Rana arvalis by Tim Halliday ISSN 1026-0269 F ROGLOG Newsletter of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force

April 2003, Number 56 .

tissue and fragments of cutaneous Amphibian Mortality in a National lesions showed the presence of the Ecology and Conservation of the Park in the North of Portugal bacteria Cedecea lapagei and Genus Neurergus in the Zagros Aeromonas hydrophila in one Mountains, Western Iran individual. We consider the virus as the potential cause of the observed amphibian mortality and the bacterial infection as an opportunistic attack. B y Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani The analysis of one sample of T. (DAPTF Seed Grant Recipient) marmoratus for chytridiomycosis By Claudia Soares, António Alves de The newts of the Zagros Mountains, Matos, J. W. Arntzen, Miguel Carretero yielded a negative result (Jaime Bosch , pers. comm .). especially the genus Neurergus, are & Armando Loureiro extremely sensitive to environmental We are uncertain as to the origin of the disease. We are aware, change because they livein marginal The first documented case of mass however, of the uncontrolled conditions. It is likely that the rate at mortality in newts in Portugal was introduction of the exotic invasive fish, which newt species are declining in described by Froufe et al. (1999). This Lepomis gibbosus , which was first abundance has been underestimated, event occurred in a protected and observed in the lake in 2001. Lepomis and this potential problem needs more or less pristine area in the gibbosus may have carried one or immediate attention. It is also possible mountains of the Peneda-Gerês more of the pathogens. Moreover, this that effects from habitat destruction, national park in northern Portugal. A fish is known to have a wide pollution and drought affect the Zagros large number of marbled newts, carnivorous diet (Scott & Corssman, newts more than any other of our Triturus marmoratus , were found dead 1979) and is a potential predator for amphibians, both directly and at the shores of the ca. 0.5 ha Carris amphibian larvae and small adult indirectly. Lake that is located at an altitude of newts. We are now evaluating the My studies have revealed that approximately 1500 m. possible involvement of the virus in the Zagros newts require relatively In order to determine the cause the disease pathogenesis and aim to complex mosaic landscapes that of the fatalities, we set up a program document the impact of the disease include terrestrial elements for to monitor the populations of all locally on the amphibian populations of Carris foraging, protection and hibernation, breeding amphibian species. In 2001, Lake. as well as aquatic habitats with good larvae and adults of Bosca’s newt ( T. quality and a rich invertebrate food References boscai ) and the common midwife toad base. Connective habitats that enable Alves de Matos, A.P., Loureiro, A., ( Alytes obstetricans ) were found migration between terrestrial and Carretero, M.A., Soares, C.(2002) diseased and dead (Soares et al. aquatic habitats are also important Iridovirus-like particles in high 2002). In 2002, adult Perez’s frogs determinants of population size and mortality episode of Triturus ( Rana perezi ) were also found to be ill, abundance. marmoratus (Amphibia) from Portugal. although not in as high a number as th Three species of the genus XIV International Poxvirus & observed in T. marmoratus (n=42). Neurergus occur in the Zagros Iridovirus Workshop, Lake Placid, New Affected adults were lethargic and Mountains, northwestern and western York. displayed cutaneous ulcers and tissue Iran. Of these, N. crocatus occurs in haemorrhages and those kept in Froufe, E., Arntzen, J.W. & Loureiro, northwestern Iran in Azerbaijan and captivity all died within days. Affected A. (1999) Dead newts in Peneda- Kurdistan provinces. N. microspilotus larvae showed tissue haemorrhages Gerês. Froglog 33: 1. occurs in Kermanshah province, and and oedemas. The highest mortality Scott, W.B. & Corssman, E.J.(1979) N. kaiseri occurs in Lorestan province was observed in spring and summer. Freshwater fishes of Canada. in the south-central regions of the We conducted light- and Canadian Government Publishing. Zagros range. The habitat of these electron-microscopic examination of Soares, C., Alves de Matos, A.P., newts is closely related to shallow, tissue samples taken from recently Loureiro, A. & Carretero, M.(2002) cool, clear mountain streams and dead animals. This revealed the Episódios de Mortalidade nas nearby vegetation. In the breeding presence of iridovirus-like particles in populações de anfíbios na Lagoa dos season, mating takes place close to the underlying cells (Alves de Matos et Carris - Parque Nacional da Peneda- the water; the females then enter the al. 2002) and constitutes the first Gerês (PNPG), Portugal. VII water and deposit their eggs. After a reported case of an iridovirus-like virus Congresso Luso-Espanhol de few weeks, the larvae are found in the in the genus Triturus . Microbial Herpetologia , Évora, Portugal. water and it takes about 2months for analysis of freshly collected liver the larvae to completemetamorphosis

