A Frog's Place
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Amphibian Abundance and Detection Trends During a Large Flood in a Semi-Arid Floodplain Wetland
Herpetological Conservation and Biology 11:408–425. Submitted: 26 January 2016; Accepted: 2 September 2016; Published: 16 December 2016. Amphibian Abundance and Detection Trends During a Large Flood in a Semi-Arid Floodplain Wetland Joanne F. Ocock1,4, Richard T. Kingsford1, Trent D. Penman2, and Jodi J.L. Rowley1,3 1Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia 2Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, Institute of Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia 3Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia 4Corresponding author, email: [email protected] Abstract.—Amphibian abundance and occupancy are often reduced in regulated river systems near dams, but com- paratively little is known about how they are affected on floodplain wetlands downstream or the effects of actively managed flows. We assessed frog diversity in the Macquarie Marshes, a semi-arid floodplain wetland of conserva- tion significance, identifying environmental variables that might explain abundances and detection of species. We collected relative abundance data of 15 amphibian species at 30 sites over four months, coinciding with a large natural flood. We observed an average of 39.9 ± (SE) 4.3 (range, 0-246) individuals per site survey, over 47 survey nights. Three non-burrowing, ground-dwelling species were most abundant at temporarily flooded sites with low- growing aquatic vegetation (e.g., Limnodynastes tasmaniensis, Limnodynastes fletcheri, Crinia parinsignifera). Most arboreal species (e.g., Litoria caerulea) were more abundant in wooded habitat, regardless of water permanency. -
Managing Diversity in the Riverina Rice Fields—
Reconciling Farming with Wildlife —Managing diversity in the Riverina rice fields— RIRDC Publication No. 10/0007 RIRDCInnovation for rural Australia Reconciling Farming with Wildlife: Managing Biodiversity in the Riverina Rice Fields by J. Sean Doody, Christina M. Castellano, Will Osborne, Ben Corey and Sarah Ross April 2010 RIRDC Publication No 10/007 RIRDC Project No. PRJ-000687 © 2010 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 1 74151 983 7 ISSN 1440-6845 Reconciling Farming with Wildlife: Managing Biodiversity in the Riverina Rice Fields Publication No. 10/007 Project No. PRJ-000687 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. -
Amphibian Neuropeptides: Isolation, Sequence Determination and Bioactivity
Amphibian Neuropeptides: Isolation, Sequence Determination and Bioactivity A Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Chemistry by Vita Marie Maselli B.Sc. (Hons) July 2006 Preface ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Contents Abstract viii Statement of Originality x Acknowledgements xi List of Figures xii List of Tables xv The 20 Common Amino Acids xvi Chapter 1- Amphibians and their Peptides 1 1.1 Amphibian Peptides 1 1.1a Amphibians 1 1.1b The Role of Anuran Peptides 2 1.2 The Pharmacology of Peptides 4 1.2a Neuropeptides 5 1.2b Hormonal Peptides 7 1.2c Antibacterial Peptides 8 1.2d Anticancer Agents 9 1.2e Antifungal Peptides 9 1.2f Antimalarial Peptides 9 1.2g Pheromones 10 1.2h Miscellaneous Peptides 10 1.3 Peptide Biosynthesis 11 1.4 Methodology 12 1.4a Collection of Frog Secretions 12 1.4b Analysis by High Performance Liquid Chromatography 13 1.4c Mass Spectrometry 14 1.4d Q-TOF 2 Hybrid Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer 15 ii Preface ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 1.5 Peptide Sequencing 18 1.5a Positive and Negative Ion Mass Spectrometry 18 1.5b Automated Edman Sequencing 21 1.5c Enzyme Digestion 22 1.5d Determination of the C-terminal End Group 23 1.6 Bioactivity Testing 24 Chapter 2- Studies of Skin Secretions from the Crinia genus 2.1 Introduction 25 2.1a General 25 2.1b Cyclic Peptides 29 2.2 Host-Defence Compounds from Crinia riparia 30 2.2a Results 30 2.2.1a Isolation -
Status Review, Disease Risk Analysis and Conservation Action Plan for The
Status Review, Disease Risk Analysis and Conservation Action Plan for the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (Myuchelys georgesi) December, 2016 1 Workshop participants. Back row (l to r): Ricky Spencer, Bruce Chessman, Kristen Petrov, Caroline Lees, Gerald Kuchling, Jane Hall, Gerry McGilvray, Shane Ruming, Karrie Rose, Larry Vogelnest, Arthur Georges; Front row (l to r) Michael McFadden, Adam Skidmore, Sam Gilchrist, Bruno Ferronato, Richard Jakob-Hoff © Copyright 2017 CBSG IUCN encourages meetings, workshops and other fora for the consideration and analysis of issues related to conservation, and believes that reports of these meetings are most useful when broadly disseminated. The opinions and views expressed by the authors may not necessarily reflect the formal policies of IUCN, its Commissions, its Secretariat or its members. The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Jakob-Hoff, R. Lees C. M., McGilvray G, Ruming S, Chessman B, Gilchrist S, Rose K, Spencer R, Hall J (Eds) (2017). Status Review, Disease Risk Analysis and Conservation Action Plan for the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle. IUCN SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group: Apple Valley, MN. Cover photo: Juvenile Bellinger River Snapping Turtle © 2016 Brett Vercoe This report can be downloaded from the CBSG website: www.cbsg.org. 2 Executive Summary The Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (BRST) (Myuchelys georgesi) is a freshwater turtle endemic to a 60 km stretch of the Bellinger River, and possibly a portion of the nearby Kalang River in coastal north eastern New South Wales (NSW). -
