amphibian ark Keeping threatened amphibian species afloat

By Maura O’Connor — Special to GlobalPost
Published: August 20, 2010 06:27 ET in Africa

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania and NEW YORK — When it came to a choice between a hydropower dam that would provide electricity to one-third of Tanzania and a tiny endangered toad, the dam won.

But the Kihansi toad lives… (Read more)

A. MARTEL, P. VAN ROOIJ, G. VERCAUTEREN, K. BAERT, L. VAN WAEYENBERGHE, P. DEBACKER, T. W. J. GARNER, T. WOELTJES, R. DUCATELLE, F. HAESEBROUCK & F. PASMANS

Abstract
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is one of the most pathogenic microorganisms affecting amphibians in both captivity and in nature. The establishment of B. dendrobatidis free, stable, amphibian captive… (Read more)

Joseph R. Milanovich, William E. Peterman, Nathan P. Nibbelink, John C. Maerz

Abstract

Background
Significant shifts in climate are considered a threat to plants and animals with significant physiological limitations and limited dispersal abilities. The southern Appalachian Mountains are a global hotspot for plethodontid salamander diversity. Plethodontids are lungless ectotherms, so their ecology is strongly governed… (Read more)

Jeremy Hance, mongabay.com

The New Zealand government has caved to public pressure, announcing that it is dropping all plans to mine in protected areas. The plan to open 7,000 hectares of protected areas to mining would have threatened a number of rare and endemic species, including two frogs that are prehistoric relics virtually unchanged from amphibian… (Read more)

Andrew J. Crawford, Karen R. Lipsa, and Eldredge Bermingham

Abstract

Amphibian populations around the world are experiencing unprecedented declines attributed to a chytrid fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Despite the severity of the crisis, quantitative analyses of the effects of the epidemic on amphibian abundance and diversity have been unavailable as a result of the lack of equivalent… (Read more)

A parasite morphologically indistinguishable from Myxidium immersum (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) found in gallbladders of the invasive cane toad (Bufo marinus) was identified in Australian frogs. Because no written record exists for such a parasite in Australian endemic frogs in 19th and early 20th century, it was assumed that the cane toad introduced this parasite.

See http://7thspace.com/headlines/347320/museum_material_reveals_a_frog_parasite_emergence_after_the_invasion_of_the_cane_toad_in_australia.html for… (Read more)

Implementing a strategic plan for the conservation of Ecuadorian amphibians in Extinction risk.

Saving endangered frogs from the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Speciesâ„¢ shows that 1,895 species out of the 6,285 assessed amphibian species are threatened with extinction. The results reveal 30 percent of all known amphibians assessed so far are under serious threat in the wild.The figures show that:

Total Extinct or Extinct in the Wild =… (Read more)

Those second graders from Tremont Elementary are back at it again! With the help of their teachers, and Columbus Zoo, the students have raised another $992 for the Amphibian Ark by holding a read-a-thon.

Read more about their amazing achievements.