The World Conservation Union (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission (SSC) The Open University ● The World Congress of Herpetology ● Harvard University Based on my own Kermanshah, IRAN. new curriculum about anthropogenic observations, all 3 species of [email protected] changes to the environment and the Neurergus are in great risk of effect on salamander diversity and population decline and are seriously abundance) will be conducted. threatened. Cultural differences and similarities in After receiving the DAPTF DAPTF Seed these academic processes will be seed grant, field trips were conducted Grants 2003 compared between both groups. in the central Zagros Mountains in A successful feasibility / Kermanshah province, focusing on N. reconnaissance trip to Xalapa, microspilotus. All available habitats Veracruz, Mexico was performed 25 We have just completed our allocation (mountainous streams, pondsand October 2002 –3 November 2002. of DAPTF Seed Grants for 2003. This deep valleys, at about 1350-2100 m Sixteen participants were selected year, we received 63 applications from elevation) were checked in order to from a group of teachers invited by 32 countries, and we are funding 20 ascertain the occurrence of this taxon. Rita Vázquez, Director, Project WET projects, an outlay of about $34,500. Occurrence was expected in most of (Water Education for Teachers) Our budget this year has been the visited localities. The species, Mexico. During the workshop an enhanced by a generous contribution however, was absent in many of those overview of Project SAVE, which I from the U.S. Department of the localitiesand, if present in some, there developed for my Masters degree in Interior's Amphibian Research and were just a few specimens at each Science Education at NCSU, was Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), which is site. Climatic changes in the area presented as an example of the type supportingfiveprojects in North were noted. Some of the small of curriculum that I will develop for America. streams (serving as breeding sites) Project SAVE Mexico - Proyecto In the period 1992 to 2003, the have dried out due to the severe SALVA (Salva el Ambiente Vital de los DAPTF has funded 135 projects drought of recent years. Populations Anfibios) that I will use to obtain my through its Seed Grant programme, an previously occurring in these areas data for my Ph.D. dissertation. outlay of $242,000; these projects are have been extirpated. Water During the spring of 2003, a distributed across 37 different contamination (either from human Project SAVE workshop for up to six countries. This year, for the first time, disposal, where the habitats are close teachers from Wake County, NC will we are funding projects in Guatemala, to villages or small townships, or by be offered. This three-day workshop Nepal and Serbia. chemical pollutants such as fertilizers, will be held at the Highlands Biological Tim Halliday insecticides and herbicides) may also Station, Highlands, NC. Participants be having an effect on reproductive for the North Carolina portion of the success and on various life stages. study will be selected from HS Earth/ The local people have been Environmental Science teachers who informed as to the destructive nature attend this workshop. Select teachers of their waste-disposal activities, and will be invited to participate. This are co-operative, but lack a suitable workshop is sponsored by a grant alternative means of disposal. Local from the North Carolina Herpetological authorities have promised financial Society. support to build a waste-disposal In the fall of 2003 Rita Vázquez system and it is to be hoped that this and I will facilitate a three day (6 is constructed soon. hrs/day,total = 18 hrs.) teacher The use of various chemical workshop in Xalapa to prepare pollutants has also been discussed teachers for the use of the new with the villagers and farmers who are Proyecto SALVA curriculum, which I using these chemicals to improve their will develop during the months of agricultural efforts. Although it is December, 2002 through May, 2003. difficult to prevent the use of Curriculum activities will be focused “favourite” chemicals, some headway on anthropogenic changes to the has been made in emphasizing Project SAVE environment and the effects on minimal use of chemicals, and then salamander diversity and abundance only when absolutely necessary.It is with suggestions for conservation hoped that, with more financial measures to protect the rare and support, the project can be continued threatened species of one of the most By David Wojnowski and expanded, involving more local species-rich salamander areas in the people and authorities, and that this Project SAVE (Saving Amphibian Vital world. Rita Vázquez has agreed to will lead to a cessation, or at least a Environments) is a supplemental translate the curriculum into Spanish, reduction, in the decline of the highly environmental/conservation education making the finished product bilingual, threatened, endemic newts of the curriculum and activity guide and Paula Wynn will lend her Zagros Mountains. emphasizing salamanders and the expertise on the use of digital I wish to cordially thank the DAPTF for effect of anthropogenic changes to the photography and documenting the providing financial support for running environment. workshop with digital video. If this project.Hopefully, further DAPTF An ethnography case study of additional funding is procured, a team support will be forthcoming for a new up to six but not less than three (6-12 from Digital Storytelling (please go to: proposed project on the total) science teachers from both http://www.digitalstorytelling.org/vi Batrachuperus of the Iranian Plateau. Raleigh, North Carolina, United States deovaultmoreinfo.htm for examples) and Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico (as to will accompany us to assist with the Contact: Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani, the extent and in what ways teachers technology education instruction. Department of Biology, Faculty of participating in this study assimilate Participating teachers will also Science, Razi University, 67149 new content knowledge and integrate have the opportunity to visit four field

2 study sites where an elevational Tylototriton verrucosus , an transect has been monitored by Dr. endangered species of India. David B. Wake and Gabriela Parra Reports on [email protected] DAPTF Seed Olea for salamander assemblages. Geoffrey R. Smith and Jessica E. Types of habitats and anthropogenic Grants Rettig (2002) changes to habitats will be noted. Stressor effects on amphibian larval Instruction on salamander identif- communities: integrated experiments ication and monitoring techniques will From Tim Halliday on the effects of nitrate also be included. A follow-up trip to [email protected] Xalapa, Veracruz will be done in the [email protected] fall of 2004 to observe the teachers Recipients of DAPTF Seed Grants are implementing the Proyecto SALVA generally expected to publish the curriculum with their students. results of their projects in refereed Documentation of the workshop in the journals, or as articles in Froglog . fall of 2003, and a subsequent trip in They are also required to send us the fall of 2004, will be done with reports, so that their results can be digital video, digital photography and made available to DAPTF members. audio recordings of teacher and Below is a list of reports that we have student interviews. received recently. Anyone wanting a During the implementation copy of a report should contact the phase in the fall of 2004 teachers and author in the first instance; we can Froglog Shorts students from North Carolina and supply copies if you cannot reach the author. Veracruz will correspond with one DONATIONS We gratefully another, sharing what they have Michael Bank et al. (2002) acknowledge receipt of these learned and the steps they will take to Effects of fire history, trophic dynamics donations, received prior to March 25, promote amphibian conservation to and watershed complexity on mercury 2003. Individuals: Chris Banks, halt orreverseamphibian declines in bioaccumulation and biomagnification Aaron Bauer,Mary Brewster (in their communities. in two-lined salamanders ( Eurycea honour of Deborah Mae Broad), The workshop will take place at bislineata ) from Acadia and Charles C. Carpenter, Roger Downie, the Veracruz Ministry of Education in Shenandoah National Parks. Philip Greenberg,Moira Hope, Robert Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. Possible [email protected] Inger & Tan Fui Lian, Stephen P. field trip sites will be: 1. Las Lajas Alan Channing (2002) Kaylor, Ewald Lapioli, John H. microwave station, 2. between Cruz Chytridiomycosis in Northern and Larsen, Todd Lewis, James C. List, Blanca and Las Vigas, 3. between