ISSN 1026-0269 Mantella cowani by Franco Andreone F ROGLOG Newsletter of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force

October 2003, Number 59.

Director, at the address on the back of undescribed) frog species. It is DAPTF SEED Froglog , or by e-mail to therefore a race against time to [email protected] discover these taxa and protect them. GRANTS 2004 Proposals should contain: (1) Furthermore, due to their biological Name, affiliation and contact peculiarities and very colourful information of proposer(s), (2) Project appearance, many frogs are annually We are pleased to announce a new title, (3) Description of the intended exported for the pet trade: Mantella round of Seed Grants for 2004. These work, including localities and species (Mantellidae), some Scaphiophryne are intended as one-time awards of involved, (4) Start date and schedule and Dyscophus (Microhylidae), and, in between $500 and $2000 for the of the project, (5) Explanation of how a few cases, Mantidactylus and support or initiation of research that the project will further the DAPTF’s Boophis (Mantellidae). furthers the DAPTF’s mission to mission, (6) Budget breakdown, A recent conservation determine the nature, extent and including details of additional funding synthesis (Andreone & Luiselli, 2003) causes of amphibian population obtained or sought from elsewhere indicated that the harlequin mantella declines. There are two categories in (note that we do not provide funds to Mantella cowani is likely the most this year’s round, thanks to generous support salaries), (7) References, if threatened Madagascan amphibian support from the US Department of appropriate, and (8) Any other because of a combination of sensitivity the Interior’s Amphibian Research and pertinent information. to habitat alteration and to exploitation Monitoring Initiative (ARMI). We will All information acquired with for the pet trade. The few remaining accept applications in Spanish, the support of the DAPTF remains the plateau forests where this species still Portugese and French, as well as in intellectual property of the grant lives are highly fragmented and English. recipient, but must be freely available subject to intensive timber harvesting. ARMI AWARDS. The criterion for to the DAPTF and for the DAPTF’s The species is known from small these awards is that the proposed use in furthering its mission. forests near Ambatolampy and work should be done on species or The closing date for applications is Antoetra. Furthermore, some museum issues of concern in the USA. ARMI 15th December, 2003. vouchers record its presence (at least is particularly interested in funding in the past) in other localities. At research on potential stressors of Antoetra M. cowani was said to be amphibian populations. For more quite common until several years ago information about ARMI, go to: and, for this reason, it has been http://edc2.usgs.gov/armi/ captured in large numbers UNRESTRICTED AWARDS. The It’s Not Carnival for the Harlequin (Rakotomavo, 2001). During January-February 2003, DAPTF welcomes applications that Mantella! Urgent Actions Needed we carried out a pilot project on this address any aspect of amphibian To Conserve Mantella cowani, an declines, but favours joint applications mantella, trying to identify sites with Endangered Frog from the High viable populations. Around Antoetra that involve a partnership between Plateau of Madagascar herpetologists in developed and we confirmed the species’ presence at developing countries. We are also four sites. In general, the habitat By F. Andreone and J. E. prioritizing research that investigates consists of narrow bands of original Randrianirina synergistic effects between two or upland forests along montane more factors that have been identified Little is known about the conservation streams, or humid stone walls on as actual or potential causes of status of amphibians in Madagascar. montane moors. The surrounding amphibian population declines. Ninety-nine per-cent of the (more than habitat is the “typical” deforested 210) anuran species are endemic and upland savannah. At Site 1, despite an Applicants should indicate which of are represented by four families intensive search, only a very few the above categories they have in (Hyperoliidae, Mantellidae, Micro- individuals were found. There, the mind, but we will consider applications hylidae, and Ranidae). Since many of collecting pressure is apparently high in the ARMI category also in the the Malagasy amphibians are since the site is close to the village of Unrestricted category. Do not hesitate connected with forest habitats it is not Antoetra.Children visit it almost every to contact Tim Halliday if you need unreasonable to suggest that the high day to collect the mantellas. We learnt clarification or advice. deforestation rate occurring in this that the current price per individual of Proposals of no more than 4 country has been accompanied by the Mantella cowani is 4-5000 FMG (0,7- pages should be addressed to: Tim extinction of many (possibly 0,8 s)vs. 250-500 FMG(0.04-0.08 s) Halliday, DAPTF International for Mantellabaroni. AtSite 2, we

