Captive breeding Mallorcan midwife toads

Overall effectiveness category Trade-off between benefit and harms
Number of studies: 3
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

69%
Certainty

55%
Harms

40%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Study locations

Key messages

Two replicated studies in the UK found that Mallorcan midwife toads produced eggs that were raised to metamorphs or toadlets successfully in captivity. One found that clutches dropped by males were not successfully maintained artificially.
One replicated study in the UK found that survival to metamorphosis was 85%. One randomized, replicated, controlled study in the UK found that toads bred in captivity for nine or more generations had slower tadpole development, reduction in one predator defence trait and decreased genetic diversity.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated study in 1985–1988 of Mallorcan midwife toads Alytes muletensis at Jersey Zoo, UK (Tonge & Bloxam 1989) found that toads bred successfully in captivity. No breeding occurred in the first two years. However, in the third year, 17 egg clutches were produced, with an average of 12 eggs (range: 9–15). Three clutches dropped by the males were not successfully maintained artificially. Most eggs hatched and the first six clutches had metamorphosed by October 1988. The average survival to metamorphosis of those clutches was 85% (range: 22–100%). From 1985, six to 14 toads were housed in two glass tanks (1 x 0.6 x 1 m) in an unheated room (7–30°C). Tanks contained rocks, branches, tiles and a small pond and were misted to prevent drying. In April 1988, six toads were moved to an outdoor tank (5–12°C), but were returned indoors in May. Tadpoles and toadlets were reared in separate tanks.

Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Tonge S.J. & Bloxam Q.M.C. (1989) Breeding the Mallorcan midwife toad Alytes muletensis in captivity. International Zoo Yearbook, 28, 45-53.
A replicated study in 1997–1999 of Mallorcan midwife toads Alytes muletensis at Jersey Zoo, UK (Buley & Gonzalez-Villavicencio 2000 ) found that three captive populations bred successfully. In 1999, 40 clutches (433 eggs) were produced by the three breeding groups. Tadpoles hatched and reached metamorphosis. In 1997, 25 tadpoles were collected from each of three wild populations and were housed separately. Housing was in plastic tanks with gravel substrate, hides, water and simulated rainfall.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Buley K.R. & Gonzalez-Villavicencio C. (2000) The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Mallorcan midwife toad, Alytes mulentensis – into the 21st centuary. The Herpetological Bulletin, 72, 17-20.
A randomized, replicated, controlled study of captive Mallorcan midwife toads Alytes muletensis in the UK (Kraaijeveld-Smit et al. 2006) found that there was a significant reduction in one predator defence trait (lower tail fin depth) in animals maintained in captivity for 9–12 compared to 1–2 generations. Long-term stock tadpoles also developed more slowly and had a significant loss of genetic variation. Tail length did not differ between populations. Forty tadpoles from a population captive-bred for 1–2 or for 9–12 generations (different ancestry) were divided between two treatments: chemical cues from viperine snakes or a control. Tadpoles were measured each 15 days. DNA was analysed.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Kraaijeveld-Smit F.J.L., Griffiths R.A., Moore R.D. & Beebee T.J.C. (2006) Captive breeding and the fitness of reintroduced species: a test of the responses to predators in a threatened amphibian. Journal of Applied Ecology, 43, 360-365.

Please cite as:

Smith, R.K., Meredith, H. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Amphibian Conservation. Pages 9-64 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Amphibian Conservation

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