Las Western Cape frog populations. Paul E. Moler, William Parker, Debra Vigas and La Joya and 4. near [email protected] Patla, Ryan McCue, Michael Sredl, Cotepec in the State of Veracruz, Georg Dzukic et al. (2002) Charles L. Thomas, David Wake, Mexico. Species involved: Preservation of paedogenesis in Richard Wassersug, Chris Wedeles, Pseudoeurycea melanomolga, P. alpine newt ( Triturus alpestris , Institutions: The Nature naucampatepetl, P. leprosa, P. Caudata) populations from the high- Conservancy, Tucson Herpetological cephalica, P. lynchi, P.gigantean, altitude ecosystems of the central Society. Chiropterotriton chiropterus, C. lavae, Balkans. Thorius munificus, T. minydemas, Sonoma County Tiger Salamanders [email protected] Thorius pennatulus, Parvimolge Listed as Endangered towsendi, Lineatriton lineolus, David M. Green et al. (1997) SACRAMENTO, California, March 18, Bolitoglossa rufescens, B. Incidences of developmental 2003: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife platydactyla, 2 other undescribed abnormalities and traumatic injuries Service (FWS) officially listed the Chiropterotriton species and 1 other among amphibians at Mont St. Hilaire, Sonoma County population of the undescribed Pseudoeurycea . Quebec, in 1999. California tiger salamander as In the next century one of the [email protected] endangered under the Endangered greatest challenges for educators will Kerry L Griffis-Kyle and Mark E. Species Act (ESA). The action ends be to foster an ethic of stewardship in Ritchie (2001) more than a year of legal wrangling their students for ecosystems and the The effects of nonpoint source over the listing of the species, which diversity of life they sustain. agricultural pollutants on the predator- some in California believe does not Salamanders are but one thread in the prey interactions of an aquatic merit federal protection. The Center fabric of life on earth, but intricately predatory amphibian for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed suit woven. Project SAVE / Proyecto [email protected] for the listing in January 2002 and the SALVA Curriculum and Activity [email protected] subsequent settlement mandated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Guides will be educational tools Richard Griffiths et al. (2000) teachers can share with their students list the species on an emergency The axolotls of Lake Xochimilco: the basis on July 22, 2002, with a final that will increase their knowledge and evolution of a conservation awareness of salamanders and the listing mandated on or before March programme. 19, 2003. vital environments in need of new [email protected] approaches to stewardship. Los Bufónidos De Cuba: Siete Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani (2002) especies de la familia Bufonidae Contact: David Wojnowski, Stream Ecology and conservation of the Watch / NC Project WET Coordinator, (sapos) forman parte de la fauna de genus Neurergus (Caudata: anfibios de Cuba, que cuenta con 58 NCDENR/Division of Water Salamandridae) in the Zagros Resources, 1611 Mail Service Center especies descritas que incluye Mountains, western Iran además una de la familia Hylidae, 49 Raleigh, NC 27699-1611, USA. [email protected] [email protected] de la familia Leptodactylidae y una Daniele Seglie (2002) especie introducida de la familia

3 Ranidae. La fauna de anfibios del published, gratis back issues of the issue of Lyriocephalus, journal of the archipiélago cuenta con 95% de Journal of Kansas Herpetology are Amphibian and Reptile Research especies endémicas. Las siete available for downloading as pdfs. The Association of Sri Lanka (Vol. 4, Nos. especies de sapos forman parte de KHS is pleased to offer gratis back 1 & 2) are available for US $35, ese grupo. En este CD usted issues of a dues-based herpetological including surface postage, from: encontrará: periodical for the first time in the Anslem de Silva, 15/1 Dolosbage • Reseñas sistemáticas de cada history of our profession.Access the Road,Gampola (CP), Sri Lanka. especie. initial back issue (JKH 1 March 2002) Cheques should be made payable to • Mapas de distribución geográfica. at: http://www.ku.edu/~khs/KHSbac “K.A.L. de Silva”. Contact kalds • Fotografías de las especies. kIssues.html @sltnet.lk for details. • La descripción de la voz y el The International Society on FROGLOG BACK ISSUES The sonido grabado. Toxinology is holding its World DAPTF office has an accumulation of La bibliografía más relevante sobre el Congress Meeting in Adelaide, South run-ons of Froglog back issues, dating tema.Puede conseguir ahora su CD, Australia from September 14th to 19th , back over several years, which are contáctenos a