Captive Breeding Reveals Insights Into the Ecology and Reproductive Biology of 11 Little-Known Malagasy Frog Species.

Autor: Rakotoarisoa JC; Association Mitsinjo, Andasibe, Moramanga, Madagascar., Rakotoarison A; Mention Environnement, Université de l'Itasy, Soavinandriana, Itasy, Madagascar., Rasoanantenaina S; Association Mitsinjo, Andasibe, Moramanga, Madagascar., Robsomanitrandrasana E; Ministère de l'Environnement et du Développement Durable, Antananarivo, Madagascar., Edmonds SSS; Association Mitsinjo, Andasibe, Moramanga, Madagascar., Soamiarimampionona J; Association Mitsinjo, Andasibe, Moramanga, Madagascar., Tsimialomanana E; Association Mitsinjo, Andasibe, Moramanga, Madagascar., Wolf S; Association Mitsinjo, Andasibe, Moramanga, Madagascar., Edmonds D; Association Mitsinjo, Andasibe, Moramanga, Madagascar.; Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.; Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Zoo biology [Zoo Biol] 2024 Oct 25. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 25.
DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21876
Abstrakt: Amphibians are facing an extinction crisis, with ex situ programs increasingly being used as a tool for their conservation. However, conservation efforts are often limited because we do not understand the ecological, behavioral, and life history traits of many amphibian species. Here, we report on the seasonal breeding patterns, egg-laying behavior, clutch size, and development of 11 frog species maintained at a conservation breeding facility in Andasibe, Madagascar. The frogs exhibited diverse breeding strategies aligned with life history theory. Counting the eggs in 1239 egg masses across these 11 species, we found endotrophic microhylids and terrestrial-breeding species had the smallest clutch size yet completed metamorphosis quickly, whereas species that laid eggs above or in water with exotrophic larvae had larger clutch sizes and took longer to develop. Most reproduction in captivity occurred during the warm, rainy season and followed seasonal patterns in temperature variation. Yet, Mantidactylus betsileanus bred throughout the year, and Heterixalus betsileo required additional environmental stimuli to trigger reproduction. Notably, we confirmed that Gephyromantis mitsinjo lays eggs on land with tadpoles developing terrestrially within jelly, a behavior previously theorized but which until now remained unobserved. Such observations show how captive breeding programs can be used to gain valuable data on the life history traits of species that are otherwise challenging to observe in nature. Our findings can be used to assess threats to closely related species, helping inform conservation efforts in a country harboring exceptional amphibian species richness and endemism.
(© 2024 The Author(s). Zoo Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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