North Central Waterwatch Frogs Field Guide
North Central Waterwatch Frogs Field Guide “This guide is an excellent publication. It strikes just the right balance, providing enough information in a format that is easy to use for identifying our locally occurring frogs, while still being attractive and interesting to read by people of all ages.” Rodney Orr, Bendigo Field Naturalists Club Inc. 1 The North Central CMA Region Swan Hill River Murray Kerang Cohuna Quambatook Loddon River Pyramid Hill Wycheproof Boort Loddon/Campaspe Echuca Watchem Irrigation Area Charlton Mitiamo Donald Rochester Avoca River Serpentine Avoca/Avon-Richardson Wedderburn Elmore Catchment Area Richardson River Bridgewater Campaspe River St Arnaud Marnoo Huntly Bendigo Avon River Bealiba Dunolly Loddon/Campaspe Dryland Area Heathcote Maryborough Castlemaine Avoca Loddon River Kyneton Lexton Clunes Daylesford Woodend Creswick Acknowledgement Of Country The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) acknowledges Aboriginal Traditional Owners within the North Central CMA region, their rich culture and their spiritual connection to Country. We also recognise and acknowledge the contribution and interests of Aboriginal people and organisations in the management of land and natural resources. Acknowledgements North Central Waterwatch would like to acknowledge the contribution and support from the following organisations and individuals during the development of this publication: Britt Gregory from North Central CMA for her invaluable efforts in the production of this document, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority for allowing use of their draft field guide, Lydia Fucsko, Adrian Martins, David Kleinert, Leigh Mitchell, Peter Robertson and Nick Layne for use of their wonderful photos and Mallee Catchment Management Authority for their design support and a special thanks to Ray Draper for his support and guidance in the development of the Frogs Field Guide 2012. -
ARAZPA Amphibian Action Plan
Appendix 1 to Murray, K., Skerratt, L., Marantelli, G., Berger, L., Hunter, D., Mahony, M. and Hines, H. 2011. Guidelines for minimising disease risks associated with captive breeding, raising and restocking programs for Australian frogs. A report for the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. ARAZPA Amphibian Action Plan Compiled by: Graeme Gillespie, Director Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria; Russel Traher, Amphibian TAG Convenor, Curator Healesville Sanctuary Chris Banks, Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria. February 2007 1 1. Background Amphibian species across the world have declined at an alarming rate in recent decades. According to the IUCN at least 122 species have gone extinct since 1980 and nearly one third of the world’s near 6,000 amphibian species are classified as threatened with extinction, placing the entire class at the core of the current biodiversity crisis (IUCN, 2006). Australasia too has experienced significant declines; several Australian species are considered extinct and nearly 25% of the remainder are threatened with extinction, while all four species native to New Zealand are threatened. Conventional causes of biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and invasive species, are playing a major role in these declines. However, emergent disease and climate change are strongly implicated in many declines and extinctions. These factors are now acting globally, rapidly and, most disturbingly, in protected and near pristine areas. Whilst habitat conservation and mitigation of threats in situ are essential, for many taxa the requirement for some sort of ex situ intervention is mounting. In response to this crisis there have been a series of meetings organised by the IUCN (World Conservation Union), WAZA (World Association of Zoos & Aquariums) and CBSG (Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, of the IUCN Species Survival Commission) around the world to discuss how the zoo community can and should respond. -
Hindmarsh Island Monitoring
