Biodiversity

Vast underestimation of Madagascar's biodiversity evidenced by an integrative amphibian inventory, Vieites, D. R., Wollenberg K. C., Andreone F., Köhler J., Glaw F., and Vences M. , Proc. Natl Acad Sci Usa, May 19, Volume 106, Number 20, p.8267-72, (2009)

Philippines frogs of the genus Leptobrachium (AnuraL Megophryidae): Phylogeny-based species delimitation, taxonomic review, and descriptions of three new species, Brown, Rafe M., Siler Cameron D., Diesmos A. C., and Alcala Angel C. , Herpetological Monographs, Volume 23, p.1-44., (2009)

Giant dwarfs: discovery of a radiation of large-bodied'stump-toed frogs' from karstic cave environments of northern Madagascar, Köhler, J., Vences M., D'cruze N., and Glaw F. , Journal of Zoology, Volume 282, p.21-38, (2010)

Potential causes for amphibian declines in Puerto Rico, Burrowes, P. A., Joglar R. L., and Greene D. E. , Herpetologica, Volume 60, Number 2, p.141-154, (2004)

Enzootic and epizootic dynamics of the chytrid fungal pathogen of amphibians, Briggs, C. J., Knapp R. A., and Vredenburg V. T. , P Natl Acad Sci Usa, May 25, Volume 107, Number 21, p.9695-700, (2010)

From the AWeb site:

"A tiny new frog (the Old World's smallest) has been discovered living and breeding inside pitcher plants on Borneo. Das and Haas (2010) describe the new species, Microhyla nepenthicola, in the journal Zootaxa. Adult male frogs measure between 10.6 and 12.8 mm in snout-vent length (SVL); new metamorphs measure just 3.5 mm on average (one-third the diameter of a pea). Although pitcher plants are carnivorous and consume insects that fall in, Microhyla nepenthicola tadpoles suffer no ill effects from developing inside the pitcher's digestive liquid.

Webinar on May 20

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/113355248

The New Zealand Government is trying to open important frog habitat on
the Corimandel Peninsula to mining. To raise awareness of the issue,
Phil Bishop will be giving a webinar in which he will discuss the
situation and urge people to write the NZ Gov't officials in charge of
the decision.

Phylogenetic relationships of Ansonia from Southeast Asia inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences: Systematic and biogeographic implications (Anura: Bufonidae), Matsui, Masafumi, Tominaga Atsushi, Liu Wanzhao, Khonsue Wichase, Grismer Lee L., Diesmos A. C., Das Indraneil, Sudin Ahmad, Yambun Paul, Yong Hoisen, et al. , Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, /2//, Volume 54, Number 2, p.561-570, (2010)

Habitat history improves prediction of biodiversity in rainforest fauna, Graham, Catherine H., Moritz Craig, and Williams Stephen E. , Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America, Jan 17, Volume 103, Number 3, p.632-6, (2006)

Integrating species life-history traits and patterns of deforestation in amphibian conservation planning, Becker, C. G., Loyola R. D., Haddad C. F. B., and Zamudio K. R. , Diversity & Distributions, Volume 16, Number 1, p.10-19, (2010)

In association with the Nature Conservancy and University of California Press, The Washington Post has published distribution maps of the numbers of species, for the major vertebrate groups.

Pernicious descriptions of "new" frogs from the Western Ghats, India, Vasudevan, K., Chaitra M. S., and Aggarwal R. K. , Current Science, Volume 92, Number 3, p.281-282., (2007)

Philippines frogs of the genus Leptobrachium (Anura, Megophryidae): Phylogeny-based species delimitation, taxonomic review, and descriptions of three new species, Brown, Rafe M., Siler Cameron D., Diesmos A. C., and Alcala Angel C. , Herpetological Monographs, Volume 23, p.1-44., (2009)

The Tree of Life Web Project, Maddison, David, Schulz Katja-Sabine, and Maddison Wayne , Zootaxa, Dec 20, Volume 1668, p.19-40, (2007)

From the AmphibiaWeb home page:

The New York Times describes conservation efforts for this Extinct in the Wild species, Nectophrynoides asperginis. This tiny toad species, which gives birth to miniscule toadlets, was discovered in 1998 living in the spray zone of a single Tanzanian waterfall.

Bridging the gap between science and policy in amphibian conservation: Beyond 2010

Dear Colleagues,

The United Nations declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. While it is a year to celebrate the planet's living systems, it is also a year to take stock of what has been achieved to curb biodiversity loss and report against the 2010 biodiversity target.

Sahonagasy.org is a "community website for researchers, conservationists, and amateurs interested in the conservation of Madagascar's unique amphibian fauna."

The site contains literature, photos, and documents (pdfs) relating to conservation strategies for the frogs of Madagascar.

Global conservation significance of Ecuador's Yasuní National Park, Bass, Margot S., Finer Matt, Jenkins Clinton N., Kreft Holger, Cisneros-Heredia Diego F., McCracken Shawn F., Pitman Nigel C. A., English Peter H., Swing Kelly, Villa Gorky, et al. , PLoS ONE, Volume 5, Number 1, p.e8767, (2010)

Status and trends of amphibian declines and extinctions worldwide, Stuart, Simon N., Chanson Janice S., Cox Neil A., Young Bruce E., Rodrigues Ana S. L., Fischman Debra L., and Waller Robert W. , Science, December 3, 2004, Volume 306, Number 5702, p.1783-1786, (2004)

from the AmphibiaWeb site:

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity! Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate taxon, with at least 42% of species declining in numbers and nearly a third already threatened with extinction or lost entirely (Stuart et al. 2004). Please help conserve habitat, fund fieldwork and conservation, and become more aware of your local amphibians and the particular threats they face.