1. Project Title: Rescuing the endangered Merida’s Collared Frog ( Mannophryne collaris )
2. Names, institutional affiliation, and email address of project leader: Enrique La Marca, Laboratory of Biogeography of the University of Los Andes at Merida, Venezuela. E-mail: [email protected] Member of the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group of Experts, since 1995.
3. Total funding amount requested from Amphibian Ark in USD$: US$ 5.000,oo
4. Executive summary This project is aimed to rescue populations of the Merida’s collared frog ( Mannophryne collaris ), an endangered Venezuelan amphibian with a very restricted distribution. The species is already listed as “Endangered” within the current IUCN Red List, and under the upcoming updated Venezuela Red List. No special measurements have been taken to protect the species, nor there is official protection for the habitat where it lives.
Donations to this project will help with establishing right conditions for ex situ captive husbandry, allowing to have, among other requirements, appropriate specimen´s enclosures, as well as filters, lights, water pumps, an other equipment. They also will help in providing for training of amphibian keepers.
The conservation of Mannophryne collaris is mandatory! There is a high risk of extinction in the wild due to massive habitat destruction due to increased urbanization. In the short run, we plan to set the right conditions to maintain the frogs, obtain the parental stocks and subject them to strict initial quarantine measures, and to consolidate an already established room to raise a varied source of food items. In the middle time we will maintain the frogs in captivity in the ex situ facilities, to finally, in the long term, liberate the offspring in the wild under a supervised protocol.
5. Introduction The Merida’s Collared Frog, Mannophryne collaris , is a dendrobatid frog endemic to the city of Merida, in the Venezuelan Andes. The species is listed as “Endangered” [B1ab(iii,iv,v)+2ab(iii,iv,v)] in the IUCN Red List (assessed by Sánchez, 2010, upon work in the Laboratory of Biogeography of the University of Los Andes, which is supporting this Mannophryne collaris conservation program). The largest part of the species’ range that extends to about 100 km2 in an altitudinal range from 1160 to 1700 m.asl falls within the terrace where the city of Merida is located. The growing development of the city at the expenses of the humid forests that once dominated the place translates into highly transformed, polluted and fragmented habitats.
The fate of the species on the terrace itself is extinction in the wild, unless a captive management and breeding program is established to maintain viable populations. In this regard, this is a species that that is badly in need to be rescued. Being a highly endemic taxon, with a very much- restricted distribution, its rescue is a must. The project focuses to help the species not only at its native range country, but also at the very restricted area where it occurs. All founder specimens will come from already detected remaining populations and possibly other that need to be detected. No other dendrobatid species lives within the distribution range of this species.
Although there is not a current estimate of numbers of the putative remaining populations, which must be at is lowest value ever, we are confident that there are sufficient animals of the taxon available from the wild to initiate the ex situ program. Attention will be paid to obtain animals from as many different places as possible, to minimize the risks of inbreeding. We will be searching for potentially remaining places within the original range of distribution, such as botanical gardens, city parks, and marginal city environments to guarantee protection of populations within its natural habitat once a reintroduction program is started following the necessary ex situ program to rescue it.
This project is in its initial phase, with only an initial step made to deal properly with the species, consisting in knowing its right ecological requirements to provide minimal conditions to keep them and guarantee reproduction. Still some research is needed to know its biology in the field. Planning ahead for an in situ strategy after this ex situ program is completed, we are searching for seemingly suitable places for later release of the F1 and F2 descendants within the program. All the way long, we will be working to identify and apply in situ threat mitigation in order to minimize duration and possible risks of the ex situ program.
The ex situ program for the Mérida’s collared frog will be held at the facilities of the Venezuelan Andean Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Center (VARAC Center) in Merida city, a recently created division of the ONG ‘Biocontacto’ specifically aimed to establish captive conservation programs for endangered Venezuelan Andean endemic frog species, and which is dedicating partial financial support for this enterprise. The VARAC Center operates within the Chorros de Milla Park’s Zoo, which has been continuously working since 1950. Biocontacto has signed an agreement with this zoological park to work in there and mutually cooperate for an initial five years’ period, extendable for a time span sufficient to ensure a continued commitment to the Mannophryne collaris ’ ex situ program over its anticipated lifespan of four years.
The conservation program contemplates diffusion of the knowledge about this species, as well as habitat protection awareness among local people. This is the first captive conservation initiative involving endangered amphibian species occurring in the Venezuelan Andean region, and will be carried out with Venezuelan specialists and trained personnel. The ex situ program will be linked to in situ conservation at Mérida’s Botanical Garden, and also involves partnerships with the Laboratory of Biogeography of the University of the Andes (which is providing taxonomic, biogeographic and ecological expertise; and partial financial support), the zoo at Chorros de Milla (providing working and functional spaces), the Botanical Garden of Mérida (providing natural and controlled spaces for later release of animals), and Biocontacto (the organization who envisioned the program, and that provides veterinary care of the animals, and partial financial support). The ex-situ component involves a reforestation program within Merida’s Botanical Garden, as a threat mitigation measure.