The World Conservation Union (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission (SSC) The Open University ● The World Congress of Herpetology ● Arizona State University found >20 individuals in four research prohibited for some years. Since the Indiana. This project is designed to days. At Site 3 there are still large decline for M. cowani is due to a restore connectivity and ecosystem forest fragments surrounded by slash- combination of habitat alteration and function between three natural area and-burn agriculture ( tavy) with maize capture for the pet trade, a limitation of remnants (totaling ca. 4000 ha). cultivation. Within the forest we found the latter should hopefully result in the Wetland/prairie complexes have been frog species typical of the eastern species’ recovery where habitat is still severely impacted by conversion to rainforests, while within the forest and suitable. During this period of agriculture in the United States, and nearby tavy we found a rich M. baroni suspension, research must be carried surviving remnants are generally small population. A few individuals were out to ascertain the population size and isolated. This restoration is phenotypically recognised as M. and a realistic distribution pattern. designed to create a highly viable cowani. Furthermore, we found in the Acknowledgements . We thank for wetland/grassland complex that will tavy several specimens with financial support DAPTF, WCS and maintain biodiversity into the intermediate chromatic traits between NACC. For companionship and foreseeable future. Once completed, M. baroni and M. cowani; we suspect exchange of information thanks to G. the restoration will create a contiguous that most of them are hybrids. The two Aprea and M. Vences. E. J. Edwards wetland, grassland and savanna species are indeed very closely helped with logistics and personal mosaic harboring a rich assemblage related (Vences et al., 1999). Finally, information. of native plants and animals. we surveyed a fifth site at about 150 The restoration at Kankakee Km North of Antoetra, near Contact: Franco Andreone, Museo Sands represents a bold attempt by Ambatolampy. This area too consists Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Via G. TNC to use landscape-scale of small forest parcels within Giolitti, 36, I-10123 Torino, Italy. restoration/reconstruction as a [email protected] savannas, and a narrow riverine strategy to achieve conservation goals forest. Along the stream we found only and Jasmin E. Randrianirina, Parc at a fragmented high-biodiversity site. a single specimen of M. cowani. It is Botanique et Zoologique de Ecological restoration is increasingly difficult to understand if the very low Tsimbazaza, BP 4096, Antananarivo touted as a technique for conserving occurrence of M. cowani reflects a real 101, Madagascar. biodiversity in highly modified and [email protected] scarcity of the species, or if it is due to fragmented landscapes. Indeed, unsuitable weather conditions. References restoration may be the only method of In terms of habitat Andreone F. & Luiselli L.M.(2003) enhancing the integrity of ecological requirements, M. cowani appears a Conservation priorities and potential systems that have been so fully typical stream and moor species. threats influencing the hyper-diverse degraded that few, if any, large natural Although we cannot draw a realistic amphibians of Madagascar: Ital. J. examples remain. But to play a figure of the size of the visited Zool. 70: 53-63. significant role from TNC’s unique populations, our feeling is that they do Rakotomavo E. (2001) Etude de la perspective, restoration must move not exceed more than a few hundred filière Mantella de Madagascar. beyond simple stand-alone projects individuals, usually less than one Report to Office National pour where the restoration is viewed as an hundred. We are concerned about the l’Environnement (ONE), Valorisation end unto itself, to become a widely fact that the harvesting of wild animals de la Biodiversité. used strategy to alleviate threats to is likely to affect natural populations. biodiversity. Vences, M., Glaw, F.