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 Leong, T.M. (2001) Parasitic article in Ecology [(2004) Ecology 85: of biology at Pepperdine University Copepods Responsible for Limb 1747-1763], a professional journal. and another author of the Ecology Abnormalities. Froglog 46: 3. In it, they respond to some study. recent studies that have called into Meteyer, C.U., Loeffler, I.K., Fallon, Some recent studies that question whether UV-B radiation is J.F., Converse, K.A., Green, E., have questioned these effects did not causing severe health problems or Helgen, J.C., Kersten, S., Levey, R., have an adequate base of field mortality in amphibians. Eaton-Poole, L. and Burkhart, J.G. experiments, made too many “At this point, we believe the (2000) Hind limb malformations in assumptions about how UV-B broad body of research conclusively free-living northern leopard frogs radiation in the life cycle of one demonstrates that UV-B radiation can (Rana pipiens) from Maine, species would relate to other species, cause damage to many species of Minnesota, and Vermont suggest and fail to understand the natural amphibians at almost every stage of multiple etiologies. Teratology 62: behavior of amphibians and their their life cycle, from egg to adult,” said 151-171. evolution, the researchers said in their Andrew Blaustein, a professor of Ouellet, M. (2000) Amphibian Ecology article. zoology at Oregon State University deformities: current status of “For instance, some and the lead author on the Ecology knowledge. In: Sparling, D.W., Linder, researchers have now theorized that commentary. “It appears the damage G. and Bishop, C.A. (Eds.) amphibians could avoid the effects of may be even worse than we originally Ecotoxicology of amphian and reptiles. UV-B radiation simply by avoiding thought a few years ago, and it’s clear Pensacola, Society of Environmental sunlight or laying their eggs in deeper

2 water,” Blaustein said. “But that Chicago, Maculay Laboratory of biodiversidad cubana que permita su ignores millions of years of evolution, Natural Sounds of the Cornell utilización en la investigación y la in which amphibians have developed University, BIOECO, and the BirdLife educación ambiental. certain types of behavior for specific Important Bird Areas program in Cuba Esta es también una nueva reasons. Some species lay their eggs sponsored by the British Bird herramienta para el estudio de los in warm, shallow waters because they Watching Fair and the National Center anfibios cubanos y en especial para el are seeking sun and heat, and they of Protected Areas of Cuba (CNAP). muestreo y monitoreo de las need to hatch and grow quickly before The laboratory already has poblaciones de ranas y sapos de la the water evaporates or freezes. many digitalized amphibian and bird isla. “Those types of behavior do vocalizations which are being En la ceremonia de not change overnight just because the automated and arranged in a inauguración estuvieron presentes Earth’s atmosphere may have database, although it also has insect, Gregory F. Budney, curador de changed,” he said. “It’s not that mammal and environmental sounds. sonidos del Laboratorio Maculay de simple. Moreover, as ponds dry and Its mission is to create a library of Sonidos Naturales de la Universidad water levels decrease, amphibians natural sounds representative of de Cornell; Debra Moskovitz, cannot just get out of the sunlight, and Cuban biodiversity, as well as for ornitóloga del Field Museum de they are bombarded by intense UV research and environmental education Chicago; Reynaldo Estrada, director radiation.” purposes. This is also a new tool to del CNAP; Miguel Abad Salazar, Amphibian declines are an study Cuban amphibians and director de BIOECO y Nicasio Viña issue that first came to light about 15 especially to surveying and monitoring Dávila, delegado del Ministerio de years ago and have raised warning amphibian populations. Ciencia, Tecnologia y Medio Ambiente flags among many ecologists, who Gregory F. Budney, curator or de la provincia Santiago de Cuba. believe they may be a harbinger of sounds from the Maculay Laboratory ecological changes that are first of Natural Sounds of the Cornell affecting some of Earth’s most University; Debra Moskovitz, Reports on sensitive animals and may later cause ornithologist from the Field Museum of DAPTF Seed more widespread damage to other Chicago; Reynaldo Estrada, director Grants species. of the National Center of Protected Aside from amphibian deaths, Areas (CNAP); Miguel Angel Abad population declines and localized Salazar, director of BIOECO and From Tim Halliday extinctions, another issue that has Nicasio Viña Dávila, delegate of the Recipients of DAPTF Seed Grants are raised concern is amphibian Ministry of Science, Technology and generally expected to publish the deformities. A near epidemic of Environment in the Santiago de Cuba results of their projects in refereed deformed legs, eye damage and other province were in the opening journals, or as articles in Froglog. ailments has been found in more than ceremony. They are also required to send us 60 species of frogs, toads and reports, so that their results can be salamanders in 46 states and across Un Nuevo made available to DAPTF members. four continents. Laboratorio de Below is a list of reports that we have At one site near Corvallis, Sonidos Naturales received recently. Anyone wanting a Oregon, 75-80 percent of the frogs are en Cuba copy of a report should contact the deformed, mostly linked to a parasite author in the first instance; we can

