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Burrow systems of mole-rats as refuges for frogs in the Miombo woodlands of south-east Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 December 2015

Jan Šklíba ,
Miloslav Jirků  and
Radim Šumbera
Jan Šklíba*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Miloslav Jirků
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Radim Šumbera
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
*
1Corresponding author. Email: jskliba@yahoo.com
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Abstract:

Frogs are known to occasionally utilize the burrow systems of subterranean rodents, but this phenomenon has previously attracted little attention. We recorded frogs in burrows and in/under the molehills of three African mole-rat species (Bathyergidae, Rodentia) during burrow system mapping in Malawi and Zambia during the dry season. Eight frog species were detected. The most abundant of them, Kassina senegalensis, was found in large numbers in active Ansell's mole-rat nest areas, obviously tolerated by the hosts. We speculate that in areas with prolonged dry seasons mole-rats may increase anuran abundances and diversity.

Keywords

aestivationAnuraBathyergidaecommensalismecosystem engineerMalawisubterranean rodentZambia
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , March 2016 , pp. 158 - 161
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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