través de: 2003. This meeting will cover all looking for a good home. If anyone www.eleuthnet.com, solenodon aspects of toxinology including animal, would like copies for colleagues, or for @caribe.net o llame al (787) 790 plant and microbial toxins.The teaching or publicity purposes, please 8654. Precio Regular: $9.99, especial meeting will be of interest to all contact John Wilkinson on para Estudiantes $7.99. scientists and clinicians involved in [email protected] or at the address SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY toxinology. Further information can be below. Requests will be dealt with on obtained from www.toxinology.net a first-come-first-served basis. Any SUBSCRIPTION OFFER for members th of herpetological organizations under the heading IST 14 Congress. copies remaining after this exercise (including DAPTF). Subscribe to the CNAH Common & Scientific Names will be sent for recycling. new journal Applied Herpetology for List Sixth Edition Scheduled The TAILPIECE: Froglog readers may be " 66 or US $79. This new, international Center for North American familiar with the ferocity of male journal addresses research on Herpetology is pleased to announce African bullfrogs during the breeding amphibians and reptiles with a focus that funding for the sixth edition of season. In captive situations, this may on biodiversity, conservation, "Standard Common and Current not be to their own advantage! Check environmental monitoring, farming, Scientific Names for North American out this story at: natural products development and Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/defau wildlife management. A main objective Crocodilians" by Joseph T. Collins and lt.asp?page=story_11-3-2003_pg9_ of the journal is to enhance Travis W. Taggart has been secured. 12 communication between academic We anticipate that the sixth edition will scientists, researchers in industry, appear in spring 2004. Copies of the governmental bodies, international current fifth edition, which appeared in agencies and others involved in 2002, will be exhausted by fall 2003. applied research involving The new sixth edition is planned both herpetofauna. The introductory because of the large number of subscription price is valid until 1 st taxonomic changes that have October 2003. For further details, visit: occurred since September 2002 and http://www.ahailey.f9.co.uk/applied because of those that will occur in the herpetology/ next twelve months.Users of the CNAH list should continue to monitor RANA and the US National Science the foundation's web site, in order to Foundation grant DEB-0130273 be kept abreast daily of the proposed helped support the publication of taxonomic changes to the North this issue. American herpetofauna. This service is available for North America only on FROGLOG is the bi-monthly the CNAH web site. Individuals newsletter of the Declining Amphibian wishing to obtain a printed copy of the Populations TaskForce. Articles on fifth edition should go to any subject relevant to the A new USGS website , made possible http://www.cnah.org/announce.asp understanding of amphibian declines by the Amphibian Research and ?id=20 and follow the instructions. should be sent to: Monitoring Initiative (ARMI): The ARMI The online reprint request page of John W. Wilkinson, Editor, National Atlas for Amphibian the Division of Amphibians and Department of Biological Sciences, Distributions can be found at: Reptiles at the Field Museum The Open University, Walton Hall, www.pwrc.usgs.gov/armiatlas/ (Chicago) has been updated, and Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, U.K. Tel: +44 (0) 1908 - 652274. Journal of Kansas Herpetology several new titles have been added. Please visit our site at: Fax: +44 (0) 1908 - 654167 Back Issues Available Gratis Online E-mail: [email protected] The Journal of Kansas Herpetology is http://www.fmnh.org/research_colle the official publication of KHS. Issued ctions/zoology/aandr_reprints.htm quarterly, the JKH publishes original The newest version of our divisional Funding for FROGLOG is manuscripts and notes of interest newsletter, featuring information on underwritten by the Detroit dealing with the biology of new collections, loan policies, and Zoological Institute, P.O. Box 39, herpetofauna. The JKH also contains other division news, is available at: Royal Oak, MI 48068-0039, USA information and reports of Society http://www.fmnh.org/temp/Herps_N activities. All interested persons are ewsletter_March_2003.pdf invited to submit items for publication. Copies of “The Amphibia of Sri One year after they have been Lanka: Recent Research”,a special

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