December 2020 AMPHIBIAN SURVIVAL ALLIANCE NEWTSLETTER

Got a story you want to share? Drop Candace an email today! cmhansen@amphibians.org Stories from our partners around the world © Rogger Angel Moreno Lino Moreno Angel © Rogger Reactivating the Lake Junín Giant Frog monitoring program By Rogger Angel Moreno Lino, Luis and economy; businesses and NGOs In this way, ASA partner Grupo Castillo Roque and Roberto Elias have stopped their activities and RANA participated in a project for Piperis. Grupo RANA (Peru) and reduced their budgets among other the monitoring and surveillance of Denver Zoological Foundation (U.S.) things (Smith-Bingham & Harlharan, populations of the Lake Junín Giant [email protected] 2020; Crothers, 2020). However, Frog (Telmatobius macrostomus) solidarity among people and institu- and the Junín ‘Wanchas’ (Telma- The world is going through difficult tions has allowed activities to be tobius brachydactylus) in three times due to the COVID-19 pan- progressively reactivated, though protected natural areas (Junín Na- demic (WWF, 2020). Many people following rigorous biosecurity meas- tional Reserve, Historic Sanctuary of have been affected in their health ures. Chacamarca and Huayllay National Page 1 Sanctuary). These activities were by Pablo Miñano Lecaros. The park (CCPH), the presence of six adult led by the Denver Zoological Foun- rangers Winy Arias López, Eduardo frogs was recorded around 500 dation and funded by the National Ruiz and Duane Martínez supported meters from our monitoring point Geographic Society and followed the the activities. at the south of the Junín National biosecurity measures recommended As part of the preliminary results, Reserve. by the Ministry of Health of Peru we report three adults of the Junín It should be noted that the CCPH (D.S. Nº 157-2020-PCM, 2020), the ‘Wanchas’ found in two localities is an organization of local dwellers National Forest and Wildlife Service and five adults of the Lake Junín who have been working with us in (SERFOR, 2020) and the National Giant Frog found in three localities. promoting the conservation of the Service of Natural Areas Protected We also found tadpoles of both spe- Lake Junín Giant Frog in the project by the State (SERNANP). cies in 9 of the 12 localities evalu- “Guardians of the Chinchaycocha The field work took place between ated. A frog was found dead from Frogs” funded by the Amphibian October 16 and 24, 2020. The group unknown causes, which will be ex- Survival Alliance, so that soon we dedicated to the study of the frog amined at the Wildlife Laboratory of will have more news on how the populations was led by Luis Castillo the Universidad Peruana Cayetano local communities provide scientific Roque, assisted by Henry Tinoco Heredia. information to specialists. Vega and Rogger Angel Moreno The number of adult individuals has Lino, while the group dedicated to been stable since 2015. In addi- the study of water quality using tion, thanks to a casual observation benthic macroinvertebrates was led by residents of the ‘Parcialidad de by Manuel Silva Poma and assisted Huarmipuquio’ Farming Community Editorial By Candace Hansen-Hendrikx, And the ASA is really going to hit As for the partnership, stay tuned Amphibian Survival Alliance the ground running in the New Year! for some exciting developments [email protected] I hope you will join me in welcoming in the New Year. We have already Helen Meredith back to the ASA Sec- started rolling out much of what you Welcome to the final edition of the retariat! She is returning in the role have asked for in the recent strate- Frogress Report for 2020! As we of ASA’s Chief Development Officer, gic planning partnership survey to look forward to 2021, many of us with the kind support of Synchronic- help you learn more about other may feel that we would like to leave ity Earth, GWC and the rest of the partners and to facilitate collabora- this entire year behind and forget all ASA Global Council. We are excited tion amongst partners on our web- about it. And while it has been an to have her back on the team and site. And stay tuned for an on-call extremely challenging year (physi- we look forward to working with list being developed for the partners cally, emotionally, financially and Helen on her efforts to support our shortly! We want to make it as easy more) on so many fronts, perhaps strategy, partners and Future Lead- as possible for you to not just get it would be helpful to just ground ers of Amphibian Conservation! the help you need, when you need, ourselves for a short moment and Speaking of these Future Leaders of but to also help other partners, be- remember the good things that this Amphibian Conservation, I am now cause we are all in this together! past year has brought us. going to ask you to help me wel- I could go on and on about all the If you read back through the previ- come two of them to the Frogress developments and things planned ous editions of the Frogress Report Report Editorial Team! Previous but I am going to hand Frogress over the past year, you will see awardees Kaya Klop-Toker and Kirsty Report over now to you, the part- many success stories and reasons Kyle will be starting in the New Year ners. This is what Frogress Report is to look forward to what 2021 might as Copy Editors. They will join me all about! have in store. And this edition is no and ASA’s Communications and Thank you everyone for your dedi- different. As you flip through the Partnership Officer and Frogress Re- cation to amphibian conservation pages you will join the celebrations port’s Assistant Editor Luis Fernando this past year and for all that you of AmphibiaWeb’s 20th Anniver- Marin da Fonte on the team. We have done! We cannot wait to see sary, the release of more than 400 look forward to working with them what we can all accomplish together captive-bred frogs and tadpoles into and continuing to improve and grow next year! the wild in South Africa, and the suc- Frogress Report for the partnership! cessful breeding of the last remain- They will be an invaluable part of ing Loa Water Frogs! And that is just making sure Frogress Report is the for starters! (Read on, and you will publication that the partnership is see what I mean!) coming to rely on.

