Leiopelma archeyi by Tim Halliday ISSN 1026-0269 FROGLOG Newsletter of the IUCN /SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG)
June 2007, Number 81
done to save them. He is also Like much of New Zealand's News from the ASG
implementing conservation projects fauna, these frogs owe their ASG Seed Grants to save species most at risk. At the precarious situation to a We have completed our allocation luncheon, introductory speeches combination of habitat loss and of ASG Seed Grants for 2007. We by Dr Claude Gascon and Mr degradation and the impact of a received 45 proposals from 21 Andrew Sabin were followed by a variety of introduced mammals. In countries, and are funding 13 moving presentation by Dr Coloma addition, chytridiomycosis has had projects, for an outlay of $26,000. about the status of amphibians in a severe impact on some This year, we are funding projects Ecuador and efforts to protect populations, notably of Archey's in Indonesia (4), Malaysia (1), them. frog in the Coromandel peninsula
Republic of Congo (1), Mexico (1), New Zealand's Native Frogs: (Bell et al., 2004). However, Poland (1), Hungary (1), Italy (1) Ancient, Threatened and the Object sympatric populations of and the USA (3). On behalf of the of Intensive Conservation Effort Hochstetter's frog seem not to
ASG and Chester Zoo, congratula- have been so affected. By Tim Halliday tions to all of our 2007 Seed Grant These remarkable frogs are recipients. New Zealand has a tiny native now the subject of an intensive CEPF Grants amphibian fauna, containing a conservation effort, involving close The ASG continues to fund single genus (Leiopelma) cooperation between New Zealand projects under the CEPF scheme consisting of four extant and three academic and zoo communities. and welcomes inquiries about extinct species. Among the world's This involves raising public funding for all regions: more details most ancient amphibians, they awareness about these obscure about which regions are eligible have remained largely unchanged and secretive animals, the creation can be found at www.cepf.net. for 160 to 200 million years. They of reserves, habitat restoration and
Sabin Award 2007 appear to communicate by translocation. The news is not all On May 17 the ASG honored the chemical means, with only a bad; a new population of first recipient of the Sabin Award limited ability to make sounds or to Hochstetter's frog has recently for Amphibian Conservation at an hear them. Essentially terrestrial in been found (Baber et al., 2006) awards luncheon in New York. their habits, they probably rarely and, as a result of habitat Thanks to a generous donation need to swim; when made to do restoration efforts on Maud Island, from Mr Andrew Sabin, this annual so, they kick their hindlegs the population of its native frog award will recognize an individual alternately, not synchronously as appears to be expanding quite or group that has made most frogs do. They are rapidly (ongoing work by significant contributions to remarkably calm and relaxed when Jacqueline le Roux and Ben Bell, amphibian conservation. The first handled. Victoria University of Wellington). award went to Dr Luis Coloma They are highly restricted in The New Zealand frog from the Pontifica Universidad their distribution, confined to conservation programme provides Catolica del Ecuador. Despite isolated populations in small a model for comparable initiatives being a relatively small country, remaining areas of native forest on elsewhere in the world, and shows Ecuador is ranked third in the the North Island, and to a few the value of collaboration between world for total number of offshore islands in Cook Strait. science, zoos and local groups. amphibian species (447) and Known from 1861 as a single For example, a translocation of number of threatened species species, Hochstetters's frog (L. Maud Island frogs has been used (163). Dr Luis Coloma’s research hochstetteri), new species have to develop and test a theoretical has advanced our understanding been described recently: model of translocations, enabling of why frogs and salamanders are Hamilton's frog (L. hamiltoni) in critical assumptions about how disappearing so rapidly in the 1919, Archey's frog (L. archeyi) in translocated animals behave to be Andes region of South America. In 1942, and the Maud Island frog (L. tested (Trewenack et al., in press). addition, he has led a broad pakeka) in 1998. Archey's frog is References campaign in his country to educate listed as Critically Endangered, Baber, M., Moulton, H., Smuts- his fellow countrymen on the plight Hamilton's frog as Endangered, Kennedy, C., Gemmell, N. & of amphibians and what can be the other two species as Crossland, M. (2006) Discovery Vulnerable.