& Böhme, W. During our stay at Site 1,we heard To help achieve this, in 1998 (1999) A review of the genus Mantella rumours of the activity of local people, TNC organized a multidisciplinary (Anura, Ranidae, Mantellinae): who collected about 250 individuals in consortium of regional biologists from taxonomy, distribution and one week from about five populations. nine colleges and universities to conservation of Malagasy poison Since the number of persons engaged frogs. Alytes 17: 3-72. develop a coordinated research effort was not less than 50, the mean centered on ecosystem recovery at capture capacity is about 1 mantella Kankakee Sands. The primary per person per day. This is indeed a Amphibian question guiding the consortium is: very low number when compared with Biodiversity Can restoration heal ecological the very high densities of M. Recovery in a damage caused by historical land aurantiaca, M. milotympanum and M. Large-scale conversion and fragmentation at a baroni (M. Vences, pers. comm.). Ecosystem high-biodiversity site? Of course more data are Restoration Our preliminary results indicate needed to reach a comprehensive that amphibians previously existing at conservation scenario. Like all the From Bob Brodman Kankakee Sands rapidly colonized other mantellas, M. cowani is currently Indiana State Coordinator restored wetlands. Amphibians listed on CITES Schedule II, and US Central Working Group exponentially increased from 14 because of this is theoretically subject populations at 7 remnant breeding to some control and protection. The Reports of recent amphibian declines sites in 1998 to 172 populations at 44 very critical ecological situation, (Blaustein and Wake 1990, Houlahan breeding sites by 2003. All seven of however, demands drastic political et al. 2000) and malformations (Helgin the species present in 1998 have initiatives. Due to the high retail price, et al. 1998, Hayes et al. 2002) have greatly increased in abundance and local people are induced to collect a given those of us who care of about three new species ( Rana catesbeiana, large number of specimens, and to amphibian conservation little reason to Hyla chrysoscelis and Ambystoma stock them whilst waiting for the final be optimistic. Perhaps we need some tigrinum ) have colonized Kankakee decision of the exporter (with an good news. Sands since 2001. Survival of obvious high mortality). This has an The US Nature Conservancy tadpoles to metamorphosis occurred evident negative effect on the natural (TNC) purchased the Kankakee in large numbers at most wetlands in populations, whichalready live in Sands property and has initiated a 2002 and 2003. Only about half of the degraded habitats. The trade and wetland/sand prairie restoration on a property has been restored to date, so collecting of M. cowani should thus be 3,000-hectare tract in northern there is reason to believe that

2 populations will further increase over salamanders travel to breeding sites cultivation totalled 11.28 million ha in the next five years. on just a few evenings when the the center, east and north of the Acknowledgements weather is right, and many of these country. Despite this, remnant patches Funds for this research were provided may be crushed beneath the wheels of natural vegetation still exist, by the Indiana Department of Natural of cars along roads that must be embedded in the agricultural matrix to Resources, The Nature Conservancy, crossed. the point where existing amphibian and Saint Joseph’s College. My In the spring of 2002, such a populations may be dependent on thanks to Spencer Cortwright, the slaughter occurred near a major altered wetlands or ephemeral ponds TNC staff, and to my students who breeding wetland in the Delaware for their survival and reproduction. helped conduct surveys. Water Gap National Recreation Area Anuran species living surrounded by in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. The evening croplands may benefit from the crops Full copies of this report can be th of March 9 was the first mild, rainy grown but may be inadvertently obtained from: Bob Brodman, Biology evening at the end of winter and the exposed to pesticides used to reduce Department Chair, Saint Joseph’s first night for the emergence of five insects, weed, and disease pests of College, Rensselaer, IN 47978, USA. species of amphibians: the spotted those crops. In this context, Tel: 219-866-6215 salamander ( Ambystoma maculatum ), amphibians have been proposed as a [email protected] Jefferson salamander ( A. model for studying biological control References jeffersonianum ), red-spotted newt due to their carnivorous diet as adults. Blaustein, A.R. & Wake, D.B.(1990) ( Notophthalmus viridiscens ) spring Few field studies, however, have Declining amphibian populations: a peeper ( Pseudacris crucifer) and elaborated the relationship between new global phenomenon? TREE 5: wood frog ( Rana sylvatica). Along a insect pests and the trophic ecology of 203-204. 150 m section of the infrequently- wild amphibians. Our objectives, Hayes, T.B., Collins, A., Lee,M., travelled road bordering the large therefore, were to examine the Mendoza, M., Noriega, N.,Stuart,A. & wetland, I counted 650 dead wood diversity and trophic ecology of Vonk,A.