Page 2 AmphibiaWeb celebrates 20th anniversary in 2020 © AmphibiaWeb

By Michelle Koo, David Wake. Force, Associate Director Michelle steering committee members. We AmphibiaWeb/ Museum of Verte- Koo collaborated with the Deanna offer lesson plans for educators, and brate Zoology, University of Olson, US Forest Service, to solve activity sheets and Spanish language California Berkeley (U.S.) two challenges: 1) create a reposi- comics for younger children. Much [email protected] tory to aggregate and share data on of our material, both research and the newly discovered Bsal fungus; educational outreach, is due to the AmphibiaWeb celebrates its 20th and 2) upgrade and migrate the Bd work of UC Berkeley undergradu- anniversary this year, which is Maps database, which was left with- ate apprentices in conjunction with remarkable for an online resource. out sustainable means to update staff. Each spring semester, US Our mission remains the same: we and share data. Thus, AmphibiaWeb herpetology classes participate by connect people around the world by built the Amphibian Disease portal, having their students research and synthesizing and sharing information where users can access a growing submit original species accounts. To about amphibians to enable better database for over 500 species from date, we have had 41 classes and research, education and conserva- 47 countries. It includes the first 546 students contribute to Amphibi- tion. Our team has grown over the US survey for Bsal (from May 2014 aWeb! We always welcome inquiries years; we now have 13 steering through August 2017) conducted by and new classes. committee members and 9 addi- the USGS (Waddle et al 2020). More We recognize that it can be chal- tional associates from universities than 11,000 samples are recorded lenging to keep up with all the and museums around the US and from reserves nationwide, all thank- progress and news posted on Australia, which includes three of fully negative for Bsal, which forms AmphibiaWeb, so we are launching our founders, Director David Wake, a valuable baseline for the US. We a quarterly newsletter starting in Associate Director Vance Vreden- link each species in the Disease December 2020 and invite you to burg and Database Administrator portal to the respective species ac- subscribe. We look forward to more Joyce Gross. We have adapted our counts. The repository will be critical years of service to the amphibian operational strategy over the years for serving as both an archive for biology community and the public. to sustain our mission by respond- researchers (important for scientific ing to changing research needs and reproducibility) and as a resource to new technologies. We are in the understand disease dynamics and midst of planning new changes to predict threats. Contact us if you or AmphibiaWeb and note a few major a colleague are embarking or have