1 and spatial assessment of a Surveys by The Indonesian in Chevron Geothermal Concessions Hochstetter's frog (Leiopelma Insitute of Science (LIPI) in 1999- in Mount Salak. hochstetteri) population found in 2001 in Mount Halimun region With additional data based on Maungatautari Scenic Reserve, found 27 species of frogs the work from Mumpuni (2002), we New Zealand. New Zealand J. (Mumpuni, 2002). compiled a list of 26 frog species in Zool: 33; 147-156. We conducted Visual Encoun- the vicinity of Mount Gede
Bell, B. D., Carver, S., Mitchell, N. ter Surveys (Heyer et al., 1994) in Pangrango NP and Mount J. & Pledger, S. (2004) The several locations inside the Halimun- Salak NP area which recent decline of a New Zealand national park with different types of represent almost two-thirds of the endemic: how and why did habitat encompassing the forest total Java species (Iskandar, populations of Archey's frog floor, water bodies and 1998). From this list, 12 species Leiopelma archeyi crash over surrounding vegetation. The were not found in one or two 1996-2001? Biol. Conservation: occurrence of a species was locations. Based on the known 120; 189-199. determined by finding adults as biology and distribution of each of
Trewenack, A. J., Landman, K. A. well as larvae and if possible by these species, we categorized & Bell, B. D. (in press) Dispersal male vocalization. Surveys in three types of threat. “Red” and settling of translocated Mount Gede were conducted from represents species that are populations: a general study and a September 2004-February 2005, currently under threat, “yellow” New Zealand amphibian case comprising nine locations ranging represents species that might be study. J. Math. Biol. from 700-2740 m asl including vulnerable to threats and “green”
locations reported by Liem (1971). represents species of least The Amphibians A second series of monitoring concern. of Mount Gede surveys has been underway since Leptophryne cruentata is the Pangrango and November 2006. Surveys in only species that is currently under Mount Salak, Mount Salak were conducted in 7 threat (IUCN Red List, Critically Indonesia Endangered). This small bufonid is locations, ranging from 700-340 m By Mirza D. Kusrini, A. Fitri, W. asl from December 2005-June currently found in Curug Endarwin and M. Yazid 2006. Each location was visited Cibeureum (Mount Gede Pangrango
Although there is good evidence once, for four days in a row. NP). The number found during the that amphibian declines are a In total we found 19 and 21 first sampling was very low (three global problem, most reported species from five families individuals). However, during the amphibian declines have occured (Bufonidae, Megophrydae, second sampling we found in developed countries or in Microhylidae, Ranidae and more individuals including an countries that have a strong Rhacophoridae) for Mount Gede aggregation of about 15 frogs research culture. Almost no Pangrango NP and Mount Salak which were well hidden in a moss- declines have been reported in NP respectively. The number of covered rock crevice in a wall of Indonesia. However this may be species found in Mount Gede one of the three waterfalls in due to a lack of research and long- Pangrango NP were less than Cibeureum. Kurniati (2003) found term monitoring in this country those found by Liem (1971) and three individuals of L. cruentata in (Iskandar & Erdelen, 2006). species composition differed. Four Cikeris (Mount Halimun), which In 2003, we conducted species from Liem’s result were suggest that the current amphibian surveys in two not found in the first survey: distribution of this frog is not mountainous areas in West Java Fejervarya cancrivora, Bufo restricted to the Cibeureum area province: Mount Gede Pangrango bipocartus, Microhyla palmipes alone. National Park (highest peak 3,400 and Rana nicobariensis. Instead, We put three species of tree m above sea level) and Mount we found additional species: Rana frogs (Nyxticalus margaritifer, Salak (part of Mount Salak- hosii, Leptophryne borbonica, and Philautus vittiger and Philautus Halimun National Park; with the Limnonectes macrodon. During our pallidipes) and a caecilian highest level of 2211 m). Both second year monitoring in Mount Ichthyophis hypocyaneus in the mountains represent some of the Gede Pangrango NP (November “yellow” category. All three tree few remaining pristine areas of the 2006-February 2007) we found the frogs are endemic to Java with little heavily populated West Java missing M. palmipes. A particularly or no bio-ecology information province. Liem (1971) described important finding was of a caecilian available. This entire species is 19 species of amphibians in the Ichthyophis hypocyaneus in rare, probably because of their Cibodas Trail of Mount Gede from Bodogol (700 mm asl). This is the cryptic nature (the genus Philautus 1961 to 1964. Unfortunately, there first record of a caecilian in Mount are very small), although we can- are no further available reports of Gede Pangrango NP. No mass not dismiss the possibility that Mount Gede amphibians after this mortalities were found on either populations may be in decline. time. There are no comprehensive mountain, however, an adult Seven species were placed in surveys of the amphibian fauna of Limnonectes kuhlii was found the “green” category (Bufo Mount Salak region either, and dead, floating in a small puddle of bipocartus, Rana nicobariensis, only a few reports on amphibian water on the side of a walking trail Rana erythraea, Fejervarya biodiversity in adjacent areas. cancrivora, Occidozyga sumatrana,
2 Microhyla palmipes). Although only Iskandar, D. T. and W. R. Erdelen. plasticity in breeding site choice in found in one or two locations, (2006) Conservation of amphibians this species from areas where the almost all of these species are and reptiles in Indonesia: Issues geology does not favour large found in human settlements and and problems. Amphibian and water bodies. A selection of are widely distributed . Reptile Conservation 4: 60-93. garden-pond breeding sites is
There are several potential IUCN. (2006) 2006 IUCN Red being visited and their population threats for frogs in both areas. List of Threatened Species. dynamics compared with the few Anthropogenic threats in the form
100%. Using environmental Ron, S. R. (2005) Predicting breeding ponds in Jersey, will variables, Ron (2005) developed a the distribution of the hopefully elucidate the factors model to identify the geographic amphibian pathogen Batrachochy- influencing toad distribution on the ranges of B. dendrobatidis. trium dendrobatidis in the new island and reveal elements Although the primary focus of world. Biotropica 37: 209-221. important for their conservation. It Ron’s research is neotropical, his is, for example, perhaps important Please contact Dr Mirza D. Kusrini model also predicted the that toads in Jersey often breed as [email protected]
occurrence of B. dendrobatidis in early as January so their spawn the montane forests of Java and Conservation of the Crapaud and larvae may be especially
Sumatra. susceptible to runoff containing the By John W. Wilkinson Knowledge of the population products of winter-crop fertilizer dynamics, ecology and biology of In September 2004, I began a 3- applications. the amphibians in this report is year study, funded by the Jersey Jersey crapauds seem to generally poor. Therefore, there is Ecology Fund, on the common be demonstrating remarkable a need to do more research to European toad (Bufo bufo) in adaptation to local conditions – ensure conservation of these Jersey, British Channel Islands. those in nearby France seem species, and in particular, for The species has cultural inclined to act like more determining the cause of decline of associations with Jersey and its’ conventional toads – surviving in L. cruentata. islanders (both are known as novel habitats and with an unusual
Acknowledgments crapauds!) and was once reproductive ecology. This serves
We thank our volunteers for this supposedly very common there. as a salient reminder to all of us project especially M. Lubis, N. Declines have been recorded for engaged in amphibian decline Sholihat, A. Ul-hasanah, S. Kirono, several decades and the toad is research that there are always new F. Irawan, M. H. Lutfi, and B. now restricted to fewer than ten things to be discovered about even Darmawan. Funding for this survey semi-natural breeding ponds in the well-known species and that was granted from BP Conserva- wild in Jersey. A media appeal run decline phenomena often owe tion Programme (Mount Gede in conjunction with the Durrell more to specific local conditions Pangrango) and The Wildlife Trust Wildlife Conservation Trust has, than to global pandemics or (Mount Salak) for which we are however, resulted in some 200 rampant urbanization. It is perfectly grateful. garden pond records from possible that, without the housing
References members of the Jersey public. boom in Jersey due partly to the Iskandar, D. T. (1998) Amfibi jawa It is not usual for B.bufo to success of the offshore finance dan bali. 1. Puslitbang Biologi-LIPI. breed in small ornamental ponds industry, there may be no toads Bogor. 132 pp. of the type it uses in Jersey, now left on Jersey and an island
though there is evidence of would have lost a cultural icon.
3 For further information about this November 2007 (see further Airport Hotel in Tempe Arizona, study please contact John details below). For this symposium, USA. For additional information Wilkinson ([email protected]). we have launched a Bd Mapping please contact Dr. Robert Bakal,
Project: we are compiling localities ([email protected].)