Before starting this project, we kept a few specimens in captivity, being successful in breeding them. The experience has been helpful to plan for appropriate ex situ facilities to guarantee adequate enclosure and health conditions for founder animals and their offspring at all life stages. We have a reasonable good understanding on the taxonomy and systematics (e.g. Manzanilla et al ., 2009), as well as the ecological and climatic conditions where the species live (see La Marca 1994, 1995), and its conservation status (La Marca, 2007). Some aspects on behavior, reproduction, feeding, health aspects, etc., were extrapolated from the experience with other dendrobatid frogs (see Lötters et al ., 2007) and other acquired by us with the initial specimens. In managing the captive frogs we are adhering to recommended biosecurity standards (e.g. AmphibianArk, 2008 and several others ).
6. Methodology To establish the program, we will need to train keepers to supervise the frogs and care for the ex- situ facilities, to expand and maintain an invertebrate food-supply’ facility to provide a reliable and varied live-food items for all stages of the species, complemented with vitamins and mineral supplements.
We will establish the necessary measures for good health (quarantine, medicines, and veterinary protocols), and general maintenance (environmentally controlled spaces, food resources, and enclosures) for the frogs. Climatic conditions will be mimicked with artificial lighting and automated photoperiod, controlled temperatures, artificial rainfall and fogging, and automated cascading water flow with a filtering system. To avoid problems with animals escaping into what otherwise is a suitable habitat within the original range, we will provide all the security measures to avoid such escapees. All animals will be subjected to treatment in quarantine, to prevent transfer of diseases from the wild; and special care will be given to the frogs to avoid risks of diseases in them, among them and upon liberation into the wild.
We will maintain standard record-keeping protocols to avoid risks of interbreeding and minimize the risks of loss of genetic diversity. The species will be kept isolate in a single room from other species, except for sharing the facilities in the future within a planned program with an endangered undescribed rocket frog (genus Leptodactylus ), sharing the same habitat and problems. We contemplate presentation of results at regional and national meetings. Educational program to start second year.
Figs. Distribution map (range of distribution in yellow polygon) and aspect of Mannophryne collaris :
7. Budget
Budget category Item/amount Requested Other sources (secured) from AArk Field study and Field vehicle rental, fuel, $60/day, 20 0 $1,200 Biogeography Lab collection days ULA Stipends for local participants $20/day, 0 10 days $200 Biocontacto Vehicle maintenance 0 $150 Biogeography Lab ULA
Ex situ facility Conditioning existing building 0 $7,000 Biocontacto 1st year keeper salary 0 $2,500 Biocontacto pHmeter 0 $60 Biogeography Lab ULA Air conditioner $250 0 Generator $1,000 0 Filtration system, 4-stage, 300 gpd ($420 0 x2) $840 0 Foot baths/solutions 0 $100 Biocontacto Disposable gloves ($100 x4) 0 $400 Biocontacto Food and culture media for invertebrates 0 $1,200 Chorros de Milla Zoo Plumbing (valves,couplings, PVC pipe) $560 $0 Glass (cut and drilled) 0 $750 Biocontacto Pumps ($65 x20) 0 0 Thermometer ($30 x3) $90 0 Plastic enclosures, with lids $1,300 0 Fiberglass tank, 235 gal ($480 x2) $9,60 0 Shelves 0 $1,200 Biocontacto Light bulbs, timer, electricity wiring 0 $3,000 Biocontacto Overalls, boots 0 $3,40 Biocontacto Refrigerator 0 $980 Biocontacto Computer 0 $700 Biogeography Lab ULA Threat mitigation Reforestation project, drainage system $8,500 Biocontacto Total $5,0 00 $28,280 Percentage 15,04 % 84,96 %
8. Scientific citations
Amphibian Ark . 2008. A guide to biosecurity and husbandry standards require for the safe and responsible management of ex situ populations of amphibians. Standards based upon CBSG/WAZA Amphibian Ex Situ Conservation Planning Workshop, El Valle, Panama, 12-15th February 2006- 2006 Sánchez, R. 2010. Mannophryne collaris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3.
9. Timeline of work
Activity Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Apr-Jun 2015 2015 2016 2016 Field study and X X collection ex situ facility X X Threat mitigation X X X Presentation of X results
10. Supporting letters.
Attached:
A letter of endorsement from an unrelated international organization endorsed by a recognized leader in the field of conservation (Ted Kahn).
A letter of institutional support from Biocontacto, employer of Principal Investigator.
Proposal submitted to: Kevin Johnson, Taxon Officer. AArk Seed Grant