FROGLOG Is the Newsletter of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), Species Survival Commission (SSC) Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF)

ROGLOG IUCN/SSCF Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force

December 1995 No 15

surveys is probably the closest to The clearest result of storm implementation. The other areas activity is the transfer of dense need additional research and pilot vegetation and debris from the canopy work before effective implementation to the forest floor. At our site on can begin. Mango Hill in northern Montserrat, the The final comment period was habitat initially allowed relatively easy extended to December 8th 1995. access to streams and calling sites of After comments are incorporated, both Eleutherodactylus johnstonei and Update these documents will be distributed Leptodactylus fallax. After Hurricane on the and will be considered to embody the Luis, much of the protective foliage NAAMP collective thoughts of North American had either been removed entirely or amphibian biologists. had fallen to the ground. It is as yet Copies of the NAAMP will be unknown whether L. fallax, a large The North American Amphibian available after January 1st, 1996, and (SVL up to 200 mm) and economically Monitoring Program is being created can be obtained by contacting Sam important species, requires open to: 'provide a statistically defensible Droege (NBS, 12100 Beech Forest ground to optimize foraging or program to monitor the distributions Dr., Laurel, MD 20708, phone: 301- behavioral interactions, but most wide and relative abundance of amphibians 497-5840, fax: 301-497-5784, email: openings have now received debris. in North America, with applicability at frog@nbs.gov), or Web site: Nevertheless, due to the heavy the state, provincial, ecoregional and http://www.im.nbs.gov/amphib/naampi rainfall in conjunction with the continental scales.' ntro.html hurricane, calling activity of both frog To that end, meetings were held species was much increased during in Indiana Dunes National Seashore in Christine Bishop (Canadian Wildlife the immediate aftermath. September 1994 where these goals Service) & Mike Lannoo (U.S. Chair Volcanic activity seems to have were developed and determined to be DAPTF). had a more obvious negative impact feasible. A collaborative research on L. fallax. Several large emissions program was initiated for the following Abiotic of ash from Soufriere volcano in summer. The results of these Disturbances in southeastern Montserrat have investigations were presented in the Lesser occurred, and much of the foliage in September 1995 at The Canada Antilles the vicinity of the volcano, primarily to Centre for Inland Waters in Burlington, the northwest of Chances Peak, was Ontario. These meetings, research covered with an ash layer. The heavy and email discussions have spawned The recent passing of Hurricanes Iris, rains during hurricane activity washed the working drafts on Calling Surveys, Luis, and Marylin across the northern this ash onto the ground and into the Larval Surveys, Terrestrial Lesser Antilles (hardest hit were ravines and waterways. A site Salamanders, Herp Atlases and Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, supporting a high density of L. fallax Western North America. Associated Dominica, and St. Martin) has juveniles prior to some major ash falls with these sections are two received considerable attention in the appears to have been inundated appendices. Appendix 1 is a treatise popular media because of the subsequently with ash-laden runoff, on statistical sampling and sampling potential economic impact on these and we observed dead and dying frames. This topic is given a thorough small, tourism-dependent islands. juveniles in the shallow rock pools. treatment, to strengthen current and These fierce storms sprang from an Emissions of Soufriere volcano are future efforts. Appendix 2 will be a list unusual abundance of climatic high in sulfur, and a change in water of North America amphibians and disturbances in the Atlantic. The pH is a possible reason for the some indication of the applicability of threat of further storms continues. As unhealthy young frogs. A later visit to proposed monitoring techniques to members of a scientific team studying the same site revealed that many of tracking trends in their populations. herpetological diversity on the island the pools had become filled with a These documents present the of Montserrat, with the assistance of grey mud and neither juveniles nor statistical and scientific evaluations of the government, we observed adults were seen. monitoring protocols. The next alteration of the habitat caused by It is unlikely that either volcanic objective is the implementation of these hurricanes. However, the or hurricane activity will lead to the these recommendations. Of the four storms only supplemented the effects extirpation of populations of frogs on monitoring areas, calling amphibian of recent volcanic activity. Montserrat. However, a careful monitoring program