ISSN 1026-0269 ROGLOG NewsletterF of the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force of the World Conservation Union's Species Survival Commission. March 1997, Number 21. bring such potential sources to my (including tales, rhymes etc.) for Anonymous attention at my new e-mail address: educational purposes. Donation [email protected]. Boosts Seed Ron Heyer, DAPTF Chair. Grant Funds! Hungarian Working Group An anonymous donor is generously Report making two contributions to our Seed and the Grant program. The first contribution is Year of the Conservation an outright gift of $10,000 to support Salamander Meeting in investigations of the role of climate Hungary change and UVB exposure in worldwide amphibian declines. The From Miklós Puky second contribution is a challenge DAPTF-Hungary Location: Parassapuszta, 78 kms grant, to be matched on a dollar-for- Last year's conservation meeting was north of Budapest on the dollar basis, of up to $10,000 (for a very successful, with 58 participants Hungarian/Slovakian border. total of $20,000). The pool of funds from several nations including Croatia, Duration: 29/3/1997 - 6/4/1997 raised by the challenge grant will Germany, Hungary, Poland and the Accomodation: in a local school support investigations of the role of United States. We measured more participants cook for climate change and UVB exposure, Meals: than 5,000 amphibians of 9 species themselves chemical contaminants, or synergistic during a week. A good piece of news Travel: by train and bus, or car effects of these possible causes of is that we managed to get the Goals: This time the focus will be on global amphibian declines. Chemical floodplain area designated as a strictly middle-mountain valleys in the contaminant studies, to be eligible for protected part of a would-be national Börzsöny Mountains, the investigation this pool of funds, must have regional park together with an area including of an important amphibian breeding or global implications. We encourage amphibian summer habitat and site, the floodplain of the River Ipoly studies of environmental oestrogen hibernacula. and possible conservation measures mimics for these funds. At least half of As a consequence, this year we in the would-be national park area. the available funds will be dedicated to shall focus on management options The main target species are four climate change and UVB exposure and the revitalization of areas which protected amphibians (two listed under studies. The challenge period ends 31 have been destroyed. We are also the Bern Convention as strictly July 1997. running an educational campaign for protected), together with three other Persons interested in applying local people on the advantage of living species not mentioned here but for these funds should submit a Seed at the edge of a national park. present in the area: Grant proposal (see guidelines in Another brand new project we FROGLOG 20 or contact John are just about to launch is the 1997 - Salamandra salamandra (the ratio of Wilkinson). We have set up a small Year of the Salamander programme. red and orange, spotted and striped committee to determine whether We aim to generate publicity towards individuals, length and weight proposals received meet the amphibians with a focus on the fire characteristics, habitat descriptions). guidelines established by the salamander, involve the general public Pelobates fuscus, a disappearing anonymous donor. If the guidelines in collecting data, set up a salamander species (sex ratio, the analysis of its are not met, then the proposals will be day directory for schools, study circles disappearance, the investigation of its considered for our non-restricted seed etc. where they can find a day-long breeding sites). grant funds. activity for different ages (from , the species which Members of the DAPTF Board Rana dalmatina kindergarten to secondary school), survives drought most successfully, and I are embarking on activities to compile a datailed distribution map (length-weight characteristics, sex raise the $10,000 to fully meet the and include a detailed study of some ratio, breeding sites). challenge by the anonymous donor. populations. However, as time is short, any A new element is to record the Bufo bufo, once the commonest suggestions of possible donors would cultural associations of amphibians amphibian in the region (sex ratio, the be very much appreciated. Please analysis of its disappearance, the analytical methods and to choose (Mike has also been generating some investigation of its breeding sites). priority areas for amphibian valuable income for the DAPTF by the The event is organized on the basis of conservation. In one Natural Park, sale of chocolate frogs!) active participation in all aspects of there have been no observations of the meeting. For further information, Alytes obstetricans and Pelobates contact: cultripes since 1979. These species 1996 IUCN Miklós Puky, 1013 Budapest Pauler u. are probably locally extinct. Red List. 19. III. em. 2. Hungary. Tel/Fax: Following these studies, we are (Hungary) 36-1-1162181 attempting to begin a long term study on a mountainous area (1800-2000m) Or: Szövényi Gergely The 1996 IUCN Red List of inside Serra da Estrela Natural Park. Threatened Animals, compiled and [email protected] This area seems to be more adequate edited by J. Baillie and B. to study the effect of global factors Groombridge, has recently been Amphibiansi without the confounding effects of published by IUCN/SSC. A total of n Portugal habitat modification or fragmentation. 