Issue number 103 (July 2012) ISSN: 1026-0269 eISSN: 1817-3934 Volume 20, number 4 www.amphibians.orgFrogLogConservation news for the herpetological community Regional Focus Sub Saharan Africa INSIDE News from the ASG New Special Alytes Issue on Amphibian Conservation Regional Updates Global News Recent Publications General Announcements And More... First New Frog Discovery for Chela Mountain Reed Frog Angola in 40 Years (Hyperolius chelaensis). Photo: W. Conradie. Conservation ARMI/ASG Evidence Seed Grant Awards Amphibian Conservation Now Available Call for Evidence FrogLog 20 (4) | Issue number 103 (July 2012) | 1 FrogLog CONTENTS 3 Editorial NEWS FROM THE ASG 4 Amphibian Conservation – Call for Evidence 8 Other Specialist Group News 5 ASG/ARMI Seed Grant Award 2012 9 New Special Alytes Issue on Amphibian Conservation 5 Lost Frogs update 10 Amazing Species - A Call for Species Descriptions 6 Updated Regional Chairs 2012—2016 11 A Survivor Against All Odds: A New Glass Frog from Manu National Park, Peru, Renews Hope for Amphibian 8 Survey: Joint Objectives in Disaster Risk Reduction and Conservation Environmental Conservation 11 The Prince Charles Stream Tree Frog REGIONAL UPDATE 12 TRENTO 2012 African Amphibian 24 Frogs About Town: Ecology and 32 Ex-situ Amphibian Conservation in Working Group Conservation of Frogs in the Urban the Frog Capital of Madagascar 14 Conservation of the Western Habitats of South Africa 34 Save The Frogs! Ghana Spearheading Leopard Toad by a Dedicated Multi- 25 First New Frog Discovery for Angola Efforts to Create a New National Park Stakeholder Group in the City of Cape in 40 Years for the Protection of the Critically Town 26 Sahonagasy.org: A Web Platform Endangered Togo Slippery Frog 17 Ex-situ Amphibian Conservation in Implementing Information (Conraua derooi) Southern Africa Management and Citizen-Science 36 Differences in the Effects of Selective 20 Uncovering New Sites of a Cryptic for the Conservation of Malagasy Logging on Amphibian Assemblages KwaZulu-Natal Endemic Amphibians in Three West African Forest Types 22 Hluleka Nature Reserve: Unexpected 29 The Conservation Effort for Two Amphibian Diversity Critically Endangered Amphibian Species of the Ankaratra Massif, Boophis williamsi and Mantidactylus pauliani GLOBAL NEWS 37 You can call them Snot Otters, but 38 Understanding the Impact of Chemical don’t call Hellbenders Extinct Pollution on Amphibians Recent Publications 40 | Meetings 51 | Internships & Employment 51 Funding Opportunities 52 | Author Instructions 56 Follow the ASG on facebook www.facebook.com/amphibiansdotorg 2 | FrogLog 20 (4) | Issue number 103 (July 2012) Editorial FrogLog t has been an exciting couple of months for the ASG since the last edition ASG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE of FrogLog. We have been communicating extensively with our Regional I Groups to identify Chairs that will act as ASG focal points for the next qua- James P. Collins drennium (four year working period for the IUCN). Almost all groups now have Chairs in place and discussions have begun to identify priorities for each group. ASG Co-Chair As this edition focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa we would like to highlight the new C G and continuing Chairs from this region. Mark-Oliver Rödel, who served during laude ascon the last quadrennium, will be continuing to drive forward ASG activities in West ASG Co-Chair Africa. For East Africa, David Moyer will be stepping down and in his place Co- Chairs Victor Wasonga and Simon Loader will be leading the efforts. For Southern Phillip J. Bishop Africa, Alan Channing will be handing over to John Measey, and in Madagascar ASG Deputy Chair Franco Andreone will be continuing in his Co-Chair role; however, Herilala Ran- driamahazo will be passing his responsibilities onto the former ASG Madagascar Robin D. Moore Executive Secretariat Nirhy Rabibisoa. The experience and energy that comes with ASG Program Officer this team is a great sign of the potential for amphibian conservation in Africa, and we very much look forward to working with everyone in the region. As you will see James P. Lewis from the articles included in this edition, there are already many fantastic initia- ASG Program Coordinator tives in place and plenty of opportunity for further partnerships and investments. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who supported the ASG Ariadne Angulo during the 2009-2012 quadrennium and welcome all the new Chairs for what we hope will be a very productive quadrennium. Amphibian Red List Focal Point In its capacity as a network the ASG strives to reach out to people and organiza- FROGLOG EDITORIAL BOARD tions working with amphibians to help build partnerships and share information. We are trying to do this in a number of ways, with the lead often coming from our members rather than the Executive Committee. The Amphibian Conservation Editor-in-chief special edition of Alytes (see page 9) is a great example of the type of material that can be produced through such collaborations. We encourage our members to read James P. Lewis this edition to get a good sense of some current thinking within the community and hope it leads to constructive and lively debate. The Conservation Evidence initiative that is being run by the University of Cambridge is another great example Editors of how we can come together as a community to share information to further am- Craig Hassapakis phibian conservation (please read the article on page 4 to find out how you can get James P. Collins involved in this ASG supported initiative). Claude Gascon Phillip J. Bishop As we move forward we will be sharing with you a range of different ideas and Robin D. Moore projects. How the ASG approaches these will be in direct response to member in- volvement. The ASG is not just a collection of people in appointed positions but a community, and as the Executive Committee we are here to help you meet your Editorial Intern priorities as members. Regina Fong The ASG Executive Committee Editorial Office Conservation International 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22202 USA. [email protected] Please consider the enviornment before printing this publication. Reduce, reuse, recycle. FrogLog 20 (4) | Issue number 103 (July 2012) | 3 ASG Updates Amphibian Conservation – Call for Evidence he Conservation Evidence project at the University of Cambridge is focusing on amphibians this year. Conserva- T tion Evidence publishes a website, a journal and a series of books providing evidence to support decisions about nature con- servation. We are currently developing a new synopsis of evidence on amphibian conservation funded by Synchronicity Earth. This involves listing all possible conservation interventions for amphib- ians, anywhere in the world, and compiling evidence for the effec- tiveness of each. WE NEED YOUR HELP Have you written a paper or report describing the effects of a man- agement intervention to conserve amphibians? Have you tried a novel technique for the conservation of an amphibian species? It could be anything from protecting, restoring or creating habitat to captive breeding and releases. If the intervention was directly test- ed and its effects monitored quantitatively, we would like to include your evidence in our synopsis. Please note, we focus entirely on how to protect or boost wild am- phibian populations by intervening to restore natural processes or We aim to complete the amphibian synopsis by June 2013. It will mitigate threats. We do not cover evidence about how species are then be made available as a searchable database, a book and a free changing or what is causing their decline. pdf. Conservation Evidence has completed synopses of evidence on Please contact Rebecca Smith [email protected] if: bird conservation and wild bee conservation. Another synopsis is almost complete for wildlife conservation in European farmland. ● You have evidence of the effectiveness of conservation inter- These are available on our website www.conservationevidence.com ventions for amphibians, or in a searchable database of evidence. ● You would like an electronic copy of the amphibian synopsis once it is available. FrogLog Schedule January — Special Topical Edition April — The Americas July — Africa, West Asia, Madagascar, Mediterranean, and Europe October — Asia, Russia, and Oceania Robin Moore / iLCP 4 | FrogLog 20 (4) | Issue number 103 (July 2012) ASG/ARMI Seed Grant Award 2012 Call for applications: The Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative Seed Grant Awards Apply Now! www.amphibians.org e are pleased to announce a new round of ASG/ ARMI Seed Grants. ARMI Seed Grants are in- W tended as one-time awards of between $500 and $2000 for the support or initiation of research that furthers the Amphibian Specialists Group’s mission to conserve biological diversity by stimulating, developing and execut- ing practical programs to conserve amphibians around the world, in addition to determining the nature, extent and causes of amphibian population declines. To apply for an award your proposed work must be un- dertaken on amphibian species or issue(s) of concern in the USA. The US Geological Survey’s (USGS) Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) is particularly Historical disease prevalence, and current survival rates of a threatened amphibian (Anaxyrus canorus) with respect to chytrid interested in funding research on potential stressors of am- infection intensity – team project awarded in 2011. phibian populations. Applicants interested in applying for a seed grant should download and submit an application form The ASG/ARMI Seed Grant is managed by the Amphibian by August 31st, 2012 from the ASG web site www.amphib- and Reptile Conservancy, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit ians.org. Successful candidates will be notified by September organization whose mission to assist in and develop amphib- 30th, 2012. Do not hesitate to contact Robin Moore if you ian and reptile conservation projects and partner efforts that need clarification or advice.