will be initiated permitted by the Australian the isolation and/or characterisation of with government help. The economic Government. previously unknown disease causing importance of L. fallax, locally known Recently, the laboratory has agents including Bohle-virus (BIV) as 'mountain chicken', lies with its been commissioned and funded to from the ornate burrowing frog reputation as a local delicacy. Hotels undertake research into the feasibility Limnodynastes ornatus from serve the frogs' legs to tourists. The of biological control of the cane toad, Queensland. governments of Dominica and Bufo marinus, using viruses or other The objective of the current Montserrat, where the remaining microbial agents found overseas. project is to find exotic, infectious populations of L. fallax occur, have Bufo marinus, the cane toad, microbial agents which may spread initiated hunting seasons to protect was intentionally introduced into throughout cane toad populations in the breeding stock from depletion, and coastal Queensland in 1935 in an Australia and which may compromise based on the recent surveys, in attempt to control cane beetles. Since the host by causing disease and conjunction with the Montserrat that time, the toad has spread in a deaths, or by more subtle effects, for Biodiversity Project, the government of westerly and southerly direction. It is example by reducing immune function Montserrat intends to ban hunting now found throughout Queensland and the capability to resist other above 1000 feet altitude. and has made significant incursions infections, or by reducing reproductive Eleutherodactylus johnstonei is into the Northern Territory and New capacity. The project is assessing presumed to overcome any South Wales. The major concerns effects of exotic agents on adult, disturbances very easily because of its about the toad involve its prodigious metamorph and juvenile life stages of excellent colonizing abilities. appetite, and the toxicity of all of its life the toad, as it is likely that different life Hinrich Kaiser (Institut für stages to endemic fauna. There are stages have differing susceptibilities. Humangenetik, Universität Würzburg, firmly held beliefs that these Potential for biological control of 97074 Würzburg, Germany) & Mark L. characteristics of the cane toad are the toad is considered to be good, as Day (Fauna and Flora International, responsible for the deaths of the toad is the only representative of Great Eastern House, Tension Road, Australian wildlife including the bufonid family in Australia and is Cambridge CB1 2DT, UK). herpetofauna, mammals and fish. thus taxonomically distinct from The toad will now almost certainly Australian amphibian species. In establish itself throughout the addition, many species of the genus Donations environmentally sensitive and Bufo exist overseas, offering exciting to the Task biologically and commercially prospects that an infectious and/or Force important rivers and wetlands of parasitic agent from these may cause northern Australia. The Australian disease in Australian Bufo marinus,

Government has provided significant without affecting native species. The DAPTF is very grateful to the funds to gather data to determine Challenge experiments have following, for financial contributions whether the toad has an impact on the commenced to evaluate the effects of during 1995, to maintain the Task Australian environment and thus viruses on toads. These experiments Force and support its initiatives: whether a biological control agent is are conducted under maximum The British Herpetological Society, required. The funding also microbiological security to ensure that Deutsche Gesellschaft für encompasses the search for and escape of the viruses cannot occur. Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde, The assessment of possible control Toads are maintained in laminar flow Herpetologists' League, agents. cabinets, within hermetically sealed Osterreichische Gessellschaft für Funding of the present project is rooms. The air pressure of the rooms Herpetologie, The Phoenix Zoo, the distributed through the CSIRO is lower than atmospheric pressure, Society for Research on Amphibians Division of Wildlife Ecology, Canberra, thus ensuring that all air movement is and Reptiles in New Zealand, the upon the advice of the Cane Toad into the room. Air leaving the room is Society for the Study of Amphibians & Research Advisory Committee. double filtered to exclude the smallest Reptiles, the State of Montana Current work to investigate the control viral particle from escaping. Water Department of Fish, Wildlife and of the cane toad by biological means from the room is heated for a Parks, the Toledo Zoological Gardens, has evolved from extensive studies prolonged time to inactivate infectious the Zoological Society of San Diego. over the past decade which have agents. Entrance to the rooms is gathered basic ecological and disease through an air-lock and exit of Biological data for the species. Such studies personnel from the room requires a Control of the