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Newsletter V5-N2 V irg in ia Herpetological Society August 1995 Volume 5, Number 2 NEWSLETTER Catesheiana Co-editors President Paul W. Saltier Ron Southwick R. Terry Spohn Paul Sattler - Pres. Elect Newsletter Editor Sccrctarv/Trcasurcr Mike Finder Bob Hogan microdistribution patterns of Worldwide Amphibian Decline salamanders in terrestrial environments Is There a Virginia Connection? (Wyman and Hawksley-Lescault, 1987). Increased ultraviolet radiation, apparently due to the thinning of the Submitted by Joseph C. Mitchell, Department of Biology, ozone layer, has been shown to k ill University o f Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173 developing eggs of the Cascades frog (Rana cascadae) and western toad (Bufo boreas) (Blaustein et al., 1994a). Amphibians have received Congress of Herpetology held in The widespread fungus (Saprolegnia considerable media and scientific Canterbury, England in 1989. ferax) introduced into ponds and lakes attention over the past half dozen years Pin-pointing the causes of in the Pacific northwest by introduced because of species extinctions and these problems has been elusive. Early fish has caused egg mortality in the population declines worldwide. on, scientists were looking for one western toad (Blaustein et al., 1994b). Observations such as (1) the last global smoking gun, but the results of An unidentified virus carried by individual of the Australian gastric studies that have been published since introduced fish, such as tilapia, brooding frog (Rheobatrachus silus) the alarm surfaced indicate that the guppies, and carp, is suspected as was seen in 1979 (Tyler and Davies, causes are varied and often local. The causing frog decline in Australia 1985); (2) the golden toad (Bufo most common cause of local population (Anderson, 1995). Introduced fish and periglenes) of Costa Rica was last seen decline continues to be habitat loss bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) have been in 1989 (Crump et al., 1992); and (3) caused by a variety of factors, such as implicated as causes of amphibian two species formerly widespread in the timbering, urbanization, and road decline in the American west (Haves Sierra Nevada of California (mountain building. Two physical factors have and Jennings, 1986; Bradford. 1989). yellow-legged frog [Rana muscosa] and been implemented as major Use of acrially-spravcd pesticides in Yosemite toad [Bufo canorusl) have contributors. Lowering of the pH of Canadian forests has been shown to declined precipitously (Bradford et al., ponds and soils by acid precipitation cause developmental and behavioral 1992). Examples such as these have causes amphibian mortality in aquatic problems in three species of ranid frogs been cropping up since herpetologists systems (Freda and Dunson, 1985; (Bcrrill et al., 1994). compared notes at the First World Wyman, 1988) and changes in 1 VA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER precipitation occurs in the mid-Atlantic extirpated. Indeed, amphibian interested in monitoring amphibians at region contributes to the reduction of populations in eastern North America any level in Virginia should contact acid neutralizing capacity of several have apparently escaped the dramatic them (Division of Natural Heritage, VA streams in Shenandoah National Park declines observed in western North Department of Conservation and and on Massanutten Mountain in the America and other parts of the world. Recreation, 1500 E. Main St., Suite George Washington National Forest. Responding to the cry for 312. Richmond. VA 23219; 804-786- However, we currently have no data to appropriate data to assess the apparent 7951). indicate that increased ultraviolet worldwide problem with amphibians. Our next goal is to formalize a radiation, the fungus, viruses, or The Species Survival Commission standardized form for the accumulation introduced species are causing (SSC) of the World Conservation of monitoring data and to have amphibian mortality, nor do we have Union (IUCN) recently established the available a written protocol for use in direct evidence of declines caused by Declining Amphibian Populations Task nighttime frog call surveys, larval acid precipitation. Aerial application of Force (DAPTF). Its goals are to (1) surveys, and terrestrial salamander pesticides and herbicides in mid- organize a global network of Working surveys. We w ill be working with both Atlantic national forests may not be a Groups to monitor and assess the status scientists and amateur herpetologists, serious problem because these areas are of amphibian populations, (2) promote indeed anyone with an interest in used for hardwood products. However, studies of potential causes of decline, conducting a long-term study, in order private Piedmont and Coastal Plain (3) recommend uniform protocols for to develop a baseline of standardized timber operations that clear hardwood monitoring procedures, and (4) data on these animals. Our goal is to be areas for loblolly pine plantations often generate appropriate conservation able to assess population trends over use aerial chemicals to control action plans for policy