Effects of salinity on the growth and survival of tadpoles of the Puerto Rican Crested Toad (Peltophryne lemur)

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Date
2009-10Author
Cáceres-Charneco, Rita I.
Barber, Diane
Ortiz-Zayas, Jorge R.
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Aquatic habitats play an important role in the reproduction of adult amphibians and in
the development of their larvae. In these habitats, the interactions of biotic and abiotic
factors influence tadpole ecology. Tadpole growth rates, duration of larval period, size
at metamorphosis and survival to metamorphosis can be influenced by the physical
environment (Alford 1999). In the case of tadpoles, abiotic parameters like desiccation
risk, water temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, and salinity are a major
concern for the success of a breeding event (Ultsch et al. 1999).
Salinity is an abiotic factor that has raised concern for the management group in
charge of ensuring the conservation of the Puerto Rican Crested Toad (Peltophryne
lemur), the only endemic toad in Puerto Rico, currently listed as a threatened species.
P. lemur breeds at the Tamarindo Pond, the main natural breeding pond in Puerto
Rico. This pond has been influenced in the past by salt intrusion events and it is
believed that this may affect negatively the development of the tadpoles.