and other ecological changes. And supply copies if you cannot reach the De Ansel Fong Grillo egg mortality in embryos of the author. El 26 de febrero del 2004 se inauguró western toad and some other species Cynthia Loftin & Michael S. Bank en el Centro Oriental de Ecosistemas in parts of the Oregon Cascade Range (2003) Effects of local and landscape y Biodiversidad (BIOECO) en la have approached 100 percent in some heterogeneity on mercury loadings in ciudad de Santiago de Cuba, el recent years. palustrine amphibians from Acadia Laboratorio de Sonidos Naturales For more details contact: Andy National Park, Maine. “Juan C. Gundlach”. Este laboratorio Blaustein, Department of Zoology, [email protected] es fruto de la colaboración de varias Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR instituciones nacionales e Scott Michael (2001) Acoustic 97331-2914, USA. internacionales como la McArthur monitoring of declining anuran [email protected] Foundation, el Field Museum de populations in Puerto Rico and

Chicago, el Laboratorio Maculay de Jamaica. New Laboratory Sonidos Naturales de la Universidad [email protected] of Natural de Cornell, BIOECO y el Programa de Trent Penman (2002) Applied Sounds in Cuba Áreas de Importancia para las Aves conservation biology of a threatened de la BirdLife en Cuba patrocinado por forest-dependent frog, Heleioporus

la British Bird Watching Fair y el australicus. From Ansel Fong Grillo Centro Nacional de Areas Protegidas [email protected] de Cuba (CNAP). On February 26 2004, the Laboratory le.edu.au El laboratorio ya cuenta con of Natural Sounds “Juan C. Gundlach” Govindasami Ramaswamy (2002) una fonoteca de vocalizaciones was inaugurated in the Centro Oriental Survey of Amphibian Diversity at the digitalizadas de anfibios y aves de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad Indira Gandhi National Park (Western cubanas en proceso de (BIOECO) in the city of Santiago de Ghats). automatización en base de datos, Cuba. This laboratory is the result of [email protected] aunque también posee grabaciones the collaboration between several de insectos, mamíferos y sonido Tej Kumar Shrestha (1997) national and international ambiente. Su misión es crear un Conservation Status of Cascade organizations such as the McArthur banco de sonidos representativo de la Frogs in the Himalayan Foothills of Foundation, The Field Museum of

