Lovers in strange places: amphibian calling and amplexus detected in tidal mangrove creeks after rainfall

John Gould; Chad Beranek; Kate Schmahl; Rachael Donelly; Lynne Matthews; Alex Callen; Colin McHenry

doi:10.1071/ZO23042

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Previous Contents Vol 71(5)

Lovers in strange places: amphibian calling and amplexus detected in tidal mangrove creeks after rainfall

John Gould

^A ^* , Chad Beranek ^A ^B , Kate Schmahl ^A , Rachael Donelly ^A , Lynne Matthews ^A , Alex Callen ^A and Colin McHenry ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.

^B FAUNA Research Alliance, Kahibah, NSW, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: john.gould@uon.edu.au

Handling Editor: Paul Cooper

Australian Journal of Zoology 71, ZO23042 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO23042

Submitted: 18 October 2023 Accepted: 8 March 2024 Published: 28 March 2024

© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Temporary freshwater lenses can form in saline environments after rainfall, providing essential resources for species including drinking water and dispersal routes. However, there is limited indication that these lenses can also be used for breeding. Herein, we provide evidence of the green and golden bell frog, Litoria aurea, performing breeding activities, including calling and amplexus, in tidal mangrove creeks on Kooragang Island, NSW, Australia. Our findings suggest that these creeks intermittently phase into a low salinity state after the influx of fresh water from rainfall, forming temporary freshwater lenses that can be exploited before the creeks revert to a saline state. These lenses had salinities (1.4 ppt and 4.5 ppt) within the tolerance limit of L. aurea tadpoles, although we are unsure whether oviposition took place and offspring survival to metamorphosis was achieved. It is possible that anthropogenic disturbances to hydrology on Kooragang Island have benefited L. aurea by restricting tidal influences in mangrove creeks, prolonging the duration of freshwater lenses.

Keywords: amphibian, calling, ephemeral waterbody, freshwater lens, Litoria aurea, mangrove forest, oviposition site selection, salt tolerance.

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