Ndumo
Game
Reserve
is
the
only
officially
protected
area
within
the
Phongolo
Floodplain;
an
area
in
the
northern
parts
of
KwaZulu-‐Natal
known
to
boast
a
rich
diversity
of
amphibians,
thus
becoming
one
of
the
focal
areas
for
this
study.
The
study’s
aim
was
to
monitor
and
record
amphibian
diversity,
as
well
as
associated
blood
parasite
biodiversity.
For
the
purpose
of
monitoring,
a
number
of
active
and
passive
techniques
were
employed.
Habitat
preferences
for
the
expected
species
were
divided
into
five
types,
namely
endorheic,
lacustrine,
palustrine,
riverine
and
terrestrial.
Endorheic
habitats
were
found
to
harbour
the
highest
diversity
(70%)
of
frog
species.
A
permanent
song
meter
was
used
to
passively
record
calling
activity
of
frog
species
associated
with
endorheic
systems.
This
call
data
indicated
peak
breeding
season,
preferred
calling
times
and
intensities
of
the
different
species.
Historical
records
from
the
same
area
were
used
as
a
basis
to
which
this
study’s
data
were
compared.
In
the
case
of
the
polychromatic
Argus
Reed
Frog
Hyperolius
argus
Peters,
1854,
questions
were
raised
concerning
the
major
colour
changes
during
development
of
the
apparent
sub-‐adult
to
adult
life
stages,
an
observation
which
was
has
caused
some
confusion
as
to
whether
these
forms
represented
a
single
species
or
multiple
cryptic
species.
These
issues
were
clarified
using
techniques
such
as
DNA
extraction
and
polymerase
chain
reaction
(PCR).
Furthermore,
a
blood
parasite
survey
was
conducted.
Thin
blood
smears
for
morphometrics
and
whole
blood
for
molecular
work,
were
collected
from
29
species
and
436
individual
frogs.
For
the
majority
of
the
recorded
parasites,
techniques
such
as
light
microscopy
were
utilized
for
the
morphological
description
and
classification
of
these
parasites.
Among
the
recorded
frog
blood
parasites
observed,
20%
of
the
frog
specimens
were
infected
with
at
least
one
blood
parasite
group.
Hepatozoon
and
Trypanosoma
species
accounted
for
most
of
the
infections;
the
former
demonstrated
significant
differences
in
intensity
of
infection
across
species,
families
and
habitat
types
(P
=
0.028;
P
=
0.006;
P
=
0.007
respectively).
Methods,
such
as
transmission
electron
microscopy,
examining
the
ultrastructure,
as
well
as
parasite
DNA
extraction
and
18S
rDNA
gene
sequences
for
the
molecular
and
phylogenetic
characterization,
were
reserved
for
Hepatozoon
species
infecting
common
toad
species
(Amietophrynus).
Parasite
stages
observed
were
measured
and
compared
to
each
other,
as
well
as
to
other
described
African
bufonid
haemogregarines.
Resulting
sequences
were
compared
with
each
other
and
to
comparative
haemogregarine
sequences
selected
from
GenBank.
In
the
current
study
a
number
of
important
aspects
with
regards
to
monitoring
and
assessment
of
amphibians
in
their
natural
environment
were
explored,
including
looking
at
and
determining
diversity
and
prevalence
of
blood
parasites.
Furthermore,
important
data
on
gaining
a
better
understanding
of
amphibians
and
their
behavioural
activities
were
also
gathered,
which
should
be
able
to
assist
in
conservation
actions
to
effectively
protect
South
African
anurans
and
their
required
habitat
types. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/15475 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Netherlands, Edward Charles |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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