have been conducted in Australia, full three minute shower. Cane Toad Bufo Venezuela and Brazil. A search for In association with the challenge experiments is a spectrum of marinus in microbial agents with potential for control of toads has recently been microbiological, serological and Australia concluded in Venezuela, with the molecular studies to characterise and The CSIRO Australian Animal Health isolation of a number of viral and compare the agents under Laboratory (AAHL) at Geelong is a bacterial agents for investigation at investigation, to establish information high security microbiological facility, AAHL. on the host response and resistance purpose designed and operated to At AAHL, a specialised and to infection, and to gather undertake research into viruses, unique group has been formed epidemiological information related to bacteria, fungi and parasites which are bringing together expertise in virology, the occurrence of the agents in toads exotic and do not occur in Australian aquatic animal pathology, electron and other amphibian populations. domestic or wild animals. It is the only microscopy and molecular biology. Should an agent be found which laboratory of its kind in Australia The group consists of Alex Hyatt, offers the potential for control of the where studies on these exotic micro- John Humphrey and Jacques toad, an extensive series of organisms can be undertaken or are Zupanovic, with technical support. subsequent studies is planned which Expertise in the group has resulted in will involve challenge of indigenous

2 amphibia and fish species to ensure the recruitment of juveniles in the that the agent does not harm Observations pond rather than to the protection indigenous aquatic animals. From Long-term measures taken along the road. To achieve the objectives of the Population At a site called 'Enggistein' a project, amphibian populations from Studies in very different picture has emerged. around the world are being studied for Switzerland The population of Bufo bufo collapsed possible infectious agents. An 13 years ago; in 1977 polecats The following remarks are not the international network of scientists, (Putorius putorius) killed about 120 result of a major scientific research scientific institutions, interest groups toads and it seems that the population project, but are based on some long- and interested individuals is being has never recovered from this event. term studies of amphibian populations developed for information exchange Rana temporaria and Triturus alpestris which I have conducted over several relating to diseases and population have shown large variations but with a years. The longest of these studies declines of amphibians. clear tendency to increase. Rana has involved counting egg clumps of In addition to the search for temporaria increased until 1991, T. Rana temporaria near the river Aare in potential microbial pathogens for the alpestris until 1994, followed by the vicinity of Berne for 26 years. The biological control of cane toads, AAHL catastrophic declines to near-total mean total number of egg clumps per is collaborating with James Cook extinction for both species. The year is 625, but there is very high University of North Queensland (under causes of decline are unclear, but annual variation (370-1180). A separate funding) to investigate worsening of water quality is possibly decrease in the number of spawn causes of declining rainforest frog responsible. clumps was observed between 1983 populations in tropical Australia. Monitoring of adult Salamandra and 1987 and again between 1988 Preliminary evidence strongly salamandra in an overwintering cave and 1992. If I had started my studies suggests that a virus plays a role in near Berne revealed numbers of up to in the years 1983 or 1988, I would such declines, hence an MSc student 20 between 1973 and 1978; then have been convinced after 5 years has recently been appointed to followed a sharp decrease until 1982 that the population was near undertake investigations into the when no adult fire salamanders were extinction; in reality, it is stable. significance of viruses in frog observed. At this site we have Similar observations have been populations. This project, jointly additional information because all made over a 20 year period in two undertaken at AAHL and James Cook animals are individually known by their fens of about 250m2 with much larger University, complements and skin pattern. No adult animal survived populations of Rana temporaria. In enhances the biological control the decline of 1981. It seems that an both fens, vegetational succession project. AAHL is also about to unknown catastrophe happened at was offset by creating a new pond of commence collaborative studies with this time. Over the last 12 years a half a hectare surface area. At one British scientists to characterise virus new, smaller, population has slowly site, 'Bermoos', we observed very isolates from British frogs which are built up. large fluctuations (between 1100 and believed to be responsible for A population of