Quantitative surveying of endogeic limbless vertebrates—a case study of Gegeneophis ramaswamii (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) in southern India

Measey, John; Gower, David J.; Oommen, O. V.; Wilkinson, Mark

doi:10.1016/s0929-1393(02)00175-0

Cited by 32 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Where Bd has caused declines of anurans, no data are available on population trends or the health of sympatric caecilians, although methods for quantitatively surveying caecilians have been developed in recent years (e.g. Measey et al 2003, Gower et al 2004, Measey 2006, Doherty-Bone et al 2011). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians of Cameroon, including first records for caecilians

Doherty‐Bone¹,

Gonwouo²,

Hirschfeld³

et al. 2013

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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Amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been hypothesised to be an indigenous parasite of African amphibians. In Cameroon, however, previous surveys in one region (in the northwest) failed to detect this pathogen, despite the earliest African Bd having been recorded from a frog in eastern Cameroon, plus one recent record in the far southeast. To reconcile these contrasting results, we present survey data from 12 localities across 6 regions of Cameroon from anurans (n = 1052) and caecilians (n = 85) of ca. 108 species. Bd was detected in 124 amphibian hosts at 7 localities, including Mt. Oku, Mt. Cameroon, Mt. Manengouba and lowland localities in the centre and west of the country. None of the hosts were observed dead or dying. Infected amphibian hosts were not detected in other localities in the south and eastern rainforest belt. Infection occurred in both anurans and caecilians, making this the first reported case of infection in the latter order (Gymnophiona) of amphibians. There was no significant difference between prevalence and infection intensity in frogs and caecilians. We highlight the importance of taking into account the inhibition of diagnostic qPCR in studies on Bd, based on all Bd-positive hosts being undetected when screened without bovine serum albumin in the qPCR mix. The status of Bd as an indigenous, cosmopolitan amphibian parasite in Africa, including Cameroon, is supported by this work. Isolating and sequencing strains of Bd from Cameroon should now be a priority. Longitudinal host population monitoring will be required to determine the effects, if any, of the infection on amphibians in Cameroon.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians of Cameroon, including first records for caecilians

Doherty‐Bone¹,

Gonwouo²,

Hirschfeld³

et al. 2013

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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“…kohtaoensis was found in diverse habitat types ranging from open shrubs to secondary forests. Previous records of ichthyophiids were made mostly in anthropogenic habitats such as gardens, and tea, coconut and rubber plantations (Seshachar & Iyer, 1932;Nussbaum & Gans, 1980;Gundappa et al, 1981;Gans, 1993;Bhatta, 1997;Presswell et al, 2002;Measey et al, 2003a) and banks of paddy fields (Himstedt, 1991(Himstedt, , 1996. Terrestrial habitats were always close to water bodies such as rivers and brooks (e.g.…”

Section: Habitat Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only recently have densities of some caecilians been quantified with quadrat sampling (Kupfer, 2002;Measey et al, 2003a). High densities are reported for some caecilian species.…”

Section: Habitat Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history of amphibians in the seasonal tropics: habitat, community and population ecology of a caecilian (genusIchthyophis)

Kupfer

Nabhitabhata²,

Himstedt

2005

Journal of Zoology

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Fundamental information on the ecology of the limbless tropical caecilians is needed for a well-founded conservation assessment. Here, essential life-history characters are presented for the oviparous caecilian Ichthyophis cf. kohtaoensis from a field site in South-east Asia (Mekong valley, north-eastern Thailand). Ichthyophis cf. kohtaoensis was found in a range of terrestrial macrohabitats including open scrubs, gallery forests and open secondary dipterocarp forests. In the dry season, caecilians were found mainly in soil but in the rainy season they were also detected in epigeic microhabitats (leaf litter or rotten vegetation). Ichthyophis cf. kohtaoensis were recorded in low densities (median 0.08 individuals/m 2 ) and they share their habitat with a range of other terrestrial amphibians and reptiles. The population structure of I. cf. kohtaoensis varied seasonally. Records of late metamorphs were restricted to the cold dry season and occasionally to the onset of the rainy season. Females with clutches were only found in the rainy season. A life-history scenario of I. cf. kohtaoensis in north-eastern Thailand was set up. Reproduction and larval development is related to the rainy season. Mating and oviposition may start at the onset of the monsoon. Larvae hatch at the peak until the end of the rainy season and metamorphose until the end of the dry season. In the light of amphibian decline, this study may encourage further baseline work on the ecology of other caecilian species.

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“…Despite this, some publications have described some caecilian species as at least locally common or even abundant (e.g. LOVERIDGE 1936, SESHACHAR 1942, LARGEN et al 1972, NUSSBAUM & PFRENDER 1998, OOMMEN et al 2000, MEASEY & DI-BERNARDO 2003, MEASEY et al 2003b. A recent review of the conservation biology of caecilians highlighted the lack of even basic information about most species, and the urgent need for ecological information from field studies (GOWER & WILKINSON 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history of an African caecilian:Boulengerula taitanusLoveridge 1935 (Amphibia Gymnophiona Caeciilidae)

Malonza

Measey

2005

Tropical Zoology

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The life histories of amphibians are considered to be well recorded and are frequently regarded as the model complex life history for vertebrates. However, only the most basic information exists for caecilians. Boulengerula taitanus Loveridge 1935 is a direct developing terrestrial caecilian commonly found in agricultural settings of the Taita Hills, Kenya. During 12 monthly visits we collected 239 caecilians by digging into soil. Caecilians were captured on every visit, although increased searching time and low capture numbers coincided when soils were dry. The condition index (ML -3 ) defines three ontogenetic stages, for which growth can be approximately followed over the sampling period through frequency histograms. Juveniles (< 140 mm) appear to become subadults (< 240 mm) around a year after hatching, while subadults mature into adults (> 240 mm) after a further year. Adult males are significantly longer than females. Mating occurs in the soil prior to egg laying at the beginning of the short rains. Females construct a chamber before laying eggs (x = 5), and are found attending eggs during incubation and after hatching. Juveniles make up the smallest proportion of the population (maximum 24% in April and May). Information produced during this study is used to develop a tentative life-table for this species.

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Quantitative surveying of endogeic limbless vertebrates—a case study of Gegeneophis ramaswamii (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae) in southern India

Cited by 32 publications

References 17 publications

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians of Cameroon, including first records for caecilians

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians of Cameroon, including first records for caecilians

Life history of amphibians in the seasonal tropics: habitat, community and population ecology of a caecilian (genusIchthyophis)

Life history of an African caecilian:Boulengerula taitanusLoveridge 1935 (Amphibia Gymnophiona Caeciilidae)

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