FROGLOG Newsletter of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force
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Salamandra salamandra by Franco Andreone ISSN 1026-0269 FROGLOG Newsletter of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force August 2004, Number 64. Meteyer et al. (2000) and Ouellet very low number of abnormalities. We (2000). only found one L. kuhlii, which may We examined a total of 4,331 have strayed from a nearby stream. frogs of 23 species and found 20 A third of abnormalities were types of deformities in 9 species of due to trauma; these included digit frogs. We divided deformities into two amputations (16% of all general types: developmental abnormalities), limb amputations (2%), abnormalities and trauma (injuries). fractured limbs (7%) and skin wounds Morphological Abnormalities in We distinguished trauma (4%). The most common Frogs of West Java, Indonesia abnormalities based on the developmental abnormalities were appearance of old scars or, if they digital (43%) and, of these, By Mirza D. Kusrini, Ross A. Alford, involved digits, the occurrence of brachydactyly (16.3%), syndactyly Anisa Fitri, Dede M. Nasir, Sumantri digital re-growth. Developmental (14.6%) and ectrodactyly (11.4%) Rahardyansah abnormalities occurred in limbs were the three most common. In recent decades, amphibian (amelia, micromelia, brachymelia, The oldest specimen of F. deformities have generated public hemimelia, ectromelia, taumelia, cuta- limnocharis stored in the MZB that interest as high incidences have been neous fusions), digits (ectrodactyly, exhibited abnormalities was a juvenile found in several locations, notably in brachydactyly, syndactyly, polydactyly, frog captured on 16 November 1921 North America (Helgen et al., 1998; clinodactyly), the back-bone (scoli- from Bogor without one leg (amelia) Ouellet, 2000). The only report on the osis), the eyes (anophthalmy) and the (ID057.10). The oldest specimen of F. incidence of amphibian deformities in skin (a lump-like tumour). Trauma cancrivora stored in MZB that Indonesia concerns tadpoles of Rana included digit amputation, limb exhibited abnormalities was a female chalconota from a pond near rice amputation, limb fractured, lip wounds frog from Bogor captured on 26 July fields in Sukabumi, West Java (Leong, and skin wounds. It was sometimes 1954 which had ectrodactyly and a 2001). During 2001 to 2003 we difficult to differentiate between bifid phalanx (ID341.5). Examination conducted ecological surveys on 26 developmental abnormalities and of individuals of these species occasions in 11 rice fields and on 28 trauma, i.e. distinguishing brachy- captured by frog hunters revealed low occasions in 6 stream habitats in the dactyly and ectrodactyly from digit numbers of abnormalities of several Bogor, Sukabumi, Karawang and amputation. types including syndactyly, Subang districts of West Java The rice field habitat brachydactyly, ectrodactyly and province. We summarize the types In our rice field samples we examined amelia. and rates of morphological 3,229 individuals of 13 species, and Stream habitats abnormalities we found in adult frogs found 117 frogs exhibiting We examined 1,102 frogs of 17 found during this study. We also abnormalities. The overall frequency species in stream habitats. Fifty-three present preliminary data taken from of abnormalities is therefore low individuals showed signs of frogs harvested by commercial frog (3.62%). We found abnormalities in abnormalities. Overall frequencies of hunters in Caringin (Bogor district) four species, Fejervarya limnocharis abnormalities in total sites are during 2001 and 2002, and data from (108 of 2,695, 3.64%), F. cancrivora therefore moderate (4.81%). specimens in the collection of the (17 of 323, 5.26%), Occidozyga lima Abnormalities occurred in seven Museum of Zoology, Bogor (MZB). (1 of 117, 0.85%), and Limnonectes species: Limnonectes kuhlii (22 of West Java (~46,300 km2) is kuhlii (1 of 1). The most abundant 262, 8.40%), Bufo asper (13 of 162, the second largest province in Java species, F. limnocharis, exhibited 8.02%), Rana chalconota (6 of 269, and is one of its wettest regions. All abnormalities at all sites, at site- 2.23%), R. hosii (1 of 235, 0.43%), sampling was done at night, using specific frequencies ranging from 1.71 Bufo melanostictus (1 of 18, ca. 5%), visual encounter surveys (Heyer et al., to 11.11%, and the second most Rhacophorus javanus (1 of 18, ca. 1994). Nomenclature follows Iskandar abundant species, F. cancrivora, was 5%), and Fejervarya limnocharis (1 of (1998). Our categories of found with abnormalities on 11 10, ca. 10%). Almost half (45%) of all morphological abnormalities are occasions, at rates ranging from 3.08 - abnormalities were due to trauma, based on those of Tyler (1999), 7.14 %. The other two frogs exhibited including digit amputation (22%), limb The World Conservation Union (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission (SSC) The Open University ● The World Congress of Herpetology ● Arizona State University amputation (2.4 %), fractured limbs Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC). that rising levels of UV-B radiation, (2.4 %), lip wounds (7.3%) and skin Tyler, M.J. (1999) Australian frogs: A which could be caused by erosion of wounds (9.8%). The most common natural history. Sydney, Reed New Earth’s protective ozone layer, can developmental abnormalities were Holland. play at least a part in the amphibian digital (39.1%). The most common declines we’re seeing around the types of digital abnormalities were Acknowledgments world.” ectrodactyly (12.2%), brachydactyly Field surveys were made possible by Most scientists now believe, (9.8%), and syndactyly (4.9%). The funding from Wildlife Conservation Blaustein said, that a wide range of high prevalence of abnormalities in B. Society, James Cook University, causes explain the totality of asper was due largely to individuals Bogor Agricultural University and amphibian declines, and those causes from a stream in Caringin, Bogor (6 of Indonesian Reptile Amphibian Trader probably include habitat destruction, 25 individuals, 24%); most of the Association for MDK. We thank MZB disease, parasites, introduced exotic abnormalities in these animals were for giving us access to the specimens, species, environmental contaminants caused by trauma to the digits and especially to ibu Mumpuni. We thank and other aspects of global climate lips. L. kuhlii in Cilember (Bogor) also all the volunteers for their help change. In some cases complex showed a high prevalence of especially Ita Novita Sari for doing the chains of interlaced ecological effects abnormalities (18 of 220, 8.18%), work in MZB. can lead to amphibian disease, most of which were ectrodactyly or Contact: Mirza D. Kusrini and Ross deformity or death. digital amputations. Alford, School of Tropical Biology, But UV-B radiation is still high Our results indicate that most James Cook University, Townsville, on the list of concerns, the of the frequencies of abnormalities are Qld, 4811, Australia. researchers say. relatively low and probably within the [email protected] “At first our field studies normal range (Tyler, 1999 and Anisa Fitri, Dede Mohammad Nasir & showed only the damage that Ouellet, 2000) in West Java, although Sumantri Rahardiansyah, Department increased levels of UV-B radiation in some cases there were elevated of Forest Resources Conservation, could do to amphibian embryos, percentages of abnormalities (>5%). Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural where they caused mortality in some Our data were, however, collected University, PO Box 168, Bogor 16000 species and not in others,” Blaustein almost exclusively on late juvenile and Indonesia. said. “But with more research we’ve adult frogs. Our results might have seen how UV-B radiation can affect differed if we had sampled tadpoles or PRESS RELEASE: Concerns growth and development in larvae, immediately post-metamorphic frogs, Remain About UV-B Damage cause changes in behavior, some reducing or eliminating the probable deformities, and make the amphibian effects of differential survival. To Amphibians more vulnerable to disease and death. References And in adults, it appears that UV-B radiation can cause retinal damage Helgen, J., McKinnell. R.G. and and blindness.” Gernes, M.C. (1998) Investigation of The evidence gathered from malformed northern leopard frogs in numerous scientists around the world The exposure of amphibians to Minnesota. In: Lannoo, M.J. (Ed.) is both alarming and compelling, damaging levels of ultraviolet-B Status and conservation of Blaustein said. Every single amphibian radiation in sunlight is likely a midwestern amphibians. Iowa, species exposed to natural levels of significant part of global amphibian University of Iowa Press. UV-B radiation has now been found to declines, researchers say, despite Heyer, W.R., Donnelly, M.A., have some type of health problem, some recent suggestions to the McDiarmid, R.W., Hayek, L.C. and either immediately or later in life. contrary and a scientific controversy Foster, M.S. (1994) Measuring and “Given the numerous other about what role UV-B actually plays in monitoring biological diversity: organisms and biological systems that this crisis. Standard methods for amphibians. other scientists have already Scientists from the United Washington, Smithsonian Institution. demonstrated to be impacted by UV, it States, Canada and Spain have makes sense that some amphibians Iskandar. D.T. (1998) Amfibi Jawa dan outlined their understanding of UV-B’s too would be sensitive to UV Bali. Bogor, Puslitbang Biologi-LIPI. biological effects on amphibians in an radiation,” said Lee Kats, a professor