Rhabdias shows little consistency within the phylogenetic tree topology, in particular the apical structures widely used in rhabdiasid systematics. Our data suggest that some of the characters, while valuable for species differentiation, are not appropriate for differentiation among higher taxa and are of limited phylogenetic utility. Rhabdias is the only genus with a cosmopolitan distribution, but some of the lineages within Rhabdias are distributed on a single continent or a group of adjacent zoogeographical regions. Serpentirhabdias, Entomelas and Pneumonema show rather strict specificity to their host groups. The evolution of the Rhabdiasidae clearly included multiple host switching events among different orders and families of amphibians as well as switching between amphibians and squamatan reptiles. Only a few smaller lineages of Rhabdias demonstrate relatively strict associations with a certain group of hosts.