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A problem in paradise: The vanishing Picobar Tree Frog

A problem in paradise: The vanishing Picobar Tree Frog. Geoff Hyde NCBS YETI 2009 Bangalore. Species Unique to Picobar 346 plants 209 insects 37 birds 14 mammals 11 reptiles and amphibians. Picobar Tree Frog Dyscophus picobari. How can the population decline of

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A problem in paradise: The vanishing Picobar Tree Frog

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  1. A problem in paradise: The vanishing Picobar Tree Frog Geoff Hyde NCBS YETI 2009 Bangalore

  2. Species Unique to Picobar 346 plants 209 insects 37 birds 14 mammals 11 reptiles and amphibians

  3. Picobar Tree Frog Dyscophus picobari How can the population decline of the Picobar Tree Frog be halted? Diurnal Insectivorous Mid-altitudes Population declining

  4. Possible players in the population decline of the Picobar Tree Frog Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa) Introduced 1999 Picobar Lady Beetle (Harmonia picobari) Threatened by fungi

  5. Is population decline due to increased predation or decreased prey?

  6. If increased predation…..

  7. … we should see snakes eating frogs Objective 1: Do starved captive rat snakes eat Picobar Tree Frogs?

  8. Preparation for exposure to frogs 27oC + 36oC Replication : 20 snakes

  9. Snakes offered two species of frogs

  10. Snakes ate the brown frogs

  11. Tree frogs uneaten after one week

  12. What if snakes do not have a choice? 27oC

  13. Tree frogs only, offered for one week

  14. Snakes sometimes attacked tree frogs...

  15. ...but quickly spat them out.

  16. After one week, no frogs eaten

  17. Objective 1: Do starved captive rat snakes eat Picobar Tree Frogs? No

  18. If decreased prey, frogs should strongly prefer Lady Beetles

  19. Objective 2: Do starved, captive Picobar Tree Frogs strongly prefer Picobar Lady Beetles ?

  20. Preparation for exposure to insects 27oC Replication : 20 frogs

  21. Frogs offered five species of insects

  22. Frogs targeted the Lady Beetles

  23. 5% Lady Beetles, 75% Brown Beetles, 100% of other species remain after a week

  24. What if frogs can't choose Lady Beetles? 27oC Replication : 20 frogs

  25. Frogs offered 4 species (no Lady Beetles)

  26. 45% of Brown Beetles, 100% of other species, remain after a week

  27. Objective 2: Do starved, captive Picobar Tree Frogs strongly prefer Picobar Lady Beetles ? Yes

  28. Results support Lady Beetle hypothesis - need support from field studies - preliminary data is suggestive Is decline of Picobar Tree Frogs due to increased Rat Snake predation or decreased availability of Lady Beetles? • Very unlikely due to Rat Snakes

  29. Suggestions for management of population decline • Breed fungal-resistant Lady Beetles • Captive breeding program for tree frogs

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