Amphibian Conservation

Question 1

Why are amphibians needed in the food web?

Answer 1

• bi-phasic lifestyle leads to increased energy dynamics and flow across habitats
• poikilothermy (expend little energy to survive converting into high protein content)
• prey-base for high carnivores (contain rare nutrients like omega 3, phosphorus, carbon, calcium, nitrogen, magnesium, iron and sodium)
• Mid level consumers so they predate on primary and secondary consumers
• transfer useable biomass across niches at higher orders
• excrete ammonia (critical source of nitrogen for plants and phytoplankton)

Question 2

Why is there a need for amphibian conservation?

Answer 2

amphibian declines are the largest documented mass extinction of the Anthropocene this is a contributor the the 6th mass extinction

Question 2

What makes amphibians vulnerable to environmental change?

Answer 2

1. use of aquatic and terrestrial habitats
2. sensitivity of their skin
3. diversity of life stages and their independent/overlapping habitat use

Question 3

What factors are contributing to amphibian decline and extinctions world wide?

Answer 3

• harvesting
• disease
• pollution
• UV rays
• climate change
• habitat loss
• alien species

Question 4

What is a bioindicator?

Answer 4

a species which serves as a measure of:
1. environmental contamination/habitat quality
2. population trends in other species

Question 5

Why is it hard to determine if amphibians would be good bioindicators?

Answer 5

1. their use of aquatic and terrestrial habitats
2. diversity of left stages and their interdependent/ overlapping habitat use
3. Methods used to research to measure the interaction between the indicator and the cause measured

Question 6

How is climate change affecting amphibian species

Answer 6

increased global climate drives amphibians to higher grounds

Question 7

What is the solution framework needed to help the conservation of amphibians?

Answer 7

long term monitoring at meta- and small population levels

Integrating biological research into politics, legislation and socioeconomics

empowering biodiversity monitoring and ecological research through ex situ (captive) management (reproduction, bio technology and ART

Question 8

What is the difference between ex situ and in situ in species conservation?

Answer 8

ex situ: captive breeding

in situ: habitat preservation and restoration

Question 9

What are some examples of ex situ species conservation?

Answer 9

reproductive monitoring
- ultrasound
- hormone assay
- mass spec

artificial feralization

Intracytoplasmic injection (ICSI)

cell and tissue culture