Vancouver Aquarium s Effort to Save Amphibians Dennis A. Thoney, Ph.D. Darren Smy Kris Rossing
Amphibians Are In Trouble 30% - 1,895 of 6,285 amphibians species assessed are threatened with extinction (IUCN) 6% - 382 are near threatened 25% - 1,597 are data deficient
Amphibians Are In Trouble 126 species believed to be extinct in wild 39 are extinct in wild but survive in captivity
How Are They Disappearing? Chytridiomycosis Habitat destruction Toxicants Introduction of invasive species Climate change
Amphibian ARK The IUCN is calling on zoos and aquariums to participate in the global response to this conservation crisis. Recognizing that the rate of decline far outpaces the ability to respond to environmental problems in situ, captive assurance populations have been recognized as the only hope for survival for many amphibian species and will buy time to respond to threats in the wild. The WAZA (World Association of Zoos & Aquariums), IUCN/ CBSG (Conservation Breeding Specialist Group), the IUCN/ASG (Amphibian Specialist Group), and regional zoological associations have hosted a series of workshops and developed a number of resources to support the zoological community s ex situ response to this crisis.
Amphibians Are In Trouble 500 estimated species whose threats currently cannot be mitigated quickly enough to prevent extinction Each of the 500 largest zoos need to take on at least one species.
Amphibians Are In Trouble 500 estimated species whose threats currently cannot be mitigated quickly enough to prevent extinction Each of the 500 largest zoos need to take on at least one species. 10 managed species in AZA zoos and aquariums 50 extrapolated globally which is only 10%
Amphibian Species Maintained by Zoos & Aquariums Globally International Species Information System (ISIS) data base 800 zoological institutions in 80 countries Number of species maintained (Feb 2012) 661 species and subspecies maintained. 105,016 individual animals (groups not included)
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Amphibian Taxon Advisory Group SSP/PMP Programs Atelopus varius Harlequin golden frog Atelopus zeteki Panamanian golden frog Anaxyrus (Bufo) houstonensis Houston toad Peltophryne lemur Puerto Rican crested toad Anaxyrus (Bufo) baxteri Wyoming toad Dendrobates azureus Blue poison dart frog Lithobates sevosa Dusky gopher frog Mantella aurantiaca Golden mantella Tylototriton shanjing Emperor (Mandarin) newt Eurycea rathbuni Texas blind cave salamander
FROGS FOREVER 2008 Ordinal taxonomy Habitat diversity Reproduction Prey/predator significance Chytrid fungus Invasive species Amphibians as food Extinction VA recovery programs 24 Exhibits 26 species
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Bufonidae Incilius alvarius Colorado river toad Bufo marinus Cane toad Melanophryniscus stelzneri Bumblebee toad
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Hyperoliidae Hyperolius sp. Reed frog Afrixalus fornasini Spiny reed frog
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Leptodactylidae Ceratophrys ornata Bell s horn frog Leptodactylus pentadactylus Smoky jungle frog Ceratophrys cranwelli Cranwell's horned frog Ceratophrys cornuta Horned frog
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Ranidae Rana berlandieri Rio Grande leopard frog Lithobates catesbeiana American bullfrog
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Hylidae Phyllomedusa sauvagii Waxy tree frog Agalychnis callidryas Red-eyed tree frog Hyla cinerea Green tree frog
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Dendrobatidae Epipedobates tricolor Phantasmal poison frog Ranitomeya imitator Imitating dart frog Ameerega trivittatus Three-striped dart frog Dendrobates auratus Green & black poison frog Dendrobates tinctorius Dyeing/blue poison frog Phyllobates terribilis Golden dart frog
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Pipidae Xenopus laevis African clawed frog Pipa pipa Suriname toad
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Discoglossidae Bombina orientalis Fire bellied toad
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Microhylidae Dyscophus guineti Sambava tomato frog
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Arthroleptidae Leptopelis vermiculatus Big-eyed tree frog
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Mantillidae Mantella madagascariensis & M. boroni Malagasy & painted mantella
