Calling activity of an anuran assemblage in a temporary pond in a dry forest of Madagascar

Abstract

Temporary pools are important resources for animals that have aquatic stages during their life history, and particularly for those living in dry climate regions. We investigated the breeding activity of an anuran assemblage in a small temporary pond in the Ampijoroa dry forest of Ankarafantsika National Park, northwestern Madagascar, during the first half of the rainy season from 2000 to 2001 and during the entire rainy season and the beginning of the dry season from 2003 to 2004. We also surveyed the anuran fauna of Ampijoroa throughout the long-term research conducted from 1999 to 2014. We estimated the breeding activity based on the calling intensity of male frogs. A total of 12 species of frogs was recorded, and eight out of them were confirmed to breed in the temporary pond. These eight species consisted of five families, including one introduced species. The initiation of calling activity seemed to be affected by rainfall in several species. Five of the eight species (Ptychadena mascareniensis, Boophis doulioti, Blommersia wittei, Heterixalus luteostriatus and H. tricolor) were considered prolonged breeders, and the other three (Laliostoma labrosum, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, and Dyscophus insularis) were considered explosive breeders. Two species (Mantidactylus ulcerosus and Stumpffia sp.) were not observed to use the temporary pond for their breeding sites. Neither calls nor breeding sites of the remaining two species (Scaphiophryne calcarata and Mantella ebenaui) were confirmed, although they have been described to breed in stagnant water. This study indicates that temporary ponds in the Ampijoroa forest, which are quite limited in number, provide important habitat for reproduction of frogs, which are living in a harsh environment.