(2002) Hermaphroditic, frogs and peepers, 30 dead spotted anurans in soybean croplands of the demasculinized frogs after exposure salamanders and at least 25 dead Córdoba and Entre Ríos Provinces of to the herbicide atrazine at low newts. The National Park Service was Argentina. ecologically relevant doses. Proc. notified of this mortality and advised to Amphibian diversity, abun- Natl. Acad. Sci. 99: 5476-5480. close the road under similar dance and species richness were circumstances the following spring. estimated using pitfall trapping. We Helgen, J. McKinnell, R.G. & Gernes, The Park administration responded analyzed the diet of two anuran M.C.(1998) Investigation of favourably to this idea, and on the species per field of crops that malformed northern leopard frogs in evening of March 21 st , 2003 (the first represented the highest biomass and Minnesota. In: M.J. Lannoo (ed.) mild, rainy evening of the year) the abundance. We studied specimens of Status and Conservation of road was closed with barricades and Bufo arenarum (Anura: Bufonidae) Midwestern Amphibians. University of patrolled by Park Rangers to prevent and Leptodactylus latinasus (Anura: Iowa Press, Iowa City, Iowa. any cars from travelling through the Leptodactylidae) for Córdoba Houlahan J.E., Findlay, C.S., Schmidt, breeding area. Park biologists, Province; and Physalaemus B.R., Meyer,A.H. & Kuzmin, S.L. newspaper reporters, photographers albonotatus and Leptodactylus (2000) Quantitative evidence for and myself walked the same 150 m chaquensis (Anura: Leptodactylidae) global amphibian population declines. stretch of road and watched hundreds for Entre Ríos Province. Nature 404: 752–755. of frogs and salamanders cross over A total of 15 anuran species safely. The road was also closed to belonging to three families (Bufonidae, Amphibian traffic on three other rainy evenings to Leptodactylidae and Microhylidae) Mortality by Road- ensure the safe crossing of later were recorded in the two soybean Kill in a National amphibians. Future plans of the croplands located in the central Park National Park may involve the eastern region of Argentina. Our construction of culverts to allow the results suggest that soybean cropland passage of amphibians beneath the supports numerous individuals of a By John Serrao road. population and varies in capacity to Many of the causes of global Contact: John Serrao, 2113 Rosemont support species. The abundance, amphibian declines are so complex in Drive, Tobyhanna, PA 18466-3606, diversity and richness of anurans nature that they seem well beyond the USA. increased with increasing complexity ability of the amateur herpetologist or and height of soybean plants, nature lover to become involved. probably because of the damp soil Amphibians in Ozone layer depletion, global surface and low air temperature. The Argentinean warming, agricultural chemicals, diet of the anurans studied consisted Soybean Croplands: chytrid fungi and other phenomena of a much higher quantity of mobile Implications for have all been implicated. One other insects than other arthropods. The Biological Control cause, however, is very localized as a majority of insects we found were possible major problem for species harmful to soybean amphibians, especially in the heavily- production. In particular, the anurans developed eastern United States: By R. Lajmanovich, P. Peltzer, A. fed on lepidopteran larvae, e.g. automobile traffic. On rainy spring Attademo & W. Cejas Spilosoma virginica, Anticarsia evenings, for example, when the Argentina has long been the third gemnatalis , Peridroma saucia , majority of adults of several species of world’s largest producer of soybeans, Rachiplusia nu ; immature instars of amphibian migrate to their ancestral with high output levels supported by a homoptera, e.g. Scapteris borelli; breeding sites, road-kill can represent considerable use of agrochemicals adults of Schistocerca sp., Empoasca a substantial mortality factor. A high (fertilizers and crop protection fabae , Edessa meditabunda , Nezara percentage of a given area’s frogs and products). In 2002-2003, soybean

3 viridula , Delphacodes kuscheli and florestal (Floresta Atlantica, Floresta (TReeS, UK Registered Charity No. leaf-cutter ants ( Acromyrmex spp.). com Araucária) em mananciais da 298054) that aims to determine the In this context, we suggest that serra (Piraquara, Estado do Paraná, effect of tourism on mammals, anurans should be considered as Brasil) reptiles, frogs and birds at 5 lodges in potential natural enemies or included ([email protected]/magnoseg the Tambopata Area of Madre de in the testing of new agricultural [email protected]) Dios, Peru.Over the 1-year duration chemicals prior to government of the project, the Project Fauna approval. In other words, we suggest Froglog Shorts Forever research team will require the that anuran populations are an