U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Spring 2008 Volume 33, No. 1 The Year of the Frog The Association of Zoos & Aquariums in North America, the world’s other professional zoo and aquar- ium associations, other conservation organizations, and government agencies have joined in a global effort to save imperiled amphibians. To raise global awareness of the plight of frogs, other amphibians, and activities to conserve vulnerable species, these partners have named 2008 as “The Year of the Frog.” The Year of the Frog Endangered Species Bulletin Spring 2008 Spring 2008 Endangered Species Bulletin IN THIS ISSUE 4 The Global Amphibian Crisis 7 Project Golden Frog 11 Chiricahua Leopard Frog Inches Towards Recovery Telephone: 703-358-2390 Contributors 15 Giving Leopard Frogs a Head Start Fax: 703-358-1735 Paul Boyle Jeff Ettling E-mail: [email protected] Shelly Grow Jill Utrup Vicky Poole Kim Mitchell Web site: Jim Rorabaugh Chad Mellison 18 Building Conservation Partnerships www.fws.gov/endangered/bulletin.html Melissa Kreutzian Ashley Bradley with Zoos Editor Mike Sredl Kate Symonds Michael Bender Charlie Painter Della K. Snyder-Velto Roberto Aguilar Christina Lydick Art Director Juan Carlos Bravo Joe Milmoe 20 Conserving Missouri’s Hellbenders Jennifer Hennessey Carter Kruse Lianne Ball Tara Sprankle Jim Knox Diane Barber Jeff Servoss The Ozark Hellbender: Out from 22 Under a Rock 25 Conserving Columbian Spotted Frogs in Nevada The Panamanian golden frog (cover) and the Mississippi dusky gopher frog (opposite page), both of which are imperiled with extinction, illustrate the dangers facing many of the world’s amphibian species. 28 A Leap Forward for the Mountain photos © Michael Redmer Yellow-legged Frog 30 Ranchers Restore Amphibian- friendly Ponds 32 Moving Quickly Saves a Breeding Season 34 Evaluating Amphibian Abnormalities on Wildlife Refuges The Endangered Species Bulletin is now an on-line publication. Three electronic editions are posted each year at www.fws.gov/endangered/bulletin.html, and one print edition of highlights is published each year. To be notified when a new on-line edition has been posted, sign up for our list-serv by clicking on “E-Mail List” on the Bulletin Web page. Departments The Bulletin welcomes manuscripts on a wide range of topics related to endangered species. We are particularly interested in news about recovery actions and conservation partner- 36 Partners for Fish and Wildlife ships. 38 USGS Research News The Bulletin is reprinted by the University of Michigan as part of its own publication, the Endangered Species UPDATE. To subscribe, write the Endangered Species UPDATE, School 40 Children in Nature of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1115; or call 734-763-3243. 43 Rulemaking Actions Please send us your comments and ideas! E-mail them to us at [email protected]. Endangered Species Bulletin Spring 2008 Spring 2008 Endangered Species Bulletin The Global by Paul Boyle and Shelly Grow Amphibian Crisis A crisis of enormous proportions character Kermit the Frog, whose motto faces the world’s amphibian species. At is “It isn’t easy being green,” may have present, we estimate that about one-third had an early premonition of the crisis of the more than 6,000 known amphibian frogs face today. Frogs were traditionally species are at risk of extinction. This used for studying anatomy, physiology, likely underestimates the real number neurobiology, and pharmacology, and since data are lacking on many species were used globally in the 20th century from Africa, Southeast Asia, and other for pregnancy tests. Today, as we see regions. Several causes underlie this amphibian species in serious decline, massive decline, but a crucial element frogs are like the “canary in the coal is the very nature of amphibians; their mine” – a class of animals more sensi- skin must always be moist and it literally tive than most, potentially signaling an breathes, so they are especially vulner- impending environmental calamity. able to environmental contaminants. The severe decline of amphibians Habitat destruction, disease, pollution, occurring today can be compared with climate change, and other expanding the mass extinction of dinosaurs 65 mil- human-related impacts have an entire lion years ago. Yet, while most people class of the animal kingdom in serious know of the sudden disappearance of decline. dinosaurs, few remember that when the Frogs hold great cultural significance. dinosaurs disappeared, almost 70 percent They figured prominently in ancient of the other species on Earth disappeared Egyptian and Greek mythology, as well as with them. There could be truth in the more recent folklore. Today’s well-known notion of amphibians as an early indicator The