Triturus cristatus 9200 egg clumps) with a decrease alarming deaths in frogs in recent in a pond in a riverine forest was between 1980 and 1986 and again years. It is intended to compare these stable between 1981 and 1986 with a between 1988 and 1993. At 'Widi', viruses with viruses from elsewhere, maximum of 77 adults. However this annual variation has been smaller including Australia, and to establish population rapidly declined to (550-2500 clumps), with a slight whether or not they cause disease in extinction by 1991. A suspected tendency of long-term decrease. At cane toads. causal factor is the lowering of the 'Widi' there seems to have been a real It is hoped that these studies will water level. decrease over the last 6 years. Since provide valuable information on the A population of Bufo bufo in the 1982, Phragmites, which was not causes of, and initiating factors Swiss Alps near Grindelwald at 1850m previously present, is spreading, behind, the recent declines in frog altitude has been monitored since mainly in the former best breeding populations in Australia, Britain and 1982 (in the first 3 years by A. sites. Both fens suffer from excessive elsewhere and will contribute to the Hemelaar's group). The numbers of inflow of nutrients; both are bordered possibility that an infectious agent toads per year arriving to reproduce on three sides by intensive agricultural might be found that will control cane for the first time showed a decrease land, with no buffer zone. Rana toads in Australia. We are on the until 1985, followed by a steady temporaria has not benefited from the continual look-out for possible increase until 1993 and a stable creation of the new ponds, but the pathogens for consideration for the situation over the last two years (150- populations of both Bufo bufo and biological control of cane toads. If 200 adults at the breeding pond per green frogs have increased. anyone has observed dead and/or year). Currently a sudden renewal of Useful data have come from dying toads or other amphibian the population is taking place, groups who, for more than 20 years, species then they can contact us on suggesting that population structure have collected amphibians migrating the numbers listed below. can change quickly in the medium to ponds in spring to prevent them Alex Hyatt and John Humphrey, term. In this example the population being killed by traffic. At 'Bleienbach' can be based for many years on only CSIRO Australian Animal Health numbers of migrating adult Bufo bufo Laboratory, Private Bag 24, Geelong, a few age classes. seem to show a 10-12 year fluctuation The development of populations Victoria, 3222. (range 740 to 4450 animals), but no Tel: 052 275 000, Fax: 052 275 555 of Rana dalmatina and Rana latastei long-term decline, although between in Southern Ticino is a good example Email: [email protected] or 1978 and 1982 a clear decrease was [email protected] of effective amphibian protection. The observed. Numbers of Rana original breeding sites were destroyed temporaria were much lower, with a between 1986 and 1988. In the winter slight tendency to increase. All these of 1988/89 a chain of 4 new ponds changes are more likely to be due to was created, connected by a slowly

3 running brook. Within only 7 years the January, 1996 at the Arizona-Sonora NPS/WRUC/NRTR-95-01. Can be populations exploded from 40 to 500 Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ. ordered from NBS Cooperative Park egg clumps for each of the two For copies of meeting abstracts, Studies Unit, University of California, species. This initial success may not contact: Michael J. Sredl, Arizona Division of Environmental Studies, be sustained in future, because Game & Fish Dept., 2221 W. Davis, CA 95616 population turnover in these two Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023- Long, L.E., Saylor, L.S. and Soulé, species is very rapid. 4312, USA. M.E. (1995) A pH/UV-B synergism in In summary, our studies have Email: [email protected] amphibians. Conservation Biology 9, revealed several cases where clear Great Lakes Declining Amphibians (5) 1301-1303. trends over five years have Conference: Announcement And Reed, J.M. and Blaustein, A.R. (1995) subsequently been reversed, resulting Call For Papers Assessment of 'nondeclining' in marked population fluctuations. The first meeting of the Great Lakes amphibian populations using power Even for a species such as Bufo bufo, (Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan) analysis. Conservation Biology 9, (5) which is considered to be conservative Working Group of the DAPTF is to be 1299-1300. and slow to react, population size and held on March 30th, 1996, at Stewart, M.M. (1995) Climate driven structure can vary remarkably Milwaukee Public Museum, population fluctuations in rain forest between years. In the last few years, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. frogs. Journal of Herpetology 29, (3) we have often been asked for precise It is planned to host paper 437-446. or numerical evidence for the decline sessions on amphibian