Conservation of the Agile Frog — the Rarest Amphibian in the British Isles?

L. Racca

Abstract


In Jersey, the agile frog (Rana dalmatina) has declined to a single small population that is displaying erratic breeding success. Survival of eggs from hatching to metamorphosis can vary from 0 to 20% per year. This gives rise to pulses in recruitment which are reflected in the age structures of adult frogs. Variations in recruitment — and the resulting population fluctuations — may be related to the predatory invertebrates in the breeding pools, which in turn are related to hydroperiod. Microsatellite DNA analyses were employed to evaluate genetic problems within the Jersey population of frogs. Samples collected from frog populations from mainland Europe were also been used, to compare the DNA profiles of frogs from Jersey and France. An indication of the level of population management that is likely to be needed in the future emerged from the genetic analyses and the analysis of field data. Captive breeding will have an essential role in the long term conservation of Rana dalmatina in Jersey.

Keywords


agile frog; conservation; ecology; Jersey; microsatellite DNA; population dynamics; Rana dalmatina

Full Text:

PDF

References


Beebee T. (1985), Frogs and Toads, Whitted Books, London.

Castanet J. and Smirina E. (1990), «Introduction to the skeletochronology method in Amphibia and Reptilia», Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool., 11, 191 – 196.

Caughley G. and Gunn A. (1996), Conservation Biology in Theory and Practice, Blackwell Science Ltd., Oxford.

Frankham R. (1998), «Inbreeding and extinction: island populations», Conserv. Biol., 12(3), 665 – 675.

Garner T. W. J. and Tomio G. (2001), «Microsatellites for use in studies of the Italian agile frog, Rana latastei (Boulenger)», Conserv. Gen., 2, 77 – 80.

Gibson R. and Freeman M. (1997), «Conservation at home; recovery programme for the agile frog Rana dalmatina in Jersey», Dodo. J. Wildl. Preserv. Trusts, 33, 91 – 104.

Griffiths R. A. and Inns H. (1998), «Surveying», in: Gent A. H. and Gibson S. D. (eds.), Herpetofauna Worker’s Manual, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, pp. 1 – 13.

Grossenbacher K. (1997), «Rana dalmatina», in: Gasc J. P. et al. (eds.), Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe, SHE and SPN-MNHN, Paris, pp. 135 – 136.

Heyer W. L. et al. (1994), Measuring and Monitoring Biological Biodiversity: Standard Methods for Amphibians, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.

Loman J. (2002), «Rana temporaria metamorph production and population dynamics ion the field. Effects of tadpole density, predation and pond drying», J. Nat. Conserv., 10(2), 95 – 107.

McAlpine S. (1993), «Genetic heterozygosity and reproductive success in the green treefrog, Hyla cinerea», Heredity, 70, 553 – 558.

Newman D. and Pilson D. (1997), «Increased probability of extinction due to decreased genetic effective population size: experimental populations of Clarkia pulchella», Evolution, 51, 354 – 362.

Partridge J. (1995), Jersey Agile Frog Report. April to September 1995, Countryside Services Department, States of Jersey Planning and Environment Committee (unpublished), Jersey.

Racca L. (2000), Agile Frog in Jersey: a Field Study (March – June 2000), Environmental Services Unit, States of Jersey Planning and Environment Committee (unpublished), Jersey.

Racca L. (2002), «The conservation of the agile frog, Rana dalmatina, in Jersey (Channel Islands)», Biota, 3(1 – 2), 141 – 147.

Ralls K., Ballou J. D., and Templeton A. R. (1988), «Estimates of lethal equivalents and the cost of inbreeding in mammals», Conserv. Biol., 2, 185 – 193.

Rowe G. and Beebee T. J. C. (2001a), «Primer note. Polymerase chain reaction primers for microsatellite loci in the common frog Rana temporaria», Mol. Ecol. Notes, 1, 6 – 7.

Rowe G. and Beebee T. J. C. (2001b), «Fitness and microsatellite estimates were not correlated in two outbred anuran populations», Heredity, 87, 558 – 565.

Saccheri I., Kuussaari M., Kankare M., Vikman P., Fortelius W., and Hansky I. (1998), «Inbreeding and extinction in a butterfly metapopulation», Nature, 392, 491 – 494.

States of Jersey (2003), http://www.gov.je, accessed July 2003.

Tonge S. (1986), «The herpetofauna in Jersey», Br. Herpetol. Soc. Bull., 17, 18 – 19.

Zane L., Bargelloni L., and Patarnello T. (2002), «Strategies for microsatellite isolation: a review», Mol. Ecol., 11, 1 – 16.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2005-12-0-205-208

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


You can subscribe to the print or electronic version of the journal on the site of EastView Company. If you have any questions, please write to the email sales@ivis.ru