Abstract
African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) are often referred to as ‘purely aquatic’ but there are many publications which suggest extensive overland movements. Previous reviews which considered the topic have not answered the following questions: (1) is there evidence for overland dispersal in native and invasive ranges; (2) what is the range of distances moved overland; (3) when does overland movement occur; and (4) is there evidence of breeding migratory behaviour? A systematic review was chosen to synthesise and critically analyse all literature on the overland movement in Xenopus laevis. Database searches resulted in 57 documents which revealed a paucity of empirical studies, with 28 containing no data, and 19 having anecdotal content. Overwhelming evidence shows that both native and invasive populations of X. laevis move overland, with well documented examples for several other members of the genus (X. borealis, X. gilli, X. muelleri, X. fraseriand X. tropicalis). Reports of distances moved overland were from 40 m to 2 km, with no apparent difference between native and invasive ranges. Overland movements are not confined to wet seasons or conditions, but the literature suggests that moving overland does not occur in the middle of the day. Migrations to temporary water-bodies for breeding have been suggested, but without any corroborating data.
Highlights
Dispersal is a key trait in the life-history of any organism influencing the distribution, community structure and abundance of populations (Clobert et al, 2009)
Amphibians are model organisms for studies in dispersal as they are generally thought to have low dispersal abilities which brings about strong phylogeographical structuring (e.g., Avise, 2000)
The African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, has undergone significant taxonomic revision following a comprehensive molecular study by Furman et al (2015). The results of this revision mean that what was previously known as X. l. laevis by a number of authors (e.g., Kobel, Loumont & Tinsley, 1996; Poynton, 1964) is known as X. laevis with all other subspecies being recognised as full species, as well as some newly described species (e.g., Evans et al, 2015)
Summary
Dispersal is a key trait in the life-history of any organism influencing the distribution, community structure and abundance of populations (Clobert et al, 2009). Dispersal may be interrupted or facilitated by novel landscape features that may hinder the conservation of threatened species or facilitate the spread of invasive species (Carr & Fahrig, 2001; Brown et al, 2006). Amphibians are model organisms for studies in dispersal as they are generally thought to have low dispersal abilities which brings about strong phylogeographical structuring (e.g., Avise, 2000). Despite their reputation for strong site fidelity, amphibians have been shown to have considerable dispersal abilities.
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