scholarly journals Fauna and vegetation responses to fire and invasion by toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina) in an obligate seeder-dominated tropical savanna in the Kimberley, northern Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian J. Radford ◽  
Richard Fairman
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Ground Layer ◽  
Cane Toad ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Rhinella Marina ◽  
Structural Recovery ◽  
Invasion Impacts ◽  
Riparian Habitats ◽  
Large Predators

Context Changed fire regimes are an important threatening process to savanna biodiversity. Fire-sensitive vegetation such as pindan and its fauna may be particularly susceptible to fire impacts. Invasion by alien species is an additional threatening process. The toxic anuran Rhinella marina is a well publicised invader of savannas. Little is known of impacts in many habitats. Aims To test the hypotheses (1) that fire responses among pindan fauna are greater than general savanna responses, and (2) that cane toad-invasion impacts will be reduced relative to riparian habitats. Methods Reptiles, frogs, invertebrates and mammals were surveyed seven times from 2008 to 2012, four times before and three times following R. marina invasion. Time since last fire was recorded during each survey. Vegetation change was measured. Key results Pindan vegetation structural recovery took 4–5 years, whereas fauna recovery took only 1 year. Ground active agamids, combined Scincidae, fossorial skinks and ground-layer invertebrates responded positively to recent fire. Skinks of Ctenotus spp. declined in size after fire. Short-term fauna responses reflect rapid re-establishment of herbaceous cover. Fauna responses were detected following R. marina invasion, including increases in frogs of Uperoleia spp. and skinks of Carlia spp., and decreases in Lerista griffini and ground-layer invertebrates. Insufficient data were available to test for responses among large predators; however, >50% lower Varanus spp. trap success occurred post-invasion. No invasion response was detected among small mammals. Conclusions Pindan fauna fire responses were similar to those of savannas. Fauna responses to Rhinella marina invasion were relatively minor compared with those previously reported in riparian habitats and this may be related to the lower abundance of the invader here than in previous studies in riparian or more fertile habitats. Implications The dominant obligate seeding tree in pindan woodland, A. tumida, requires >4 years with no high-intensity fires for re-establishment of the dominant tree. Fire management should aim to minimise extensive fires to reduce impacts on fire-sensitive fauna. Persistence of large predators after cane-toad invasion suggests possible refuge value of low-productivity pindan savannas.

Changes in urinary testosterone and corticosterone metabolites during short-term confinement with repeated handling in wild male cane toads (Rhinella marina)

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward J. Narayan ◽  
Frank C. Molinia ◽  
John F. Cockrem ◽  
Jean-Marc Hero
Keyword(s):  
Adult Male ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Hormone Secretion ◽  
Reproductive Hormone ◽  
Cane Toad ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Rhinella Marina ◽  
Testosterone Secretion ◽  
Metabolite Concentrations ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites

Stressors generally decrease testosterone secretion and inhibit reproduction in animals. Urinary testosterone and corticosterone metabolite concentrations were measured in adult male cane toads (Rhinella marina) at the time of capture from the wild and during 24 h of confinement with repeated handling. Mean urinary testosterone concentrations increased 2 h after capture, were significantly elevated above initial concentrations at 5 h, and then declined. Mean testosterone concentrations remained elevated 24 h after capture. Mean urinary corticosterone concentrations increased after capture, were significantly elevated above initial concentrations at 2 h, and remained elevated thereafter. This is the first report in amphibians of an increase in testosterone excretion after capture from the wild, with previous studies showing either no change or decline in testosterone. This finding may be associated with the mating strategy and maintenance of reproductive effort in the cane toad, a species that shows explosive breeding and agonistic male–male interactions during breeding. The finding that testosterone excretion increases rather than decreases after capture in male cane toads shows that it should not be generally assumed that reproductive hormone secretion will decrease after capture in amphibians.

scholarly journals Long distance homing in the cane toad (Rhinella marina) in its native range

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A Shaykevich ◽  
Andrius Pasukonis ◽  
Lauren A O'Connell
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
French Guiana ◽  
Spatial Behavior ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Cane Toad ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Rhinella Marina ◽  
Current Paradigm

Many animals exhibit complex navigation over different scales and environments. Navigation studies in amphibians have largely focused on species with life histories that require advanced spatial capacities, such as territorial poison frogs and migratory pond-breeding amphibians that show fidelity to mating sites. However, other species have remained relatively understudied, leaving the possibility that well-developed navigational abilities are widespread. Here, we measured short-term space use in non-territorial, non-migratory cane toads (Rhinella marina) in their native range in French Guiana. After establishing home range, we tested their ability to return to home following translocations of 500 and 1000 meters. Toads were able to travel in straight trajectories back to home areas, suggesting map-like navigational abilities similar to those observed in amphibians with more complex spatial behavior. These observations break with the current paradigm of amphibian navigation and suggest that navigational abilities may be widely shared among amphibians.