milestones here. chytrid samples and would like to 2

Most recently, we created and learn more. 0 Y launched a repository for Batra- From our beginning, AmphibiaWeb R chochytrium (Bd and Bsal) fungal has been an important educational t h A data, chytridiomycosis being one resource and activity. A S of the most devastating infectious Recently, we have produced origi- N R wildlife diseases in amphibians. As nal Primers on Amphibians and on NIVE part of the North American Bsal Task Phylogeny & Taxonomy written by Page 3 Creating a SAFE haven for Mountain Chickens on Montserrat By Rachel Haynes, Luke Jones, Jeff able the survival Dawson, Izabela Barata, Mike of this suscep- Hudson. Durrell Wildlife tible species in Conservation Trust (U.K.) the presence of [email protected] chytrid fungus. Whilst it is too For the Critically Endangered Moun- early to tell tain Chicken Frog (Leptodactylus whether the fallax), 2020 has been a year of intervention will small but significant successes. The be successful Mountain Chicken Recovery Pro- on Montserrat, gramme, a partnership of interna- we have seen tional zoos, local NGO’s and Govern- some encourag- ment stakeholders including Durrell, ing signs in the ZSL, Chester Zoo, Bristol Zoo and first 12 months Norden’s Ark alongside the Govern- that the frogs ments of Montserrat and Dominica, are enjoying be- the Montserrat National Trust and ing home. After Wild Dominique have been working release, the to secure and restore populations frogs improved of the once-abundant mountain in condition, chicken to its native islands of gained weight Montserrat and Dominica. After and males the arrival of chytridiomycosis in established and