Hindmarsh Island Monitoring Spring 2015 and Summer 2016 Frog Monitoring Frog surveys are performed by recording the distinctive male frog calls on a digital voice recorder at night. As each species of frog has a unique call, it is possible to estimate the number of calling males for a given species. Two frog survey events took place in spring 2015, the first on 22 September 2015 and the latter on 12 November 2015. On each survey event a total of five sites with varying habitat characteristics were surveyed. The September survey recorded four species: brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii), common froglet (Crinia parinsignifera), eastern banjo frog (Limnodynastes dumerilii), and spotted Figure 1. Long-thumbed frog grass frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis), whilst the long- thumbed frog (Limnodynastes fletcheri); also known as the barking marsh frog, was also recorded on the November survey. The long-thumbed frog starts calling in late September around the Lower Lakes but becomes most vocal in late spring and early summer. As its name suggests, the common froglet was the most common species recorded, present at every site surveyed in both September and November, often in high abundances. Following the common froglet, the most to least common species were the brown tree frog (recorded at seven of 10 sites), banjo frog and spotted grass frog (five sites each), and lastly the long-thumbed frog (two sites). Figure 2. Brown tree frog Frogs were most abundant and diverse at sites that offered complex habitat. An ideal habitat for frogs consists of significant cover by submerged aquatic plants and emergent vegetation; such as typha and phragmties, while also offering areas of open water. -
Catalogue of Protozoan Parasites Recorded in Australia Peter J. O
1 CATALOGUE OF PROTOZOAN PARASITES RECORDED IN AUSTRALIA PETER J. O’DONOGHUE & ROBERT D. ADLARD O’Donoghue, P.J. & Adlard, R.D. 2000 02 29: Catalogue of protozoan parasites recorded in Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 45(1):1-164. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835. Published reports of protozoan species from Australian animals have been compiled into a host- parasite checklist, a parasite-host checklist and a cross-referenced bibliography. Protozoa listed include parasites, commensals and symbionts but free-living species have been excluded. Over 590 protozoan species are listed including amoebae, flagellates, ciliates and ‘sporozoa’ (the latter comprising apicomplexans, microsporans, myxozoans, haplosporidians and paramyxeans). Organisms are recorded in association with some 520 hosts including mammals, marsupials, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Information has been abstracted from over 1,270 scientific publications predating 1999 and all records include taxonomic authorities, synonyms, common names, sites of infection within hosts and geographic locations. Protozoa, parasite checklist, host checklist, bibliography, Australia. Peter J. O’Donoghue, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia; Robert D. Adlard, Protozoa Section, Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane 4101, Australia; 31 January 2000. CONTENTS the literature for reports relevant to contemporary studies. Such problems could be avoided if all previous HOST-PARASITE CHECKLIST 5 records were consolidated into a single database. Most Mammals 5 researchers currently avail themselves of various Reptiles 21 electronic database and abstracting services but none Amphibians 26 include literature published earlier than 1985 and not all Birds 34 journal titles are covered in their databases. Fish 44 Invertebrates 54 Several catalogues of parasites in Australian PARASITE-HOST CHECKLIST 63 hosts have previously been published. -
Newsletter Welcome to Our Summer Edition
Issue 34 - December 2015 Newsletter Welcome to our summer edition. It is a time for insects; dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies all appreciate the warmer weather. Insects provide food for the many bird species that migrate to the Wombat Forest to breed. Beautiful mauve fringe lilies are starting to appear. It is also a time to look for sun orchids, and in the swampy areas, the large sickle greenhood orchids. Gayle Osborne (editor) and Angela Halpin (design) Owl Watch - Powerful Owls South of Trentham By Trevor Speirs In December last year, when searching for Rose Robins delight two Powerful Owls Ninox strenua were found and Pink Robins, Gayle and I stopped at a well-treed roosting in a Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon along the gully south of Trentham. No robins, but to our great dry creek bed. They appeared young, being slight in build and lightish in colour, and were a bit nervous, quickly taking off into the forest, but judging by the amount of familiar chalky excreta and small animal bones on the ground, this roost had been in use for some time. The surrounding bush looked like good owl habitat, with a stand of large Mountain Grey Gums Eucalyptus cypellocarpa with spacious hollows, and we made a note to return during next year’s breeding season. We visited on and off over the winter months, and while there was still plenty of evidence of owl presence, it was not until mid-September that we saw our first bird, a female. This was a good day, as shortly after dusk an owlet could be heard trilling from one of the grey gums that we suspected was being used for breeding. -
Predation by Introduced Cats Felis Catus on Australian Frogs: Compilation of Species Records and Estimation of Numbers Killed
