Abstract
There are substantial differences among taxonomic groups in their capacity to reach remote oceanic islands via long-distance overwater dispersal from mainland regions. Due to their permeable skin and intolerance of saltwater, amphibians generally require human-assisted dispersal to reach oceanic islands. Several Litoria frog species have been introduced to remote islands throughout the Pacific Ocean region. Lord Howe Island (LHI) is an oceanic island that lies approximately 600 km east of the Australian mainland and has a diverse, endemic biota. The bleating tree frog (Litoria dentata) is native to mainland eastern Australia, but was accidentally introduced to LHI in the 1990s, yet its ecology and potential impact on LHI has remained unstudied. We used a mitochondrial phylogeographical approach to determine that L. dentata was introduced from the Ballina region in northeastern New South Wales. The founding population was likely accidentally introduced with cargo shipped from the mainland. We also completed the first detailed investigation of the distribution, ecology and habitat use of L. dentata on LHI. The species is widespread on LHI and is prevalent in human habitat, cattle pasture and undisturbed forest. We discuss the potential impact of introduced Litoria species on Pacific islands and outline what biosecurity protocols could be implemented to prevent the introduction of further amphibian species to the ecologically sensitive oceanic area.
Highlights
Large areas of open water, seawater, present formidable barriers to dispersal and colonisation for most terrestrial species
Here we focus on the Australian frog genus Litoria, which contains several species that have been introduced to Pacific islands ([12,13], S1 Table)
Litoria dentata was introduced to Lord Howe Island from Northern New South Wales
Summary
Large areas of open water, seawater, present formidable barriers to dispersal and colonisation for most terrestrial species. Remote oceanic islands frequently lack faunal components that are present in the neighbouring mainland regions [1, 2]. They are often depauperate in mammals [3] and amphibians [4], having been colonised by taxa more able to traverse oceans, such as invertebrates [5], squamate reptiles [6], and birds [7]. Invasion of Lord Howe Island by Litoria dentata dentata ND4 205_Ballina KM199708 dentata ND4 206_Yamba_ND4 KM199709 dentata ND4 207_Yamba KM199710 dentata ND4 209_Yamba KM199711 dentata ND4 210_Yamba KM199712 dentata ND4 214_Grafton KM199713 dentata ND4 215_Grafton KM199714 dentata ND4 216_Grafton KM199715 dentata ND4 218_Coffs_Harbour KM199716 dentata ND4 220_Coffs_Harbour KM199717 dentata ND4 LHI_haplo KM199718 dentata ND4 ABTC1244_Ourimbah KM199719 dentata ND4 ABTC25236_MtRoyalNEF KM199720 dentata ND4 ABTC25457_MannRiverNatu KM199721 dentata ND4 ABTC25752_NSW_PeacockCkRich KM199722 dentata ND4 ABTC86208_HomebushBay KM199723 dentata ND4 ABTC86356_GlenreaghNCof KM199724 dentata ND4 ABTC86359_BtwnCouttsCro KM199725 L_electrica_ABTC16521_QLD_Burketown KM199726 L_rubella_ABTC01233_NSW_CollaroyHS KM199727
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