Montserrat, the Mountain Chicken maintained Parker © Jennifer Recovery Programme established a territories. captive bio-secure safety-net popu- Whooping calls fraught with global hardships, the lation across partner zoos. Over the were filling the void they had left achievements from the Mountain following decade, successful breed- for so many years in the nighttime Chicken Recovery Programme of- ing in captivity has facilitated four soundscape of Montserrat. The first fer a glimmer of hope. The first reintroduction attempts. Unfortu- foam nests appeared and just two tentative steps have been taken in nately, each of these ended with the weeks after, a writhing mass of tad- ensuring the survival of this spe- population being lost within a year poles were seen in one nest, quickly cies. Hope persists that it may one due to chytridiomycosis. There was, followed by a second fertile nest. day assist in the development of however, evidence of strong season- These represented the first con- tools to overcoming the impacts of ality in the chytrid fungus risk, with firmed fertile nests in Montserrat in Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on much lower risk in the warm, wet over a decade! Unfortunately, with amphibian populations. seasons of these releases. the greatest drought the Caribbean Last year the project carried out a region in 80 years, the tadpole nests 5th release, led by Durrell Wildlife were abandoned by their parents. Conservation Trust and Montser- Given time, the project hopes to see rat’s Department of Environment, of its first juvenile Mountain Chickens 27 captive-bred Mountain Chickens returning to the island. from Jersey Zoo and the ZSL into a Durrell’s Luke Jones, Project Coordi- semi-wild safe haven in Montserrat, nator on Montserrat, says “to have designed to test the efficacy of novel successfully reached this milestone habitat manipulation techniques in the first year since release is to raise the temperature of areas absolutely phenomenal. There is within the SAFE haven throughout still plenty of work to be done, as the year, mirroring the warm, wet we look to determine whether our season of low chytrid risk. This will environmental manipulation tech- take the form of a three-year study niques, can prevent or limit future to assess if this intervention will en- outbreaks of the disease”. In a year Page 4 © Metropolitan Park of Santiago--Parquemet Park © Metropolitan With fewer than 20 Loa Water Frogs left in the world, hatching of tadpoles revives hope for critically endangered species By Lindsay Renick Mayer the government continues the great servation breeding program. Now Global Wildlife Conservation (U.S.) work it started in rescuing the ani- the zoo will navigate the challenging [email protected] mals by restoring and protecting the task of rearing a species that nobody frogs’ habitat so that they can return has tried to care for before. Nearly 200 Loa water frog (Telma- to their home in the wild.” “When we brought these animals tobius dankoi) tadpoles hatched in In June of 2019, a team of conser- to the zoo, I didn’t even know if they October of this year at the National vationists and indigenous leaders were going to survive the transfer Zoo of Chile, a little more than a discovered that the habitat of the from Calama on the plane to San- year after a team of conservation- Loa water frog outside of the city tiago,” said rescue team member ists in Chile swiftly evacuated the of Calama, located in the middle of Andrés Charrier, a herpetologist last-known 14 frogs from perilously the Atacama desert, had dried up as affiliated with the Chilean Herpeto- dry habitat and brought them to the the result of extraction of water for logical Society. “Now we have the zoo. mining, agriculture and real estate great news that these animals were “The zoo’s specialists not only development, in a region where able to reproduce, though we have nursed the animals back to health water is a scarce resource. All of the a tremendous new challenge now after they were discovered mal- frogs had been pushed into a tiny to learn how to feed and care for nourished and near-death in the pool of muddy water. the tadpoles. There is an incredible wild last year, but they have now The team collected the last 14 group of specialists—including all succeeded in breeding a new gen- individuals and brought them to of the people at the National Zoo— eration of a species that has very the National Zoo of Chile—which working to save these frogs and nearly vanished,” said Lina Valencia, belongs to the Metropolitan Park of making history.” Global Wildlife Conservation’s Andes Santiago, a public service of Chile’s The Loa Water Frog is considered conservation officer. “While the zoo Ministry of Housing and Urbanism— Critically Endangered by the IUCN rears these tadpoles and breeds to improve their health, learn to Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM additional pairs, it is important that care for them, and establish a con- and was once found only in a single Page 5 stream in Chile. Experts say there There are at least 63 known species ditions of the water in the streams may be between five and eight of Water Frogs, or Telmatobius spe- of the deserts in the northern part individuals still living in the wild. cies, found from Ecuador to Chile, of our country in order to keep them Returning the species to the wild including in Peru, Bolivia and Argen- alive,” said Alejandra Montalba, someday will require identifying a tina. Many of these species, like the director of the National Zoo of Chile. safe home for the frogs and protect- Loa Water fFog, are microendemic, Global Wildlife Conservation, the ing that habitat from the threat of which means they live in just one IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist illegal water extraction and habitat small place. Water frogs are semi- Group, the Amphibian Survival Alli- destruction. aquatic or entirely aquatic, making ance, and the Santiago Metropolitan “We are very happy that we have them very sensitive to any changes Park are asking people around the already achieved two of our three in their environment. Habitat world to spread the word about the objectives,” said Martin Andrade, destruction, pollution, disease and Loa water frogs using the hashtags director of Metropolitan Park of invasive trout are among the biggest #SaveTheLoaFrog and #Salvemo- Santiago. “The first was the sur- threats they face. About 10 species sLasRanitasDelLoa to show their vival of the frogs that arrived from of water frog live in Chile, and many international support for these and Calama as part of an emergency res- of them are likely facing the same other species of endangered frogs. cue operation, the second was the threats as the Loa Water Frog. reproduction of these animals, and “This would not have been possible the third objective, which will take if it had not been for the tireless longer, is the reintroduction of this work of the National Zoo staff, who species back into its natural habitat.” even had to replicate the exact con- SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana is now Save Ghana Frogs By Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi, Save degraded forest lands with +50,000 spread out to the rest of the conti- Ghana Frogs native tree seedlings at Sui Forest nent. [email protected] Reserve; helped to alleviate poverty Thank you to our sponsors: Brit- and reduced overdependence on ish Ecological Society, Conserva- We are announcing to the ASA forest resources by providing bee- tion Leadership Programme, LUSH, partnership and to the entire keeping as an alternative livelihood Mohammed bin Zayed Species scientific community of our organi- to 50 local people; continue to push Conservation Fund, People and zational name change from SAVE back government’s plans to mine Wildlife Ghana, Prince Bernhard THE FROGS! Ghana to Save Ghana bauxite at the last viable home of Nature Fund, Rufford Foundation, Frogs. The name change came about the Critically Endangered Togo Slip- Turtle Conservation Fund, and Whit- after long deliberations in our desire pery Frog (Conraua derooi) among ley Fund for Nature for believing in to own a trademark that depicts several actions. Learn more here. us. To the entire ASA community our new vision and identity which Nonetheless, we have undergone and our supporters, we appreciate makes us autonomous at the same a significant transformation and we you for being part of this wonderful time, maintain our traditions and felt it was time for a change. Our journey. values as an amphibian conservation new identity has been designed to Visit our new website and contact organization. satisfy all the existing expectations us on: For nine years, we have been of our original mission, “to protect Website: www.saveghanafrogs.org pivotal in amphibian research and Ghana’s amphibian populations and Email: [email protected] conservation and chalked many suc- to promote a society that respects Facebook: Save Ghana Frogs cesses which have made us an icon and appreciates nature and wildlife” Instagram: Save Ghana Frogs and giant in African conservation. while simultaneously moving the Twitter: @ghanafrogs For example, we rediscovered the brand to embody broader research Giant Squeaker Frog (Arthroleptis areas. In that regard, our tenta- krokosua) at southwestern Ghana’s cles have now extended to include Sui River Forest Reserve and had its reptile research, landscape-scale conservation status appropriately habitat assessment, and consul- updated to Critically Endangered. tancy. Thus, the name Save Ghana We also found first national records Frogs represents an evolution from of Allen’s Slippery Frog (Conraua our previous experiences, origins alleni); reclaimed over 20-ha of and roots which we will continue to Page 6 Amphibian population impacts from swimming pools By Rich Mason, FrogLog Co. (U.S.) 4,000 reviews [email protected] on Amazon lead one to believe The owner of Osprey LLC/FrogLog that many mil- Co. (an Amphibian Survival Alliance lions of amphib- parter), Rich Mason, is a wildlife ians die in pools biologist and became aware of the each year. There issue of amphibians being attracted are many com- to swimming pools and dying due to ments similar to poisoning by chlorinated water. With this one: almost 5 million in ground pools Review by Clair and 6 million above ground pools in E. on 17 Aug the US alone, amphibian casualties 2019: I thought can provide some limited funding to by swimming pools likely number this thing would probably save a few this effort. in the tens or hundreds of millions. of the frogs that were getting in the Please contact: Rich Mason. rich@ However, we really don’t know the pool every day, but it actually seems froglog.us. Phone: 410-588-6007 exact impact as nobody has ever at- to have prevented like 99% of the tempted to quantify the impact. This frog deaths that were happening. number comes from our experience The frogs thank you. with developing and distributing a We are interested in collaborat- product called FrogLog. Feedback ing with a researcher to model the from customers, as well as the over impact of pools on amphibians. We 400 frogs released! By Jeanne Tarrant, Endangered Wildlife Trust (South Africa) [email protected]

