Title
Water-filled Asian elephant tracks serve as breeding sites for anurans in Myanmar
Author(s)
Platt, Steven, G.;Bickford, David P.;Win, Myo Min;Rainwater, Thomas R.
Published
2019
Publisher
Mammalia
Abstract
Elephants are widely recognized as ecosystem engineers. To date, most research on ecosystem engineering by elephants has focused on Loxodonta africana and Loxodonta cyclotis, and the role of Elephas maximus is much less well-known. We here report observations of anuran eggs and larva in water-filled tracks (n=20) of E. maximus in Myanmar. Our observations suggest that water-filled tracks persist for >1 year and function as small lentic waterbodies that provide temporary, predator-free breeding habitat for anurans during the dry season when alternate sites are unavailable. Trackways could also function as “stepping stones” that connect anuran populations.
Keywords
conservation;ecosystem engineers;Elephas maximus;Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the WCS Library to request.
![]()
Back
PUB24656