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Caudata Ambystoma tigrinum Tiger salamander Taricha granulosa granulosa Northern roughskin newt Ambystoma mexicanum Axolotl Paramesotriton hongkongensis Hong Kong warty newt
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Typhlonectidae Typhlonectes natans Rio Cauca caecilian
Vancouver Aquarium s Amphibian Program Breeding or Attempting to Breed Rana pretiosa Oregon spotted frog Rana pipiens BC Northern leopard frog Agalychnis callidryas Red-eyed tree frog Hyperolius sp. Reed frog Dendrobates auratus Green & black poison frog Dendrobates tinctorius Dyeing/blue poison frog Ranitomeya imitator Imitating dart frog Epipedobates tricolor Phantasmal poison frog Ameerega trivittatus Three-striped dart frog Phyllobates terribilis Golden dart frog Pipa pipa Suriname toad Atelopus zeteki Panamanian golden frog Bombina orientalis Fire bellied toad Paramesotriton hongkongensis Hong Kong warty newt Typhlonectes natans Rio Cauca caecilian Taricha granulosa Rough skin newts
Vancouver Aquarium Assurance Populations Fourth species?? Rana pipiens BC Northern leopard frog Rana pretiosa Oregon spotted frog Atelopus zeteki Panamanian golden frog
Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) Assurance Population Endangered in BC; extant in four Fraser River wetlands About 300 breeding females in the wild Assurance Population started in 2008 with yr07 and yr08 frogs 49 founder genetic strains in captivity (205 frogs total at VA) Collect 5 to 10 eggs each year and surplus extras of each group Keep individuals from a few F2 generation to test viability
Oregon Spotted Frog Housing Greenhouses on roof 25 and 40 gal tanks and filter systems Additional, larger Greenhouse to be installed this year
Oregon Spotted Frog Breeding Year 2010 Maintained and bred in 25 & 40 gal tanks Animals fed on crickets & earthworms to satiation Replicated water and air temperature in wild Raised water level to 15 cm in November Add maple leaf substrate & place plastic plants horizontal Natural photo period in greenhouses Reduced water level to 8 cm in February Reorient plastic plants to vertical Started calling underwater in February Paired yr3 frogs Bred at about 7 degrees C early March Three egg masses resulting in 300 tadpoles First breeding success in captivity!
Oregon Spotted Frog Breeding Year 2011 Treated 50% of frogs with Amphiplex Treated frogs started laying eggs within 2 days Clutches ranged from 100-1,200 eggs 10 females produce 7 clutches Eggs took approx. 14 days to hatch Small number of yr2 frogs bred Tadpoles produced 1,950 tadpoles released in wild 400 tadpoles raised to metamophs for tag study 600 tadpoles used in growth/survival study 50 tadpoles kept to generate F2 generation Also released approx 75 2010 metamorphs
OSF release site
Oregon Spotted Frog Breeding Year 2012 Treated 30% of frogs with Amphiplex Frogs laid eggs over several days 25 females produced 17 clutches Clutches ranged from 300-1,000 eggs Amphiplex treated frogs did not spawn; females likely not with ripe eggs 2,828 tadpoles released into wild 29 tadpoles retained to produce F2 generation
Earth Rangers Project Aldergrove Park
Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) Assurance Population Poster child for CAZA Frog Crisis Widest distribution in Canada Endangered in British Columbia Occurs in two wetlands, one of two is natural
Northern Leopard Frog Housing
Northern Leopard Frog Breeding Year 2012 Followed in situ temp and photoperiod Treated 7 of 19 yr3 frogs with Amphiplex Few non-treated frogs in amplexus No frogs bred Likely not ripe with eggs Cool spring Try again in 2013 with yr3 & yr4 frogs
Panamanian Golden Frog (Atelolepus zeteki ) Assurance Population Species extinct in wild? 1,537 individuals in assurance population Maintained by 49 ISIS institutions Expect to breed species this year Create stream habitat following AZA husbandry manual guidelines
New Secure Tropical Amphibian Room
AQUARIUMS NEED TO DO MORE!!
Acknowledgements We acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the Province of British Columbia and the Vancouver Aquarium Conservation Foundation Board We also would like to acknowledge Lee Newman, Curator of Tropics, for helping to manage resources associated with the Frog Conservation program at the Vancouver Aquarium.