Abstract
espanolLa rana de Karpatos (Pelophylax cerigensis) es considerada la rana mas amenazada de Europa. Aqui evaluamos su ecologia alimentaria y examinamos 76 individuos de las dos poblaciones conocidas usando el metodo del lavado de estomago. Tambien medimos el peso corporal, la longitud desde el hocico hasta la cloaca y el ancho de la boca de las ranas y el ancho y largo de las presas. La dieta de Pelophylax cerigensis, compuesta principalmente por Coleoptera, Aranean, Isopoda e Hymenoptera, es similar a la de otras especies de ranas verdes de las zonas adyacentes. Las dos poblaciones difieren en el tamano corporal, pero presentan valores similares de abundancia y frecuencia de presas. Parece que P. cerigensis sigue una estricta estrategia de alimentacion. El estudio de la disponibilidad de presas en sus habitats aportara informacion valiosa. EnglishThe Karpathos marsh frog (Pelophylax cerigensis) is considered the most endangered frog in Europe. Here we assess its feeding ecology and examine 76 individuals from the two known populations using the stomach flushing method. We also measured body weight, snout–vent length, mouth width and prey width and length. Pelophylax cerigensis follows the feeding pattern of green frogs of the adjacent areas, with Coleoptera, Araneae, Isopoda and Hymenoptera being the main prey groups. The two populations differed in body size but had similar values of prey abundance and frequency. It seems that P. cerigensis follows a strict feeding strategy. Further research on prey availability in its habitats will provide valuable insight.
Highlights
Categorized as Critically Endangered by the IUCN (Beerli et al, 2009), it is considered the most endangered anuran amphibian in Europe because its range is restricted to y two small rivers in the north part of the island (Temple and Cox, 2009)
The general biology of P. cerigensis is largely understudied since the first description of the species (Beerli et al, 1994)
The Argoni population consisted of larger (SVL: t–test, t = 2.574, df = 74, p = 0.0121) and heavier (W: t–test, t = 2.301, df = 74, p = 0.0242) individuals than those of Nati
Summary
The extensive anthropogenic activity in the last century has changed natural ecosystems and put many species at stake (Wilson, 2002; Pimm et al, 2014). Categorized as Critically Endangered by the IUCN (Beerli et al, 2009), it is considered the most endangered anuran amphibian in Europe because its range is restricted to y two small rivers (rivulets or brooks in reality) in the north part of the island (Temple and Cox, 2009). Such small, insular wetlands are nowadays considered the most endangered ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea, representing isolated oases for birds, amphibians, aquatic reptiles and invertebrates (Cuttelod et al, 2008). It is important to understand where they stand in food webs and to unravel how habitat global energy fuels riparian communities (Çiçek, 2011; Bogdan et al, 2013)
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