Major Factors Affecting the Distribution of Anuran Communities in the Urban, Suburban and Rural Areas of Shanghai, China

There is a dearth of information on the effects of landscape and microhabitat variables on the distribution of anurans in areas of rapid urban development, in both tropical and subtropical regions. Therefore, we studied 24 Wetlands sites from the center of Shanghai city, China extending outward to rural areas. Sampling was performed from May through July 2014. Urbanization was categorized by the proportion of hard ground cover. Transect sampling and ＇calling＇ surveys were used to investigated the richness and density of anurans; microhabitat factors were recorded simultaneously. One-way analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted to analyze differences of total density, species richness and density of individual anuran species in the three urbanization levels; redundancy analysis was carried out on the relationship between anuran density and environmental variables. Species richness was lowest in the areas where the proportion of hard ground cover was 〉 80%, and the total density of anurans was highest in the areas where coverage of the hard ground cover was 〈 30%. We recorded five species belonging to four genera and four families and an individual anuran species that had varied representations in urban environments. Beijing gold-striped pond frogs （Pelophylax plancyi） and Zhoushan toads （Bufo gargarizans） appeared to be well adapted to the Shanghai metropolis. Large water environments and aquatic vegetation （floating-leaves and emergent vegetation） were indicators of the presence of Beijing gold-striped pond frogs. The density of black-spotted pond frog （Pelophylax nigromaculatus） was at the lowest density in the areas where hard ground coverage was 〉 80%, and tended to prefer larger bodies of water. Hong Kong rice-paddy frogs （Fejervarya multistriata） and ornamented pygmy frogs （Microhyla achatina） both suffered severely from cropland loss due to urban development. Bare land around breeding grounds was important for Hong Kong rice-paddy frogs, since it usually chooses mud coast caves for hibernation.

The Impacts of Urbanization on the Distribution and Body Condition of the Rice-paddy Frog(Fejervarya multistriata) and Gold-striped Pond Frog(Pelophylax plancyi) in Shanghai,China

Previous studies have suggested that urbanization presents a major threat to anuran populations. However, very few studies have looked at the relationship between urbanization and anuran body condition. We investigated whether the distribution and body condition of the rice-paddy frog（Fejervarya multistriata） and gold-striped pond frog（Pelophylax plancyi） are influenced by increasing urbanization in Shanghai, China. Four study sites with six indicators of the major land-cover types were scored to indicate their position on an urbanization gradient. We found that both the density and body condition of F. multistriata declined significantly along this gradient. Although we observed a significant difference in body condition of P. plancyi among study sites with different degrees of urbanization, we did not find any corresponding significant differences in population density. Our results indicate that both the densities and body condition of these two anuran species show a negative relationship with increasing urbanization, but that the density of P. plancyi was only slightly affected in Shanghai.

A New Record of Kaloula(Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) in Shanghai, China

We discovered a medium-sized species of narrow-mouthed frog of the genus Kaloula in June and September 2014 during municipal surveys of amphibians in Shanghai. Three narrow-mouthed frogs were collected in city drains of the Binjiang Forest Park, Shanghai. Based on subsequent examination and morphological characters, these specimens were identified as Kaloula borealis（Barbour, 1908）. The species was mainly distributed in Northern China and Korea. It is a new amphibian record for Shanghai. We found the visible differences in male secondary sexual characteristics between our specimens and Beijing specimens. K. borealis was first described inhabiting urban greenlands which could benefit amphibian conservation in urban and urbanizing areas.

Effects of landscape heterogeneity and breeding habitat diversity on rice frog abundance and body condition in agricultural landscapes of Yangtze River Delta,China

Amphibia ns play a key role in structuring biological assemblages of agricultural landscapes,but they are threatened by global agricultural intensification.Landscape structure is an important variable in flue ncing biodiversity in agricultural la ndscapes.However,in the Yangtze River Delta,where a"farmland-orchard-fishpond"agricultural pattern is common,the effects of landscape construction on anuran populations are unclear.In this study,we examined the effects of agricultural landscape parameters on the abundance and body condition of the rice frog(Fejervarya multistriata),which is a dominant anuran species in farmland in China.Employing a visual encounter method,we surveyed rice frog abundance for 3years across 20 agricultural landscapes.We also calculated the body condition index(BCD of 188 male frog individuals from these agricultural landscapes.Landscape variables,comprising landscape compositional heterogeneity(using the Shannon diversity in dex of all land cover types except buildings and roads),Ian dscape con figurational heterogeneity(using landscape edge density),breeding habitat diversity(using the number of 5 waterbody types available as breeding habitats),and areas of forest were also measured for each 1-km radius landscape.We found that the amount of forest in each agricultural Iandscape had a sign讦icant positive relationship with rice frog abundance,and breeding habitat diversity was positively related to the BCI of male rice frogs.However,body condition was negatively impacted by landscape configurational heterogeneity.Our results suggested the importance of nonagricultural habitats in agricultural landscapes,such as waterbodies and forest,to benefit rice frog population persistenee.

Carrying capacity for shorebirds during migratory seasons at the Jiuduansha Wetland, Yangtze River Estuary, China

The carrying capacity of food resources for migrating shorebirds was estimated at a stopover site in the Yangtze River Estuary during the two migratory seasons(spring and autumn).From March to May and September to November 2005,the macrobenthos resources of the Jiuduansha Wetland were investigated,and most of the macrobenthos species in the newlyformed shoal were found to be appropriate food for shorebirds.Biomass measurements showed that the total food resource was about 4541.20 kg AFDW(Ash-Free Dry Weight)in spring and about 2279.64 kg AFDW in autumn.Calculations were also done in the available habitats(intertidal bare mudflat and Scirpus×mariqueter/Scirpus triqueter zones)for the shorebirds.The food resources in the available areas were about 3429.03 kg AFDWin spring and about 1700.92 kgAFDWin autumn.Based on the classification(by lean weight,basic metabolic rate and body length)of the shorebird community,and using the energy depletion model,it was theorized that all of the food resources in the Jiuduansha Wetland could support about 3.5 million shorebirds during spring season and 1.75 million shorebirds during autumn season.The shorebird carrying capacities in terms of the available food were about 2.6 million and 1.3 million birds during the two respective migration seasons.Considering the effect of intake rate,the potential carrying capacity was about 0.13–0.26 million shorebirds in the study area.The main factor restricting use of the area by shorebirds was the scarcity of available habitats for roosting at high tide rather than availability of food supply.We recommend restoring some wading pools in the dense Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora zones for shorebirds to roost in,to improve shorebirds’utilization efficiency of the resources in the Jiuduansha Wetland.