Amphibian Taxon Advisory Group Regional Collection Plan
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1 Table of Contents ATAG Definition and Scope ............................................................................................................ 4 Mission Statement .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Addressing the Amphibian Crisis at a Global Level ........................................................................................... 5 Metamorphosis of the ATAG Regional Collection Plan .................................................................................... 5 Taxa Within ATAG Purview ............................................................................................................ 6 Priority Species and Regions ................................................................................................................................... 6 Priority Conservations Activities ............................................................................................................................ 7 Institutional Capacity of AZA Communities ................................................................................... 7 Space Needed for Amphibians ............................................................................................................................... 8 Table 1: Space Analysis Summary of Managed SSP Programs .................................................................. 11 Species Selection Criteria ................................................................................................................ 12 The Global Prioritization Process ....................................................................................................................... 12 Selection Tool: Amphibian Ark’s Prioritization Tool for Ex situ Conservation .......................................... 12 Management Categories ................................................................................................................. 13 Results of Species Selection Process ............................................................................................... 14 Key to Categorical Designations .......................................................................................................................... 14 Priority I Taxa for Recommended for Ex situ Management ........................................................................ 15 Table 2: Recommended Priority I Taxa ..................................................................................................... 15 Priority II Taxa for Recommended for In situ and Ex situ Management .................................................... 16 Table 3: Recommended Priority II Taxa.................................................................................................... 16 Priority III Taxa for Recommended for In situ Efforts ................................................................................. 17 Table 4: Recommended Priority III Taxa .................................................................................................. 17 Program Status and Data Summary Tables of Current SSP Programs .......................................... 18 Table 5: Program Status Table of Priority I Taxa .............................................................................................. 18 Table 6: Animal Program Summary Data Table of Priority I Taxa ................................................................ 19 SSP Program Accounts .................................................................................................................... 20 Puerto Rican Crested Toad SSP ........................................................................................................................... 20 Wyoming Toad SSP ............................................................................................................................................... 22 Panamanian Golden Frog SSP(s) ......................................................................................................................... 24 Dusky Gopher Frog SSP ....................................................................................................................................... 26 Houston Toad SSP ................................................................................................................................................. 28 Recommendation Update Table ..................................................................................................... 30 Table 7: Recommended Updates from Species Listed in 2008 RCP .............................................................. 30 Considerations for New Studbook and Managed Ex situ Programs ............................................. 32 Decision Matrix for Forming New Ex situ Amphibian Populations for Conservation ............................... 33 2 Amphibian Husbandry .................................................................................................................... 34 Amphibian Disease Management in Captivity ............................................................................... 34 Amphibian Population Management and Data Entry Guidelines ................................................. 35 Suggested Taxa for Exhibit ............................................................................................................ 36 Table 8: Suggested Taxa for Exhibit .................................................................................................................... 36 Exhibit Species Examples ..................................................................................................................................... 37 Suggested Taxa for Outreach.......................................................................................................... 40 Table 9: Suggested Taxa for Outreach ................................................................................................................ 40 ATAG Recommendations ............................................................................................................... 41 Responsible Population Management: Humane Euthanasia ........................................................................... 41 Amphibians and Outreach .................................................................................................................................... 41 Amphibians in Classroom Settings ...................................................................................................................... 41 Contact Information ........................................................................................................................ 42 ATAG Steering Committee .................................................................................................................................. 42 ATAG Advisory Committee ................................................................................................................................. 42 Program Leaders ..................................................................................................................................................... 43 Species Champions/Contacts ............................................................................................................................... 44 Links to Amphibian Resources ...................................................................................................... 46 References ....................................................................................................................................... 47 Appendix I: AArk Amphibian Species Prioritization Ranking Process and Results ..................... 48 Appendix II: Creating Isolation Space for Amphibian Programs .................................................. 59 3 ATAG Definition and Scope Mission Statement To support the conservation of amphibians, both in situ and ex situ, through scientific management of assurance colonies, education and research. Amphibians are in Trouble! In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conducted the Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA), which evaluated the status of 6,285 amphibian species. The GAA reported that the sizes of more than 43% of all measured amphibian populations had declined and less than 1% of populations had increased, indicating a troubling trend. Almost one-third Photo: Ian Recchio (32%) of amphibians are threatened with extinction Bolitoglossa sp. globally and 159 amphibian species may have already been lost. The majority of threatened amphibians reside in the New World, with the highest numbers in Columbia, “If the current rapid Mexico and Ecuador. Nevertheless, the bulk of endemic extermination of animals, plants species in rapid decline (80-90%) are from the Dominican and other species really is the Republic, Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica (IUCN, 2014). “sixth mass extinction,” then the amphibian branch of the tree of life is undergoing the most drastic pruning.” -Camila Ruz, Guardian UK, 2011 Photo: Dustin Smith Globally, habitat degradation, chemical pollutants, invasive species, climate change and disease have been the driving culprits behind amphibian declines. 4 Addressing the Amphibian Crisis at a Global Level The IUCN, WAZA (World Association of Zoos & Aquariums), CBSG (Conservation Breeding Specialist Group), the ASG (Amphibian Specialist Group) have called on zoos and aquariums to join in