Reports and papers from
of Bd detections (and surveys with previous DAPTF Seed Grants Job Announcement
no detections) in order to present a
Recipients of Seed Grants from the snapshot of its current global Executive Officer, Amphibian former DAPTF are generally geographic scope. For the Bd Specialist Group (ASG) expected to publish the results of Symposium, locations will be The Amphibian Specialist Group their projects in refereed journals, mapped at a fairly coarse (ASG) is seeking a conservation or as articles in Froglog. They are resolution for display of global leader who can take on the global also required to send reports, so patterns. Maps will be shown at the amphibian decline within the that their results can be made Symposium in a presentation, and broader context of the biodiversity available to a wider audience. may be published in an article for a crisis. The ASG, a unit of the IUCN Below is a list of reports that have journal issue that will present the Species Survival Commission, been received recently. Anyone key papers from the Symposium. strives to conserve biological wanting a copy of a report should After the conference, data may diversity by stimulating, contact the author in the first reside with regional coordinators, developing, and executing instance; if you cannot reach the or other agencies and institutions practical programs to study, save, author, please contact Tim for continued updates (e.g., the restore, and manage amphibians Halliday: [email protected]. Amphibian Specialist Group and their habitats around the Betsie B. Rothermel & Victoria [formerly the DAPTF]). The maps world. The ASG is taking IUCN’s Vazquez (2006) Assessing the may be displayed on the web, Specialist Group model to the next susceptibility of North American either as a result of the conference level of effectiveness through the plethodontids to chytrid fungus or in association with these groups. establishment of a Secretariat that infection. We are asking for volunteer will serve as a dynamic hub to ([email protected]) regional coordinators to help coordinate a global web of
The following papers report compile Bd information for their stakeholders and to leverage the work supported by previous area, which will be assembled for intellectual, institutional, and DAPTF Seed Grants: mapping in September and financial capacity towards shared,
Hartel, T., Nemes, S. & Mara, G. October, 2007. We give thanks to strategic amphibian conservation (2007) Breeding phenology and the many of you that have already goals. The Executive Officer will be spatio-temporal dynamics of pond volunteered to spearhead this in responsible for coordinating the use by the yellow-bellied toad your country or area. We have not activities of the ASG to ensure a (Bombina variegata) population: found coordinators for many unified, strategic and sustainable the importance of pond availability regions, however. Can you help approach to global amphibian and duration. Acta Zoologica for your region? For further conservation, effecting policy Lituanica: 17: 56-63. (Grant to information about the Bd mapping change and communicating the Tibor Hartel et al., 2004.) project please contact Dede Olson, work of the ASG to raise the profile ([email protected]) Bd Mapping Project coordinator, of amphibian issues in the public [email protected] arena. Karraker, N. E. (2007) Are embryonic and larval green frogs Please contact Robin Moore (Rana clamitans) insensitive to Froglog Shorts [email protected] for further information concerning this road deicing salt? Herpetol.
Conservation & Biol. 2; 35-41. position. SAVE THE DATE!!!
(Grant to Nancy Karraker & James The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gibbs, 2002, funded by ARMI) and the Partners in Amphibian and ([email protected])
Reptile Conservation (PARC) are
Tim Halliday organizing an international FROGLOG is the bi-monthly
symposium on the Chytrid fungus newsletter of the Amphibian Bd Mapping Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Specialist Group (ASG). Articles Project: Help The purpose of the symposium will on any subject relevant to the Wanted be to bring together researchers understanding of amphibian
Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobati- and managers to discuss our research, conservation and / or dis) is the amphibian chytrid current knowledge of this organism assessment should be sent to: fungus that may be contributing to and its impacts on worldwide Jeanne McKay, Editor, The worldwide amphibian losses. To amphibian populations and to Durrell Institute for Conserva- synthesize our knowledge of Bd, strategize ways to prevent its tion and Ecology (DICE), The including both science and spread and manage effected University of Kent, Marlowe management aspects, a Bd populations. The symposium is Building, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 going to be held November 5-7, 7NR, United Kingdom Symposium is being planned in Tempe, Arizona, USA, 5-7 2007 at the Sheraton Phoenix E-mail: [email protected]
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