On 10 November 2020, the Joburg Zoo transported 450 captive-bred frogs and tadpoles from their Pick- Truth) © Charlene Russel (Ground ersgill’s Reed Frog breeding program for release at two sites in Durban, South Africa. This forms part of the work that has been laid out in the Biodiversity Management Plan for Hyperolius pickersgilli, which Jeanne Tarrant of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Threatened Amphibian Pro- gramme co-authored with Dr. Adrian Armstrong from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the provincial conserva- tion agency. The plan was published in 2017 after extensive consulta- tion with all stakeholders to guide actions to address the key threats facing this species. The release on 10 November marks the fourth release since the captive breeding component of the project began in earnest in 2015, with over

Page 7 1000 frogs having been released in Mission to be taken back into the tion with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and total. So far these have mostly been breeding program. Adam’s Mission the South African National Biodiver- to known sites where the species is an extensive coastal wetland and sity Institute (SANBI). occurs, so what makes this year’s re- swamp forest system we are work- lease exciting was that it was to two ing with the local community to recently rehabilitated sites where formally secure as a protected area. the species does not currently occur, On average, each breeding pair although that are within its natural produces 40 offspring that can be historic range. During post-release released back into the wild, so we monitoring so far conducting in end up replacing more than are col- November, we have confirmed the lected. Already the collected adults species to be active at both sites. from Adam’s Mission are breeding We also assisted the zoo in the back at the zoo in Johannesburg collection of 30 breeding adults and the next release is planned for (comprising the same numbers of March 2021. each gender) from a site at Adam’s This work is also done in collabora- Colombian biogeographical Chocó forests are being razed © Fundación ProAves