assistance of 24 volunteers to important biological control factor in contribute their time and energy the natural suppression of species Russian and Spanish translations towards a challenging initiative that harmful to soybean plants. are now available for the book, aims to improve the way man uses the Management practices that improve “Measuring and Monitoring rainforest and its natural resources. the range of conditions and habitat for Biological Diversity: Standard International volunteer assistants will insectivorous wildlife can reduce or Methods for Amphibians,” published be required to cover the costs of their prevent extreme plague population by the Smithsonian Institution Press in participation Volunteers are fluctuations and help reduce damage 1994. especially sought for the to the crops. As the farmers use fewer The Russian version was herpetology teams! For further pesticides, they may increase the translated by Dr. Sergei M. Lyapkov, details, please visit the website at: effectiveness of anurans as natural edited by Dr. Sergius L. Kuzmin, and www.faunaforever.com enemies against multiple pests, so the printed by KMK Scientific Press Ltd. benefit to the farmer may be much The Russian translation was printed in more than just saving the cost of the June 2003. The cost per copy is $29 chemical and its application. US plus shipping. Orders should be Contact : Rafael Lajmanovich, National sent to Dr. Kirill Mikhailov at: Institute of Limnology (INALI- [email protected] CONICET-UNL), High School of The Spanish version was Health - Faculty of Biochemistry and translated by Dr. Esteban O. Lavilla, Biological Sciences - EES-FABICIB- edited by Olga MacBryde, and printed UNL. Correspondence: José Macias by Editorial Universitaria de la 1933 (3016), Santo Tomé (Santa Fe) Patagonia. Although the book was Argentina. printed in 2001, the Editorial [email protected] Universitaria de la Patagonia has not been able to distribute it, due in large Reports on DAPTF Seed Grants part to the Argentine economic crisis. Dr. Néstor Basso has successfully acted as an intermediary with the Recipients of DAPTF Seed Grants are Editorial to resolve the distribution generally expected to publish the problem. The book is now available results of their projects in refereed from Bibliomania. The cost per copy journals, or as articles in Froglog . will be $24.95 plus shipping. Orders They are also required to send us should be sent to Bibliomania either reports, so that their results can be at: [email protected] or the made available to DAPTF members. Bibliomania web site: http://www. Below is a list of reports that we have herplit.com RANA and the US National Science received recently. Anyone wanting a The USDA Forest Service, Izaak Foundation grant DEB-0130273 copy of a report should contact the Walton League of America and helped support the publication of author in the first instance; we can Ducks Unlimited, Inc. are pleased to this issue. supply copies if you cannot reach the announce the publication of "A Guide author. FROGLOG is the bi-monthly newsletter of to Creating Vernal Ponds" . This the Declining Amphibian Populations Task J. Meren Ao (2002) Amphibian fauna easy to understand book contains Force. Articles on any subject relevant to of Nagaland with nineteen new techniques that the educator, private the understanding of amphibian declines records from the state including five landowner and public land steward should be sent to: new records from India. may use to establish ephemeral John W. Wilkinson, Editor, ([email protected]) wetlands. Vernal ponds provide Department of Biological Sciences, Nancy E. Karraker & James P. Gibbs critical habitat to amphibian, reptile, The Open University, Walton Hall, (2002)Impacts of de-icing salts on waterfowl, shorebird and bat species Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, U.K. vernal pool-breeding amphibians. throughout North America. Tel: +44 (0) 1908 - 652274. ([email protected]) Please visit: http://www. Fax: +44 (0) 1908 - 654167 southernregion.fs.fed.us/boone/ to E-mail: [email protected] Savitha Krishna (2001) view on online version of the book, or Establishing the baseline data to to download an order form for a paper Funding for FROGLOG is monitor the fluctuations in the copy. Alternatively, the Guide and underwritten by the Detroit populations of anurans in the Western Order Form are available from the Zoological Institute, P.O. Box 39, Ghats of Karnataka (South India). "Herp Center" web site at: RoyalOak, MI 48068-0039,USA. ([email protected]) http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/ Magno Segalla & Eloísa Wistuba VernalPonds/index.htm (2002)Estudo das populações de Fauna Forever is a research initiative anuros em uma área de transição of the Tambopata Reserve Society

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