makers, land time so that we can be aware of any hardwoods and forest pests. Except for managers, and scientists and substantial changes as they occur. As a few studies that are just beginning to organizations concerned with the part of the North American Program of accumulate data on acid precipitation in maintenance of biological diversity the DAPTF, we w ill also be assessing amphibian breeding locations, I am (DAPTF, 1995). Goal three has been periodically the status of amphibians in unaware of any scientific study addressed by the publication of a book our five-state region. Thus, we w ill be addressing these problems in this area. outlining standardized protocols and developing a central clearinghouse of In response to the myriad of methodologies for studying amphibian information on the various monitoring examples of amphibian decline, the populations (Heyer et al., 1994). This studies that are and w ill be ongoing. scientific community has called for the book has quickly become the standard Anyone interested in helping with this establishment of baseline inventories reference for this worldwide effort. effort is encouraged to contact me or and long-term monitoring in sites Virginia lies within the the state coordinators. With your help, across the United States and around the Appalachian Working Group of the e should be able to determine whether world (Freda et al., 1991; Pechmann DAPTF, along with North Carolina, there is a V irginia connection to the and W ilbur, 1994; Blaustein, 1994). Tennessee, Kentucky, and West decline in amphibians. An important problem with assessing Virginia. David Withers (Natural amphibian population trends is the lack Heritage zoologist in Nashville, TN) Jf wamli tik i addiiiamat imfarmaUam of published long-term studies on and I were appointed the Co-Chairs of akami ik i ampkikiam iie iim i praitim, tki amphibian populations and this group in 1994. We have begun (ttlawimp puktiemiiams ikam ti h communities. The longest published establishing a network of people to mvmitmkli im liir m r iii ami koakstanti studies were an intensive 12 year field coordinate and assist those persons tOmki (1991), B t a k iilii (1986), Malt census conducted in a Carolina Bay interested in conducting monitoring (1990). lia ir m a n (1992), T k iliip t wetland in South Carolina (Pechmann studies of amphibian populations. Our (1990m, 1990k m riictu mmi 1999 in k ) . et al., 1991) and a 20 year census of initial task was to select state Spimsir (1990). mmi IJaffi (1992). salamander populations in the coordinators who w ill be the primary jlr iie t is im jamrmmti CamunaHam mountains of North Carolina (Hairston contact person for their respective Biatapp. Bialapieat Camttraaiiam. Capita. M irpiM apicim , jamrmml a/ Hirpiialapi. and Wiley, 1993). These studies states. In Virginia, the state coordinator MirpiMapieat JUaim mmi a ikin may it demonstrated that amphibian duties w ill be shared by Dr. Steven fammi im mimrty mmiamiUit mmi eaitifi populations can fluctuate dramatically Roble and Christopher Hobson, both titrm riii. over time but that none have become Heritage Program zoologists. Anyone VA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER 3 LITERATURE CITED Anderson, I. 1995. Is a virus wiping out frogs? New Scientist 7 Hale, J.D. 1990. Scientists worned by amphibians' decline. USA January 1995:7. Today, 19 February 1990. Berrill, M., S. Bertram, L. McGillivray, M. Kolohon, and B. Pauli. Hayes, M.P. and M.R. Jennings. 1986. Decline of ranid frog 1994. Effects of low concentrations of forest-use species in western North America: are bullfrogs (Rana pesticides on frog embryos and tadpoles. catesbeiana) responsible? Journal of Herpetology Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 13:657-664. 20:490-509. Blakeslee, S. 1990. Scientists confront an alarming mystery: the Heyer, W.R., M.A. Donnelly, R.W. McDiarmid, L.C. Hayek, and vanishing frog. The New York Times, 20 February M.S. Foster (eds.). 1994. Measuring and Monitoring 1990. Biological Diversity, Standard Methods for Amphibians Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D C. 364 Blaustein, A.R. 1994. Chicken little or Nero’s fiddle? A PP- perspective on declining amphibian populations. Herpetologica 50:85-97. Livermore, B. 1992. Amphibian alarm: just where have all the frogs gone? Smithsonian, October 1992:113-120. Blaustein, A.R., P.H. Hoffman, D.G. Hokit, J.M. Kiesecker, S.C. Walls, and J.B. Hays. 1994a. UV repair and resistance Pechmann, J.H.K., D.E. Scott, R.D. Semlitsch, J.P. Caldwell, to solar UV-B in amphibian eggs: a link to population L.J. Vitt, and J.W. Gibbons. 1991. Declining amphibian declines? Proceedings of the National Academy of populations: the problem of separating human impacts Science 91:1791-1795. from natural fluctuations. Science 253:892-895. Blaustein, A.D., D.G. Hokit, and R.K. O'Hara. 1994b. Pathogenic Pechmann, J.H.K. and H.M. Wilbur. 1994. Putting declining fungus contributes to amphibian losses in the Pacific amphibian populations in perspective: natural northwest. Biological Conservation 67:251-254 fluctuations and human impacts. Herpetologica 50:65- 84 Bradford, D.F.
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