Cane toad ( Rhinella marina ) vitamin A, vitamin E, and carotenoid kinetics

Zoo Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarra Freel ◽  
Elizabeth Koutsos ◽  
Larry J. Minter ◽  
Troy Tollefson ◽  
Frank Ridgley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin E ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Cane Toad ◽  
Rhinella Marina

Short-term effects of timber harvest and forest edges on ground-layer mosses and liverworts

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 610-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cara R Nelson ◽  
Charles B Halpern
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Edge Effects ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Timber Harvest ◽  
Ground Layer ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Logging Effects ◽  
Structural Retention

Limited information exists on the effects of forest management practices on bryophytes, despite their importance to forest ecosystems. We examined short-term responses of ground-layer bryophytes to logging disturbance and creation of edges in mature Pseudotsuga forests of western Washington (USA). The abundance and richness of species were measured in four 1-ha forest aggregates (patches of intact forest) and in surrounding logged areas before and after structural retention harvests. One year after treatment, species richness, total cover, and frequency of most moss and liverwort taxa declined within harvest areas. Within forest aggregates, mosses did not show significant edge effects; however, richness and abundance of liverworts declined with proximity to the aggregate edge. Our results suggest that, over short time frames, 1-ha-sized aggregates are sufficient to maintain most common mosses through structural retention harvests but are not large enough to prevent declines or losses of liverworts. Thus, current standards for structural retention, which allow for aggregates as small as 0.2 ha, may be inadequate to retain the diversity and abundance of species found in mature, undisturbed forests.Key words: bryophyte, edge effects, forest borders, forest management, logging effects, structural retention harvest.

Responses of lizards to three experiments fires in the savanna forests of Kakadu National Park

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
CR Trainor ◽  
JCZ Woinarski
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Savanna Communities ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Term Response

A species-rich lizard community responded variably to a range of experimental fire regimes in a tropical savanna. Heteronotia binoei was the only lizard species that showed a short-term response to fire, decreasing in abundance directly after the early- and late-burns. H. binoei and Diporiphora bilineata were significantly more abundant in early-burn treatments. Carlia amax was more abundant in unburnt and early-burn treatments. C. munda was more abundant in unburnt and early-burn sites. Differences in the relative abundance of species between treatments is attributed to site differences in vegetation structure, and fire-induced changes to the structure of habitat. Early-burn sites were significantly richer in lizard species (P< 0.05); however, overall lizard abundance, Shannon-Wiener diversity and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) 1 and DCA 2 scores were not significantly different, suggesting that habitat partitioning has a stronger influence than the direct effects of fire. Many lizards were associated with a direct gradient of moisture availability, including a seepage assemblage, with Carlia gracilis and Sphenomorphus darwiniensis correlated with increased moisture, a well-developed canopy and abundant leaf litter. An assemblage associated with the drier end of the gradient included Carlia triacantha, Ctenotus kurnbudj, Diporiphora magna and D. bilineata. The lizard composition of most quadrats was intermediate along the moisture gradient and was associated with typical eucalypt savanna communities. Lizard species that largely are restricted to the moist seepage zones may be particularly sensitive to late dry-season fires which alter this habitat type.

Short-term effect of restoration on vegetation change and methane emissions from peatlands drained for forestry in southern Finland

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 402-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veli-Matti Komulainen ◽  
Hannu Nykänen ◽  
Pertti J Martikainen ◽  
Jukka Laine
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Change ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Temporal Fluctuation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Fixed Sample ◽  
High Emission ◽  
Moisture Conditions ◽  
Site Types

Methane (CH4) fluxes from fixed sample plots in a minerotrophic fen and an ombrotrophic bog in southern Finland were measured by using a static chamber technique 1 year before and 2 years after a rewetting treatment. Methane emissions rose with rising water table after rewetting from 0.1 to 2.1 g ·m-2 ·a-1 at the fen site and from 0.8 to 4.6 g ·m-2 ·a-1 at the bog site but remained at a lower level than emissions from similar pristine site types. At the fen site the emissions were related to the short-term succession of cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum L.). Emissions showed high spatial and temporal variation with high emission peaks at the bog site. Temporal fluctuation of the emissions during the measurement season (from the end of May to the end of September) was correlated with peat temperature, while the seasonal fluxes were dependent on the moisture conditions in different microsites.

scholarly journals Non-reproductive male cane toads ( Rhinella marina ) withhold sex-identifying information from their rivals

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 20190462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crystal Kelehear ◽  
Richard Shine
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Standardized Tests ◽  
Opportunity Cost ◽  
Cane Toad ◽  
Rhinella Marina ◽  
Secondary Sexual Characteristics ◽  
Sexual Characteristics ◽  
Reproductive Male ◽  
Male Specific ◽  
Do So

A male cane toad ( Rhinella marina ) that mistakenly clasps another male (rather than a female) in a sexual embrace (amplexus) can be induced to dismount by a male-specific ‘release call'. Although that sex-identifying system can benefit both males in that interaction, our standardized tests showed that one-third of male cane toads did not emit release calls when grasped. Most of those silent males were small, had small testes relative to body mass, and had poorly developed secondary sexual characteristics. If emitting a release call is costly (e.g. by attracting predators), a non-reproductive male may benefit by remaining silent; other cues (such as skin rugosity) will soon induce the amplexing male to dismount, and the ‘opportunity cost’ to being amplexed (inability to search for and clasp a female) is minimal for non-reproductive males. Hence, male toads may inform other males about their sexual identity only when it is beneficial to do so.

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