Predation by introduced cats Felis catus on Australian frogs: compilation of species records and estimation of numbers killed J. C. Z. WoinarskiA,M, S. M. LeggeB,C, L. A. WoolleyA,L, R. PalmerD, C. R. DickmanE, J. AugusteynF, T. S. DohertyG, G. EdwardsH, H. GeyleA, H. McGregorI, J. RileyJ, J. TurpinK and B. P. MurphyA ANESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia. BNESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Research, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia. CFenner School of the Environment and Society, Linnaeus Way, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2602, Australia. DWestern Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Bentley, WA 6983, Australia. ENESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Desert Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. FQueensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Red Hill, Qld 4701, Australia. GCentre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences (Burwood campus), Deakin University, Geelong, Vic. 3216, Australia. HNorthern Territory Department of Land Resource Management, PO Box 1120, Alice Springs, NT 0871, Australia. INESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia. JSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom. KDepartment of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia. LPresent address: WWF-Australia, 3 Broome Lotteries House, Cable Beach Road, Broome, WA 6276, Australia. MCorresponding author. Email: [email protected] Table S1. Data sources used in compilation of cat predation on frogs. -
The Genome 10K Project: a Way Forward
The Genome 10K Project: A Way Forward Klaus-Peter Koepfli,1 Benedict Paten,2 the Genome 10K Community of Scientists,Ã and Stephen J. O’Brien1,3 1Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; email: [email protected] 2Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064 3Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33004 Annu. Rev. Anim. Biosci. 2015. 3:57–111 Keywords The Annual Review of Animal Biosciences is online mammal, amphibian, reptile, bird, fish, genome at animal.annualreviews.org This article’sdoi: Abstract 10.1146/annurev-animal-090414-014900 The Genome 10K Project was established in 2009 by a consortium of Copyright © 2015 by Annual Reviews. biologists and genome scientists determined to facilitate the sequencing All rights reserved and analysis of the complete genomes of10,000vertebratespecies.Since Access provided by Rockefeller University on 01/10/18. For personal use only. ÃContributing authors and affiliations are listed then the number of selected and initiated species has risen from ∼26 Annu. Rev. Anim. Biosci. 2015.3:57-111. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org at the end of the article. An unabridged list of G10KCOS is available at the Genome 10K website: to 277 sequenced or ongoing with funding, an approximately tenfold http://genome10k.org. increase in five years. Here we summarize the advances and commit- ments that have occurred by mid-2014 and outline the achievements and present challenges of reaching the 10,000-species goal. We summarize the status of known vertebrate genome projects, recommend standards for pronouncing a genome as sequenced or completed, and provide our present and futurevision of the landscape of Genome 10K. -
Exotic Frog Incursion Limnodynastes Dumerilii Is an Australian Frog Exotic to New Zealand
Exotic frog incursion Limnodynastes dumerilii is an Australian frog exotic to New Zealand. It is an Notification of incursion aggressive coloniser and a In mid-October 1999 a member of the public took some unusual potential threat to New Zealand tadpoles to the Auckland Museum for identification, saying they had invertebrates and small been reared from a foamy egg-mass found in mid-August in a small vertebrates. A delimiting survey forested stream in the southern Waitakere Ranges. Once occurred in response to an metamorphosed, the tadpoles were identified as belonging to the incursion of the frog in Australian family Myobatrachidae – probably a species of Limnodynastes. Limnodynastes are exotic to New Zealand and their November 1999. presence was regarded as a biosecurity threat due to their predatory Tony Whitaker, co-author nature and their ability to rapidly colonise a variety of habitats. In during the day for egg-masses, tadpoles and frogs, and at night for the Waitakere Ranges they swere considered a particular threat to frogs and the sound of their highly distinctive ‘bonk’ call. Playback native Hochstetter’s Frogs (Leiopelma hochstetteri). tapes of calls were used to try to elicit a response. The survey covered The investigation, and identification all five catchments of the Waitakere Ranges (Fig. 1) During this period a consultant specialist(b) on Myobatrachid frogs arrived from At the home of the informant, were 15 outdoor aquaria containing Australia to advise on the ecology and reproductive cycles of several thousand tadpoles at various stages of development. These L. dumerilii and to comment on the suitability of the habitat in the appeared to be all of the same species and were said to have been Waitakere Ranges and west Auckland for establishment of this raised from the single egg-mass collected in August.