By Paula Stella, Fundación ProAves cant biodiversities in the country tacular species richness in Colombia. (Colombia) and has a great variety of end- To date, a diversity of 25 species of [email protected] emisms in the various biological frogs, 9 species of lizards and 12 dif- groups. For this reason, this site is ferent species of snakes have been Selective illegal logging in the El among the 25 regions of the world registered. Moreover, 29 species of Pangán ProAves Reserve, located in classified as a priority for nature threatened birds and 53 are endem- the department of Nariño, Co-lom- conservation, which is why it has ic to the biogeographic Chocó, which bia, is devastating one of the most been called a Biodiversity Hotspot constitutes the largest con-centra- important ecosystems on the planet and is also part of the Key Biodiver- tion of endemic birds in the world. and the species that live there: 21 sity Areas (KBAs). Additionally, there are 94 species of species of amphibians distributed in butterflies, of which 28 are endemic 6 families and 17 species of reptiles ProAves Reserve, critically endan- to the region, and 19 known as the distributed in 7 families, 360 species gered rarest species in the country. of birds, and 36 species of mam- The ProAves El Pangán Reserve, The Reserve also has populations of mals. home to the spectacular sky blue one of the finest trees on the planet, The Colombian bio-geographic morph of Oophaga sylvatica, has the Chanul (Humiriastrum procer- Chocó has one of the most signifi- one of the most diverse and spec- um), a species native to Colombia

Page 8 and Ecuador categorized as Critically enter the farms heavily armed, ex- lombians is rapidly disappearing. Endangered according to the Red tract Chanul wood from the interior ProAves makes an agonizing call to Book of timber species. Although of the forest and transport it by the competent authorities and the Colombian regulations prohibit the means of a handmade winch to the entire community to support us by exploitation and com-mercialization outside of the forests, as you can signing this petition and stop this of any endangered species, Chanul see in this video. great threat to the environment and continues to be heavily exploited Fundación ProAves has denounced the thousands of species that live because its wood is very hard. the constant attacks on different there. occasions to the Nariño Regional Au- Colombian biodiversity under seri- tonomous Corporation (CORPONAR- ous threat IÑO), the Nariño Government, the Due to the great biodiversity found Ministry of Environment and Sus- in the ProAves El Pangán Reserve, tainable Development, the National unscrupulous people have seen the Army and the National Police. Even natural resources of all Colombians though, these actions have not been as a great business opportunity and enough to stop the serious environ- have invaded the Reserve to cut mental damage against the tropical down the Chanul and commercialize rainforests of the Pacific Nariñense, it illegally. Every day these people so the biological heritage of all Co- Mitsinjo captive breeding program update By Justin Claude Rakotoarisoa, all captive bred have adapted to this to be changed in the next few years Association Mitsinjo (Madagascar) season. to prevent mortality. Even though [email protected] Over the past two months, we have some species bred with lower fertil- also produced a new generation of ity rates during this breeding sea- Between October and November the Golden Mantella Frog (Mantella son, all the captive species are again 2020, substantial progress was aurantiaca). By the end of Novem- selected for husbandry by using/ made towards achiveing the ob- ber, we have saved 45 egg clutches, improving new technics. They are jectives of the amphibian captive with 300 tadpoles already in the based on the tree Frog, the top hill breeding at ASA partner Mitsinjo water. These will be reintroduced species and, of course, the Golden research center. In total, there are into the wild between March and Mantella Frog, which have been currently more than 150 terraria April, 2021. prepared for the next release. With occupied with 11 common species regard to the next generations, we and 1 Critically Endangered species. Species monitored in captivity have found some clutches from F2, All frog species are active and are in 90% of those individuals previously but these are not fertile. When this breeding season. Even in captivity, caught in the wild are old and need happens, Mitsinjo’s technician find

Species Individuals Deaths Egg clutches Mantidactylus betsileanus 53 3 5 Blommersia blommersae 50 0 3 Boophis Pyrrhus 12 0 0 Boophis bottae 16 1 0 Heterixalus betsileo 4 0 0 Guibementis albolineatus 6 0 0 Guibementis pulcher 8 0 0 Platypelis barbouri 7 0 0 Anodontohyla policaris 5 0 0 Pletodontohyla mihanika 30 0 1 Gephyromantis boulengeri 10 0 0 Mantella aurantiaca 812 5 45

