AAMPHIBIAN CCONSERVATION Monthly Report • july 2007

Meetings Upcoming PARC Meetings (www.parcplace.org) Developing Local Partnerships Northeast Regional Meeting: August 20-22, VA Diane Barber, ATAG Chair, Fort Worth Zoo Midwest Regional Meeting: September 6-8, IN

As Chair of the Taxon Advisory Group International Chytrid Fungus Symposium (ATAG), I focus on the “big” picture, coordinating The PARC network will hold this meeting on efforts for AZA’s response to the global November 5-7, 2007 in Tucson, AZ. Contact Dr. amphibian crisis. At the same time, as Curator of Jamie Reaser if interested in attending or Ectotherms at the Fort Worth Zoo, I evaluate sponsoring this meeting (434-990-9494/ local amphibian conservation opportunities. For [email protected]). local amphibian efforts, I first look for information about threatened and endangered species in my Year of the state. Next, I identify any ongoing conservation Amphibian Education Materials work and try to match our resources with needs. The AZA Conservation Education Committee is One of the most crucial and challenging aspects refining educational messages for Year of the Frog of becoming involved with conservation efforts is and reviewing existing amphibian conservation to develop contacts with local government education materials. If you have experience with agencies. any particularly successful (or not!) amphibian activities that you would like to share, please send Like many curators, I have spent hours tracking your ideas to Allyson Atkins at Disney's down government agents and biologists, only to Kingdom ([email protected]). receive guarded, short answers that no help was needed. Ultimately I become discouraged and Learn about AZA’s Year of the Frog Online focus on the papers towering on my desk. Bookmark http://www.aza.org/YearoftheFrog/

and visit often for updates! It was therefore quite fortuitous last month when

I received an invitation from an esteemed zoo colleague to attend a PARC (Partners in

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, NEW RESOURCES N R www.parcplace.org) meeting. To my surprise and The “Amphibian Conservation Action Plan: delight, the meeting was tremendously Proceedings of the IUCN/SSC Amphibian productive. PARC is a national non-profit Conservation Summit 2005” is available at: comprised of regional working groups. Each www..org/newsletter/ACAP.pdf working group has its own steering committee and focuses on regional issues. The organization The final Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana is comprised of state and federal agencies, chiricahuensis) recovery plan is available at: conservation organizations, museums, the pet www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Documen trade, nature centers, zoos/aquariums, energy ts/SpeciesDocs/CLF/Final_CLF_Plan.pdf. industries, universities, herpetological organizations, research laboratories, foresters, The Institute of Laboratory Animal and environmental consultants. The PARC Research’s (ILAR) most recent Journal (vol. approach to conservation is habitat focused, 48, no. 3) focuses on amphibian research, balancing endangered and threatened species- husbandry, lab facilities, reproduction, and based efforts with those aimed at “keeping disease and can be purchased at: http:// common native species common.” I love that dels.nas.edu/ilar n/ilarjournal/journal.shtml. phrase! While attending my regional PARC meeting, I developed new contacts and became rejuvenated. I encourage you to join your regional

PARC working group, or attend a meeting to Monthly Report Submission Information cultivate the personal relationships necessary to Send Monthly Report submissions regarding create effective amphibian conservation amphibian conservation activities and opportunities partnerships at all levels. to Shelly Grow ([email protected], 301-562-0777 x263). 1

News from the Field Safeguarding Panama’s Amphibians A CALL TO ACTION Bill Konstant, Houston Zoo

Panamanian Amphibian Rescue Centers Thanks to logistic and financial support provided The quarantine, treatment and captive by more than two dozen AZA institutions, a breeding portion of the El Valle Amphibian native amphibian rescue mission is well underway Conservation Center (EVACC) is up and in Panama with the goal of safeguarding running in Panama. The goal now is threatened species from an advancing chytrid threefold: to complete collection efforts and epidemic. The El Valle Amphibian Conservation monitor the advance of chytrid in the El Center (EVACC) is now providing safe haven for Valle region, to extend collection east of the numerous , toads, and salamanders. In fact, Panama Canal, and to complete construction according to project directors Edgardo Griffith of the public exhibit area before year’s end. and Heidi Ross, the following noteworthy species Estimated costs for the exhibits’ electrical, have taken reproduction beyond the stage of plumbing, and graphics are approximately amplexus: $25,000. As construction in El Valle de

Anton comes to a close, the Houston Zoo Lemur leaf frog (Hylomantis lemur): Dozens of and the Summit Nature Park will collaborate clutches have filled five aquariums with tadpoles; on a satellite facility at the park outside the oldest are currently growing hind legs. Panama City. Plans are to build enclosures Leopard robber frog (Eleutherodactylus within a fully-outfitted, 40-foot shipping pardalis): Tadpoles have hatched from four of container, as has been done by Australian eight egg clutches. Feeding the froglets a diet of herpetologists. In addition to holding springtails may help keep them alive. anticipated surplus from the EVACC program, this facility hold amphibian species Dink or common tink frog (Eleutherodactylus that will eventually be collected east of the diastema): A single female has produced three Panama Canal. It is estimated that this unit egg clutches of eggs; the first yielded 11 tadpoles. will also cost $25,000 to complete.

Horned marsupial frog Institutions or individuals interested in ( cornuta): supporting these initiatives can log on to One clutch contained http://www.houstonzoo.org/en/cms/?2149 nine froglets, six of which or contact Peter Riger, Manager of Field survived after emerging Conservation Programs at the Houston Zoo from the female’s pouch. ([email protected]).

© Bill Konstant, They are faring well thus Houston Zoo far on wild-caught food. Salamander Conservation with AZA- Accredited Mexican Partner Spiny-headed treefrog (Anotheca spinosa): With 362 recognized species, 62% of which four tadpoles recently metamorphosed. are endemic, Mexico is rich in amphibian diversity. This gift poses a conservation Green and black poison frog (Dendrobates challenge: two-thirds of Mexico’s 135 auratus): Nine eggs have yielded three tadpoles salamanders are threatened with extinction. thus far. Africam Safari’s project will focus on 10 Hemiphractus fasciatus: Two females are now salamander species from the Mexican central carrying eggs on their backs. plateau that are either endangered or classified as Data Deficient by the IUCN. The One fertilized clutch has been produced by a pair objective is to bring them into captive of Bob’s robber frogs (Craugastor punctariolus), breeding programs while carrying out field but the eggs failed to hatch. Another clutch from research and conservation. In order to a female Hylinobatrachium vireovittatum accomplish this, we need to procure and produced tadpoles, but they died within days. equip biosecure containers to be used as Three species have produced unfertile clutches of breeding units, develop sound education and eggs since being moved to EVACC: the conservation programs, as well as support Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki), projects in the field. For more information Craugastor melanostictus and Eleutherodactylus contact Luis Carrillo, Africam Safari at: moro. [email protected]. 2