Invasion Biology of Xenopus

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Quick facts

Project title:

Invasion Biology of Xenopus laevis in Europe: Ecology, Impact and predictive Models

ZFMK Project lead:

PD Dr. Dennis Rödder

Unit:

Herpetology

Object of research:

Amphibians, Frogs, Invasive species, predictive models, Xenopus laevis, SDMs

Description

Project start: 2014

The INVAXEN project is an integrated approach investigating the African Clawed Frogs' ecology, physiology, invasive potential and dispersal patterns in South Africa as well as Belgium, France and Portugal.

The following project videos show INVAXEN students conducting field research in South Africa:

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Xenopus fieldwork in Kleinmond.

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PIT tagging African Clawed Frogs.

Location

Team

ZFMK Project lead

External team members

Anthony Herrel (CNRS, MNHN, Paris, France)
Thierry Backeljau (RBINS, Brussels, Belgium)
Rui Rebelo (CBA, Lisbon, Portugal)
John Measey (CIB, Stellenbosch, South Africa)

Charlotte De Busschere (postdoctoral researcher, RBINS, Brussels, Belgium)
Shelley Edwards (postdoctoral researcher, CIB, Stellenbosch, South-Africa)

Julien Courant (PhD student, CNRS, MNHN, Paris, France)
André de Villiers (MSc student, CIB, Stellenbosch, South Africa )
Ricardo Rodrigues (MSc student, CBA, Lisbon, Portugal)
Ana Ferreira (MSc student, CBA, Lisbon, Portugal)

External collaborators:

Jean-Marc Thirion (OBIOS)
Jean Secondi (GECCO, Universite d'Angers)
Claude Miaud (CEFE, Universite de Montpellier)

Funding

Details

The INVAXEN project was established in 2014 as an association of four renowned European research institutes to investigate the invasive biology of the African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis) in Europe. Native to Sub-Saharan Africa, invasive populations of X. laevis have become established in multiple European countries, where it suppresses native Amphibian species and contributes to the transmission of diseases.

The INVAXEN project is an integrated approach combining ecological research, molecular genetics and macroecological approaches to investigate the African Clawed Frogs' ecology, physiology, invasive potential and dispersal patterns across Belgium, France and Portugal.