Page 9 © Justin Claude Rakotoarisoa © Justin a way to improve this F2 husbandry mentioned in our previous article in Recommendations to produce F3 for the various frog the Frogress Report. We will present these concerns to species kept in the center. all stakeholders, for the stability of The success of captive breeding Problems and concerns the captive breeding program in depends on being able to provide Financial resources are some of Madagascar, which is the first of its the necessities for the species. Live the greatest needs to improve our kind. food cultures, such as insect produc- activities and personnel who are in tion, play important roles for these charge of the captive breeding pro- amphibian species. We expanded gram. Since 2011 until now, we have the production of our living food not received advice, technical sup- cultures every week. We would also port or field training from the ASG like to improve other living food Madagascar. Moreover, it has also husbandry cultures such as termites, become difficult to receive permits isopod and other insect (larvae), from the Malagasy government. since these would be the best food sources for some frog species, as IUCN Red List update! By Kelsey Neam & Amaël Borzée. than in the past, 32 of which are searches in the appropriate habitat, Global Wildlife Conservation and uplistings due to genuine worsening during the appropriate season and IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist of threats. Not everything is gloomy, within the known range, have failed Group. however. The genuine improvement to locate this species. Its disappear- [email protected] of 16 species in Mesoamerica gives ance has been attributed, at least us hope that some amphibians are in part, to chytridiomycosis-related The IUCN Red List update 2020-3 is showing resilience. Habitat loss and declines. now online! This update is a huge degradation, chytridiomycosis and accomplishment for the Amphibian climate change remain the main fac- Wizened Harlequin Toad (Atelopus Red List Authority (ARLA) as a record tors of declines. senex), changed from CR to EX. number of 1,333 amphibian assess- (Costa Rica). This formerly common ments was published, an historical Newly declared EX frogs: species has not been recorded since update in the history of the ARLA. Chiriqui Harlequin Toad (Atelopus 1986, and extensive searches in This comes with some sad news, chiriquiensis), changed from CR(PE) the appropriate habitat, during the as three species are now listed as to EX. (Costa Rica & Panama). This appropriate season and within the Extinct (EX) and a total of 99 spe- once abundant toad has not been known range, have failed to locate cies are in a higher threat category recorded since 1996, and extensive this species. Its disappearance has Page 10 been attributed, at least in part, to from a severe population decline rare and the surviving population is chytridiomycosis-related declines. and has recently been recorded at considered to be relatively small, so Climate change or the synergistic several sites. Its continued survival even though it may be recovering effects of multiple factors cannot be is entirely dependent on the pro- it’s still facing all sorts of pressures ruled out as playing a role. tection and rigorous management including habitat loss and disease. Craugastor myllomyllon (no com- provided by local communities. The Adler’s Mottled Treefrog (Sarcohyla mon name), changed from DD to EX. municipality of Santiago Comaltepec thorectes). This Mexican tree frog (Guatemala). This species is known has assigned a conservation area for species experienced a dramatic from only a single female specimen La Esperanza where an area of cloud decline in the 1980s, probably due collected in 1978. Numerous surveys forest is protected and no agricul- to chytridiomycosis, and had not between 1998 and 2019 have been ture or logging activities can take been seen for around 30 years until unsuccessful in finding any other place. Without this level of protec- a surviving population was found in individuals, whereas other related tion, it is very likely that the species’ 2007. From 2012-2019, it continued species have been observed. The habitat would be degraded and to be common within its small range cause of its disappearance is un- fragmented resulting in major popu- and it seems that it avoided extinc- known but we know that the habitat lation declines, and would likely tion (at least for now)! at the only known site has been de- warrant an immediate uplisting. stroyed by agriculture. Chytrid may American Cinchona Plantation have played a role, as it has affected Treefrog (Isthmohyla rivularis). This many other robber frogs, but we Mesoamerican tree frog species just don’t know for sure. seemingly disappeared from most of its range in the 1980s probably as Genuine improvements (Possible a result of infection with the chytrid recovery from Batrachochytrium fungus. In 2007, a population was dendrobatidis (Bd)-related declines rediscovered and as of 2019, the and/or habitat protection): species has been recently recorded Oaxaca Treefrog (Sarcohyla celata), in five localities in Costa Rica, which changed from Critically Endangered suggests that it is beginning to to Near Threatened. (Mexico). This rebound from the edge of extinc- species is apparently recovering tion. However, this species remains © Luis Canseco Márquez © Luis Canseco

Page 11 ASA’S Future Leaders of Amphibian Conservation updates

The Future Leaders of Amphibian Conservation program is an award to a number of early-career conservationists from around the world that have been identified by the Amphibian Survival Alliance as the next generation of am- phibian conservationists. So far we have awarded 19 Future Leaders from 12 countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Australia and United States). You can learn more about some of the Future Leaders of Amphibian Conservation here. Getting to know Pedro Poloso © Pedro Peloso © Pedro

