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Abundance, distribution and spread of the invasive Asian toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus in eastern Madagascar

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Abstract

The Asian toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, was accidentally introduced to Toamasina (eastern Madagascar) around 2010, and since then has spread at a substantial rate across a larger area. This study documents the expansion of the invasive range of this species, calculates the invasion spread rate, and provides estimates of toad abundance and habitat preferences. Updates of the distribution range revealed a fivefold increase of the invaded area over 3 years, and a doubling of the rate of spread, showing a shift of the invasion towards the North-West, most probably because of the absence of ecological barriers. We used N-mixture models to estimate toad abundance on the basis of repeated count data of six areas in Toamasina and its surrounding countryside. Toad distribution shows heterogeneous density across the distribution range, with an average abundance of 184 toads ha−1 (95% CI 132–263). The toad’s abundance was highest in sites with the presence of organic waste, and was negatively related to the density of road networks in the proximity of study sites. The rapid expansion of the Asian toad in the Toamasina region suggests that this toad is an increasing threat for Madagascar. We propose immediate management actions that could limit the spread of alien toads in this megadiverse country.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Malagasy authorities, in particular the Ministère de l’Environnement, Ecologie et des Forêts, for issuing research permits. Our thanks to the nine eco-volunteers who helped with toad surveys: A.L. Rafilipo, C.C. Razafimbelo; P. Razanajaza; F.R. Harison, Z.M. Raharisoa; J.F. Randrianasolo, R.F. Bredison, B. Andriantianan and L. Rabenantenaina. We extend our thanks to all the local people who helped us in the field and through the reporting of the toad’s presence via the dedicated hotline. We thank the Meteorological Station of Toamasina that provided us with climate data. The work of AC is supported by the Portuguese National Funds through FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology—under the IF/00209/2014/CP1256/CT0011 Exploratory Research Project and the Investigador FCT (IF) Grant (IF/00209/2014). FL is funded by FCT through the Doctoral Programme (SFRH/BD/131722/2017). GFF is funded by the European Research Council under the European Community’s Horizon 2020 Programme, Grant Agreement No. 772284 (Ice Communities). FA acknowledges the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Madagascar. Among the organisations which supported him: Reptiland, Gondwana Conservation and Research, Regione Piemonte, and Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali (Torino). Many thanks to James Reardon, New Zealand Department of Conservation, Wellington, for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, No. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal

    Fulvio Licata & Angelica Crottini

  2. Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy

    Gentile Francesco Ficetola

  3. CNRS, Laboratoire d’Écologie Alpine (LECA), Univ. Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France

    Gentile Francesco Ficetola

  4. Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group, BP442, 501, Toamasina, Madagascar

    Karen Freeman, Roderic Heriandrianina Mahasoa, Veronique Ravololonarivo & Jean François Solofo Niaina Fidy

  5. ISSEDD (Institut Supérieur de Science, Environnement et Développement Durable), Université de Toamasina, Toamasina, Madagascar

    Roderic Heriandrianina Mahasoa, Aurelien Bertino Koto-Jean & Elisah Rasoanomenjanahary Nahavitatsara

  6. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Via G. Giolitti, 36, 10123, Torino, Italy

    Franco Andreone

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  1. Fulvio Licata
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Licata, F., Ficetola, G.F., Freeman, K. et al. Abundance, distribution and spread of the invasive Asian toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus in eastern Madagascar. Biol Invasions 21, 1615–1626 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-019-01920-2

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