3 Nepal. registration forms can be found at: [email protected] Announcements www.frogs.org.au The meeting is and Meetings Greg Vigle (2003) Monitoring supported by the Australian Government and attendance is free of amphibians at a diverse Amazonian charge. rainforest in Ecuador: employing DONATIONS We gratefully indigenous personnel and digital acknowledge receipt of these The 9th Annual Meeting of the cameras to obtain time-series data on donations, received prior to June 30, Canadian Amphibian and Reptile diversity and abundance. 2004: US EPA, Danna Schock, Conservation Network /Réseau [email protected] International Amphibian Day, Arizona Canadien de Conservation des Special Grant from the DAPTF: Game & Fish Herpetology Program. Amphibiens et des Reptiles will be held at Coast Terrace Inn, Edmonton Andrew Turner & Atherton de Villiers New Free Poster: Salamanders of South, September 24 - 27, 2004. All of (2003) Western Cape Nature Arkansas The Arkansas Game & Fish the relevant information is on our Conservation Board Long Term Frog Commission has published a new website at www.carcnet.ca or you Monitoring Annual Report. wildlife poster illustrating in colour the can contact Kris Kendell at: [email protected] salamanders of their state. The poster [email protected] is the product and design of state The deadline for early registration and herpetologist Kelly J. Irwin with the abstract deadline is 30 July 2004. artwork by Bruce Cook. It WEBFROG supplements the information 12th Annual Association of Reptile appearing in the recently (2004) & Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) published "Amphibians and Reptiles of Conference April 2005, Tucson, Arkansas" by Stanley E. Trauth, Henry Arizona. Scientific sessions include: DAPTF Website Updated: Check out W. Robison, and Michael V. Plummer. general herpetological veterinary the latest updates to the DAPTF The excellent photography is by topics, diagnostics and therapeutics, website at: www.open.ac.uk/daptf Suzanne L. Collins (Lawrence, anaesthesia and surgery etc. etc. plus Froglog is now also available to Kansas) and Stanley E. Trauth (State field trips! For updated conference and download on-line in PDF format at: University, Arkansas). registration information please view www.open.ac.uk/daptf/froglog/ To request a copy, call: 1-800-364- the ARAV website at www.arav.org If you prefer to view your copy of this 4263 Please submit titles for abstracts or papers by September 1, newsletter on-line (and therefore Green Frog Data Needed: Walter 2004 to: reduce paper usage and postage Meshaka, state herpetologist of [email protected] costs), please inform John Wilkinson Pennsylvania, is currently studying at the e-mail address below. geographic variation in life history WCH5: For advance details of next NEW! Donate to DAPTF’s Work On- characteristics of a widespread years’ Fifth World Congress of Line! Later in the year, all postal anuran, the green frog (Rana Herpetology in Stellenbosch, South recipients of Froglog will receive (as clamitans). If you live within the Africa, check out this web page: usual) a request for donations from geographic range of this frog or come http://www.wits.ac.za/haa/5wch.htm our Chair. Now, however, anyone into contact with this species, please DAPTF plans to have a high-profile anywhere in the world with www e-mail ([email protected]) or presence at this meeting. access and a credit card can make a write to him (State Museum of secure donation to DAPTF’s work with Pennsylvania, Zoology/Botany, 300 PayPal at: North Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania www.open.ac.uk/daptf/about/abou8. 17120-0024) with what you know to be htm the calling season of this frog in your The Colorado Division of Wildlife has area. If, for specific areas, you can tell launched their web-based him if males have a yellow throat, so herpetofaunal atlas at: much the better! Please also note if wildlife.state.co.us/species_cons/h you are willing for him to reference erpetofaunalatlas.asp your information as a personal communication. RANA and US National Science The latest version of the "Names of Foundation Grants DEB-0130273 Conference-Workshop: Captivity, the Reptiles and Amphibians of North and INT-0322375 helped support Reintroduction and Disease Control America" has been posted at: the publication of this issue. http://ebeltz.net/herps/etyhome.html Technologies for Amphibians. Will be held 11th -14th December 2004 at For fascinating video/audio FROGLOG is the bi-monthly the Amphibian Research Centre in sequences of calling frogs (and newsletter of the Declining Amphibian Melbourne, Australia. The purpose of interviews with Carl Gerhardt about Populations Task Force. Articles on the meeting will be to discuss current frog mate choice) visit: any subject relevant to the tools for conservation and to develop www.midwestfrogs.com/ understanding of amphibian declines a set of guidelines for use in should be sent to: reintroduction and conservation Funding for FROGLOG is John W. Wilkinson, Editor, programs. Papers and posters are underwritten by the Detroit Department of Biological Sciences, called for in the areas of: captive Zoological Institute, P.O. Box 39, The Open University, Walton Hall, breeding and captive assistance Royal Oak, MI 48068-0039, USA Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, U.K. programs, cryopreservation and other Tel: +44 (0) 1908 - 652274. reconstitution technology, reintro- Fax: +44 (0) 1908 - 654167 duction, quarantine and disease E-mail: [email protected]

management for captive and field

populations. More information and

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