Mississippi distinct population segment of the dusky gopher frog (Rana capito sevosa) is listed as endangered. © Michael Redmer Endangered Species Bulletin Spring 2008 Spring 2008 Endangered Species Bulletin of environmental chaos. However, unlike the demise of dinosaurs, many of the impacts that threaten amphibians are of human origin. The most serious threat to amphibians is habitat loss and widespread habitat fragmentation. Loss of rainforest and other crucial habitats to agricultural and other human development is devastating habitats crucial to amphibian survival worldwide. Pollution from mine drain- age, pesticides, fertilizers, and other organic compounds is present in every earthly ecosystem. Amphibians are particularly susceptible to the effects of organic molecules since their skin is © Michael Redmer The flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) is a threatened amphibian native to parts of the U.S. so much more permeable than that of lower southeastern Coastal Plain. other animals. A disease caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is spreading undaunted, What is Being Done? with few amphibian species showing The Amphibian Specialist Group of resistance. The chytrid disease typically the World Conservation Union (IUCN), results in mass die-offs where often more the World Association of Zoos and than 50 percent of amphibian species are Aquariums, and IUCN’s Conservation extirpated within six months, while other Breeding Specialist Group have formed species persist with relatively minor a partnership called the Amphibian Ark. reductions. Meanwhile, amphibians are also affected by harvesting for food and the pet trade, predation, and invasive introduced species. The Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Dana Payne Endangered Species Bulletin Spring 2008 Spring 2008 Endangered Species Bulletin to expand the capacity of its 219 accred- ited member institutions to respond vigorously to amphibian declines locally, regionally, and around the world. We also seek to support the efforts of government conservation agencies in responding to the global amphibian crisis. All of this work aims to build strong partnerships, increase the professional and structural capacity for saving amphibians, and ensure the success of this crucial world- wide effort. Dr. Paul Boyle is Senior Vice President for Conservation at the AZA, where he leads its animal conservation © Michael Redmer Peruvian stubfoot harlequin frog (Atelopus peruensis). Described as new to science in 1985, this species and conservation education programs. underwent massive declines in the 1990s, and is now possibly extinct. Shelly Grow ([email protected]; 01-- 0) is a conservation biologist with AZA focusing on increasing the capac- The mission of the Amphibian Ark is Zoos and aquariums offer unique ity and the diversity of partnerships ambitious: “working in partnerships to expertise to the Amphibian Ark effort for responding to the amphibian crisis. ensure the global survival of amphib- because of their history of successfully The AZA is headquartered at 80 ians, focusing on those that cannot be managing captive populations of ani- Colesville Road, Suite 10, Silver Spring, safeguarded in nature.” As explained on mals. They also have broad experience Maryland 0910. its Web site (www.amphibianark.org), it with reintroducing captive-bred animals coordinates ex-situ (off-site or captive- into the wild, translocating animals for breeding) programs by partners around conservation purposes, and developing the world, along with efforts to protect or the infrastructure and facilities required restore species in their natural habitats. to safely quarantine, breed, and maintain The Association of Zoos & Aquariums amphibian populations for the long term. (AZA) in North America and the world’s This special issue of the Endangered other professional zoo and aquarium Species Bulletin shares some examples associations have joined in this massive of what zoos and aquariums, the Fish and effort, working in partnership with other Wildlife Service, and other agencies and conservation organizations to save imper- organizations are doing, and plan to do iled amphibians. over the next several years, to fight the In one of the largest collaborations of loss of amphibians. We seek to engage as its kind, these organizations have called many partners in the effort as possible for a global effort to save amphibians and and to target hotspots where amphibian have named 2008, a leap year, as “The extinction is on the rise. We are also working to increase both the physical infrastructure required to conserve amphibians in captive populations, through which the living genetic stock of imperiled species can be saved while conditions