Migration and dispersal of the western leopard toad (amietophrynus pantherinus) in a fragmented agricultural landscape

Habitat alteration, primarily associated with human expansion and consumption, has been identified as the leading threat to biodiversity worldwide. The net result of an ever increasing human population is the loss of available habitat to species, affecting individual survival, together with the fragmentation of habitat across a landscape, resulting in an increased chance of a genetic bottlenecks and localized extinction. Although many organisms are experiencing the deleterious effects of these processes, amphibians appear to be suffering more than other vertebrate groups. One species that has experienced significant impact through habitat alteration and urbanization is the Western Leopard Toad (Bufonidae: Amietophrynus pantherinus). In the south-western portion of the Western Cape Province, South Africa, the population is large and genetically diverse with numerous potential breeding sites. However, extinctions in the disjunt eastern area, where there are a low number of known breeding sites (currently 7 identified), have raised concern over the conservation of this management unit. In this study radio-telemetry and population genetic data were used to investigate fine scale, short term migration patterns in Western Leopard Toads to specifically assess the role of agricultural land-use and habitat fragmentation on long-term dispersal dynamics.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Biological Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Doucette-Riise, Stephen

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Measey, G John

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10420

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/10420