156 amphibian species are listed, Contact: Octavio Paulo, Depto. using IUCN's new system of Zoologia e Antropologia, Faculdade categories and criteria (Extinct 5; From Octávio Paulo de Ciências da Universidade de Critical 18; Endangered 31; DAPTF - Portugal Lisboa, P-1700 Lisboa, Portugal. Vulnerable 75; Lower risk The overall situation of amphibian Tel: 351 - 1 - 7573141 ext. 1514 (conservation dependent) 2; Lower populations in Portugal is good, Fax: 351 - 1 - 7500028 risk (near-threatened) 25). The editors although the desertification process in make it very clear that amphibians the southern half of the country has a (together with fishes and reptiles) have strong effect on populations, and Herbicides not been as comprehemnsively probably contributes to their decline. Kill Frogs assessed as other taxa, notably birds Destruction or habitat fragmentation and mammals, and that these figures also has a considerable effect. Large are very likely to be an underestimate. hydroelectric projects like the Alqueva By Michael J. Tyler Of the amphibian species that have Dam have influences over a very large DAPTF - Australia been assessed, 25% of species are area. This is probably the biggest The Australian Government has taken threatened with extinction, a higher artificial lake in Europe. Other, smaller unprecedented action and banned 84 proportion than that for birds and (but widespread) hydrological projects herbicide products from use near mammals. The inadequacy of the also result in the alteration of local water because of their impact upon data for amphibians is perhaps species compositions. These effects frogs and tadpoles. illustrated by a geographical analysis are magnified by the introduction of All of these products, of which that suggests that Australia and the exotic fish, which prey on amphibian Roundup (Monsanto) is the best USA have much greater numbers of larvae. Fortunately, no exotic known, contain glyphosate as the threatened amphibian species than amphibians have yet become active ingredient. However, there is other countries. This surely reflects established. agreement that it is not the glyphosate our greater knowledge of amphibians Discoglossus galganoi, that is the principal problem but a in these countries rather than the Pelodytes punctatus and Triturus detergent additive termed a dispersant actual situation. helveticus are species worthy of or wetting agent. The function of the Tim Halliday, International Director. particular concern. There are very few dispersant is to break down the observations of T. helveticus in this surface tension at the leaf surface, so country. The other two species are not that the individual spray droplets Georgia Herp as rare as T. helveticus but have disperse to completely cover the leaf. Atlas localized populations dependent on Unfortunately, all detergent one kind of habitat. These local compounds interfere with cutaneous populations can contain a large respiration in frogs and particularly gill From Michael E. Dorcas number of animals, which sometimes respiration in tadpoles. Impact may DAPTF - Monitoring Protocols gives the erroneous impression that vary with water temperature because Working Group the species is very common. oxygen saturation decreases with The Georgia Herp Atlas (GHA) was Recent work from Oporto temperature. To date there have been initiated to learn more about the University shows a very good situation no tests at 40oC or above - conditions distribution of reptiles and amphibians for Chioglossa lusitanica and Rana when oxygen availability is very low. in this understudied state. Because of iberica. Both species seem not to be Although the herbicide is claimed the paucity of professional in immediate danger, although C. to be "environmentally friendly", it is herpetologists in Georgia, we are lusitanica is vulnerable because of its clear that users have been lulled into a depending on amateurs to help us highly specialized habitat false sense of security. The use of more efficiently survey the infrequently requirements. these herbicides near water is already visited parts of the state. The Our group, from Lisbon banned in the UK and the USA. It is to qualifications of GHA participants are University, did a series of short term be hoped other countries join Australia quite modest: ownership of a camera, studies in Serra de S. Mamede in following suit. willingness to donate photos, and an Natural Park (1993-1994), Serra da interest in the well-being of all reptiles Estrela Natural Park (1993 and 1995) Contact: Michael J. Tyler, Department of Zoology, The University of and amphibians.