decline, of amphibian species. Such evidence monitoring , research and education Tarkhnishvili, D.N. (1995) Status of is not easily provided. In many cases in the region. A discussion session is amphibian species in Georgia. Report there is a clear risk of drawing the planned to address the NAAMP white submitted to the DAPTF. wrong conclusions from initial paper, 'Protocols and Strategies for observations. Monitoring North American New Working Group Chairs The decline of many amphibian Amphibians', and to apply it to the populations in Switzerland is real, but Great Lakes region. A goal is to reach Slovenia in most cases we have only very a consensus and distribute a white Nusa Vogrin, Vransko 121, 63305 imprecise information. For example, it paper on standard survey methods for Vransko, Slovenia is hard to prove that a species is no amphibians in the Great Lakes region. Turkey longer present at a certain place. In Abstracts with a title, presenter Kurtulus Olgun, Adnan Menderes most cases the reasons for a decline name, address, and phone/fax/email Üniversitesi, Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi, or an extinction are unknown or can numbers should be sent to the Biyoloji Bölümü, Aydin, Turkey only be assumed from inadequate conference coordinator below. Monitoring Protocols evidence. Such information is Abstracts sent by email are greatly The Task Force gratefully insufficient for a long-term strategy to preferred. acknowledges the work of the retiring stabilise the situation of amphibians in A pre-registration fee of $5.00 Chair, Roy McDiarmid. New chair: our country. We need basic data payable to the Milwaukee Public Stephen Corn, Midcontinent about the development of our Museum, Inc., should be sent to the Ecological Science Center, 4512 amphibian populations for later conference coordinator, Gary S. McMurry Avenue, Fort Collins, comparisons; data about changes in Casper, Milwaukee Public Museum, Colorado 80525-3400, USA populations which can be used as 800 W Wells St, Milwaukee, WI Phone: (970) 226-9464; Fax: (970) bioindicators of environmental change. 53233. voice: (414)278-2766. fax: 226-9230 Long-term observations, as presented (414)278-6100, email: Email: [email protected] or: here, using very simple methods are [email protected] urgently needed. In principle they [email protected] should never stop, because it is Publications of Interest There have been changes of address impossible to predict when changes for the following regional and sub- will begin. Workers who can no longer Bury, R.B., Corn, P.S., Dodd, C.K.J., regional groups of the CIS: follow specific populations, should McDiarmid, R.W. and Scott, N.J.J. Regional Chair pass on the material and the (1995) Amphibians. In: Our living Sergius L. Kuzmin, Institute of responsibility to younger colleagues. resources: A report to the nation on Ecology and Evolution, Russian All possible tendencies (increase, the distribution, abundance, and Academy of Sciences, Leninsky stability, decline) can be found and health of US plants, animals, and Prospekt, 33, Moscow 117071, conclusions must be drawn very ecosystems, ed., E.T. LaRoe, G.S. Russia, Phone: 7-095-954-1036, Fax: carefully. Farris, C.E. Puckett, P.D. Doran and 7-095-954-5534 Kurt Grossenbacher, Museum of M.J. Mac. US Department of the Natural History, Bern, Switzerland. Interior - National Biological Service, Caucasus Region Washington, DC. David N. Tarkhnishvili, Moskovsky Dodd, C.K.J. and LaClaire, L.V. prospect, 40b, kv.89, Tbilisi 380037, US Regional (1995) Biogeography and status of Georgia. Group the striped newt (Notophthalmus email: [email protected] Meetings perstriatus) in Georgia, USA. Ukraine Herpetological Natural History 3, (1) Andrew N. Misyura, Ul. Narymskaya, 37-46. 32, kv.1, Dnepropetrovsk 320008, Southwestern Working Group Fellers, G.M. and Freel, K.L. (1995) Ukraine. Phone: 7-562-76-83-81 This Second Annual Meeting, co- A standardized protocol for surveying Fax: 7-562-465523 sponsored by Arizona Game and Fish aquatic amphibians. United States West Siberia Department, will take place on 4-5th Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Technical Report,

4 Valentina N. Kuranova, Institute of Biology and Biophysics, Tomsk State University, Prospect Lenina, 36, Tomsk-10, 634010, Russia. Phone: 23-42-90 FROGLOG is the Newsletter of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), Species Survival Commission (SSC) Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF). Partial funding for FROGLOG is provided by donation from: Frog's Leap Winery, P.O. Box 189, Rutherford, CA 94573, USA. John Baker, Editor Department of Biology, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom. Phone: 01908 (44 1908 if ex-UK) 652274. Fax: 01908 (44 1908 if ex-UK) 654167 E-mail: [email protected] New Web Address Please note that the World Wide Web URL for FROGLOG has been changed to: http://acs-info.open.ac.uk/info/ newsletters/FROGLOG.html Anyone who prefers to receive FROGLOG via WWW and wishes to cancel hard copy mailing should inform this office.