Journal Article

Permanent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10535/5

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Aspects de la Conservation des Reptiles et des Amphibiens dans la Région de Daraina
(2006) Rakotondravony, Hery A.
"This paper deals with conservation aspects of amphibians and reptiles in the Daraina region, north eastern part of Madagascar, where herpetological surveys undertaken between October 2002 and March 2003 and between October 2003 and March 2004 lead to the discovery of 36 amphibians and 74 reptiles. Thirteen taxa among them are currently known only within the Daraina forest areas, and 20 are listed in the CITES(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendices II and I. These high herpetofaunal species diversity and endemism demonstrate the value of this site in terms of terrestrial vertebrate conservation in Madagascar, and the need of an urgent conservation strategy to protect these natural resources."
A Conservation Assessment of the Amphibians and Reptiles of the Forêt d’Ambre Special Reserve, North Madagascar
(2008) D‘Cruze, Neil; Köhler, Jörn; Franzen, Michael; Glaw, Frank
"We surveyed the lowland rainforest of the Forêt d’Ambre Special Reserve in north Madagascar for amphibians and reptiles. We recorded a total of 20 amphibian and 39 reptile species via opportunistic searching and pitfall trapping in the first published survey to focus on this area. Consequently most of the species found were new records for the area. Approximately half of the species (51%) were only found in relatively undisturbed areas of forest and 61 % appear to be restricted to lowland rainforest below 900 m elevation. The most vulnerable elements of this herpetofauna are the three species that appear to be locally endemic to Forêt d’Ambre (according to the current knowledge): Boophis baetkei, Brookesia sp. nov., and Rhombophryne sp. nov. An additional 25 species are considered regional endemics, 14 species are threatened according to the 2007 Red List of Threatened Species and 15 species are listed on the CITES appendices. This paper contributes to the current understanding of Malagasy patterns of biodiversity by documenting the composition, geographical and ecological distribution of the herpetofauna found at this site. Despite its protected status, currently the Reserve is not being managed sufficiently as it is subject to numerous human - induced environmental problems resulting in habitat destruction and should therefore be considered a high conservation management priority. Herein, we provide conservation and development recommendations for this highly diverse site of herpetological importance. Furthermore, we provide an updated and revised species list of the amphibians and reptiles of Montagne d’Ambre National Park and a species list for the private Fontenay Nature Park."
Evaluating Amphibian Declines with Site Revisits and Occupancy Models: Status of Montane Anurans in the Pacific Northwest USA
(2009) Pearl, Christopher A.; Adams, Michael J.; Bury, R. Bruce; Wente, Wendy H.; McCreary, Brome
"Amphibian declines have been reported in mountainous areas around the western USA. Few data quantify the extent of population losses in the Pacific Northwest, a region in which amphibian declines have received much attention. From 2001–2004, we resurveyed historical breeding sites of two species of conservation concern, the Western Toad (Bufo [=Anaxyrus] boreas) and Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae). We detected B. boreas breeding at 75.9% and R. cascadae breeding at 66.6% of historical sites. When we analyzed the data using occupancy models that accounted for detection probability, we estimated the current use of historically occupied sites in our study area was 84.9% (SE = 4.9) for B. boreas and 72.4% (SE = 6.6) for R. cascadae. Our ability to detect B. boreas at sites where they were present was lower in the first year of surveys (a low snowpack year) and higher at sites with introduced fish. Our ability to detect R. cascadae was lower at sites with fish. The probability that B. boreas still uses a historical site for breeding was related to the easting of the site (+) and the age of record (-). None of the variables we analyzed was strongly related to R. cascadae occupancy. Both species had increased odds of occupancy with higher latitude, but model support for this variable was modest. Our analysis suggests that while local losses are possible, these two amphibians have not experienced recent, broad population losses in the Oregon Cascades. Historical site revisitation studies such as ours cannot distinguish between population losses and site switching, and do not account for colonization of new habitats, so our analysis may overestimate declines in occupancy within our study area."
Mine Spoil Prairies Expand Critical Habitat for Endangered and Threatened Amphibian and Reptile Species
(2009) Lannoo, Michael J.; Kinney, Vanessa C.; Heemeyer, Jennifer L.; Engbrecht, Nathan J.; Gallant, Alisa L.; Klaver, Robert W.
"Coal extraction has been occurring in the Midwestern United States for over a century. Despite the pre-mining history of the landscape as woodlands, spent surface coalfields are often reclaimed to grasslands. We assessed amphibian and reptile species on a large tract of coal spoil prairie and found 13 species of amphibians (nine frog and four salamander species) and 19 species of reptiles (one lizard, five turtle, and 13 snake species). Two state-endangered and three state species of special concern were documented. The amphibian diversity at our study site was comparable to the diversity found at a large restored prairie situated 175 km north, within the historic prairie peninsula."
Quantifying the Road-effect Zone: Threshold Effects of a Motorway on Anuran Populations in Ontario, Canada
(2009) Eigenbrod, Felix; Hecnar, Stephen J.; Fahrig, Lenore
"The negative effect of roads on wildlife is recognized as a major contributor to the global biodiversity crisis, with anurans being among the most vulnerable groups overall. The 'road-effect zone,' i.e., the extent of significant ecological effects from the edge of a road, has important management implications, but has never been quantified for anurans. In the first study of its kind, we measured the extent and type of relationship underlying the road-effect zones of a motorway with a high proportion of heavy-truck traffic, particularly at night (Highway 401) for anuran species richness and relative abundance. We surveyed 34 ponds located 68-3262 m from the edge of the motorway, and used piecewise and linear regressions to determine if road-effect zones were clearly delineated by ecological thresholds. We found road-effect zones of 250-1000 m delineated by ecological thresholds for four of seven species and species richness, and road-effect zones of well beyond 1000 m best described by linear regressions for two species. The negative effect of Highway 401 was unexpectedly strong for four of seven species suggest that, in addition to road mortality, very high nighttime truck traffic can actually lead to reduced use of breeding habitat near the motorway either by acting as a barrier to forest habitat on the other side of the highway and/or because of traffic noise. Our results show that most anurans are likely to have reduced abundances near motorways, but that both the extent of the effect of this type of road and the underlying relationship vary considerably between species. Furthermore, the noise and/or barrier effect of very high nighttime traffic volumes can lead to negative effects of motorways even on species that are relatively unaffected by direct road mortality."

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