Can you tell us a little bit about study and document all amphibian described it a few years later with yourself, Pedro? species threatened with extinction colleagues and mentors. The species I am a biologist, focused on the in Brazil. I have dedicated a good was formally described in 2012, and discovery, documentation and pro- portion of the last couple of years in 2014 was already included in the tection of global biodiversity. I have to this project, with a fair amount of Brazilian list of threatened species, dedicated most of my career to the success, but also many challenges. in the highest category (Critically systematics of Neotropical amphib- Brazil has 42 species officially listed Endangered). This species initiated ians and lizards, and have named as threatened, and we have already both my career as an amphibian species from several places (mostly documented 13 of them, many of taxonomist, but also made me more from Amazonia). I am also a nature which are critically endangered. We aware of my duty, as a biologist and photographer, with a special inter- have helped raise awareness about photographer, to do something for est in the documentation of rare or these species in Brazil but have also the conservation of animals and endangered species. Most impor- collected invaluable data on threats habitats. In January 2020 I had the tantly, I am married and father of and infectious diseases in these spe- opportunity to visit this species two beautiful kids. cies. again in its natural habitat with What projects have you been What is your favourite amphibian DoTS. It was a magical moment involved in to promote amphibian species and why? when we found the animal there. conservation? There are probably too many and This is one of my favorite amphib- A while ago I had an idea to finally it is really hard to choose one, but I ians, but there are many others that combine my scientific goals, enthu- will try. I am really connected to the I also like a lot. The Pará’s Lungless siasm for photography and passion Restinga Toadlet (Melanophryniscus Salamander (Bolitoglossa paraensis) for wildlife. I created the Document- setiba). I discovered this species being one of very few salaman- ing Threatened Species (DoTS) while still an undergraduate student ders in Brazil, is also one of my project, which is a bold initiative to in Brazil (around 2005 or 2006) and favorites. Finally, because of their Page 12 beauty, three other favorites are the project. Moreover, I met several Mapinguari Clown Treefrog (Den- talented amphibian conservationists dropsophus mapinguari), and the through ASA, which enabled me to two critically endangered species, participate in global discussions and Spotted Casqueheaded Treefrog initiatives about the conservation of (Nyctimantis pomba) and Admirable amphibians. Red-bellied Toad (Melanophryniscus admirabilis). Has being recognized as a Future Leader of Amphibian Conservation by ASA made a difference in your career so far? Absolutely yes! First and foremost, it gave me additional confidence to invest time and resources into con- servation, and especially in the DoTS Australia Awards – Pakistan Professional Development Opportunity 2020 By Muhammad Rais (Pakistan) conservation of natural resources use of descriptive and inferential [email protected] or sustainable development, the statistics, using QED statistics and output of research largely depends the R statistical programming lan- I feel honoured to have won the on how the data were collected and guage, to analyze the results from professional development award analyzed. A good data analysis sepa- field surveys and experiments, I can granted by the Government of Aus- rates good research from substand- greatly improve my ability to display tralia to sponsor me to attend the ard and trivial one. The knowledge and interpret the data and get scien- five-week long (November 4th to of statistical principles and methods tific articles published in reputable December 9th) online course titled could enhance our understanding periodicals as well as disseminate “Data Analysis in Ecology: Statistics of the system being studied and the quality information. I am in- for Ecology and Field Biologist” of- impacts on the local community and debted with thanks to the Govern- fered by the Department of Con- stakeholders. ment of Australia (Australia Global tinuing Education at University of Currently I am involved in research Alumni, Australia Awards Program) Oxford, UK. on ecology and conservation of for this opportunity. We are living in the world of data amphibians associated with forested science. Be it economic valuation montane freshwater streams. The of biodiversity and ecosystems, endemic, found only in one particu- lar locality and nowhere else in the world, frog species are associated with unique set of environmental conditions in northern moun- tainous areas of Pakistan. I am in- tegrating conser- vation of wildlife with sustainable development and local com- munity aware- ness programs. By learning the © Muhammad Rais Page 13