Amphibian declines are not uniquely high amongst the vertebrates: Trend determination and the British perspective

Diversity

Volumn 1, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 67-88

  Beebee, Trevor J C ^a,b   Wilkinson, John W ^b   Buckley, John ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX   (United Kingdom)

^b Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Amphibian; Britain; Declines; Global; Reptile

Indexed keywords

AMPHIBIA; AVES; MAMMALIA; REPTILIA; VERTEBRATA;

EID: 77954456879     PISSN: None     EISSN: 14242818     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3390/d1010067     Document Type: Review

References (79)

1. Wake, D.B. Declining amphibian populations. Science 1991, 253, 860.
2. Stuart, S.N.; Chanson, J.S.; Cox, N.A.; Young, B.E.; Rodrigues, A.S.L.; Fischmann, D.L.; Waller, R.W. Status and trends of amphibian declines and extinctions worldwide. Science 2004, 306, 1783-1786.
3. Collins, J.P.; Storfer, A. Global amphibian declines: sorting the hypotheses. Divers. Distrib. 2003, 9, 89-98.
4. Beebee, T.J.C.; Griffiths, R.A. The amphibian decline crisis: a watershed for conservation biology? Biol. Conserv. 2005, 125, 271-285.
5. Pounds, J.A.; Bustamante, M.R.; Coloma, L.A.; Consuegra, J.A.; Fogden, M.P.L.; Foster, P.N.; La Marca, E.; Masters, K.L.; Merino-Viteri, A.; Puschendorf, R.; Ron, S.R.; Sánchez-Azofeifa, G.A.; Still, C.J.; Young, B.E. Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global warming. Nature 2006, 439, 161-167.
6. Daszak, P.; Cunningham, A.A.; Hyatt, A.D. Infectious disease and amphibian population declines. Divers. Distrib. 2003, 9, 141-150.
7. Hopkins, W.A. Amphibians as models for studying environmental change. Ilar. J. 2007, 48, 270-277.
8. Griffiths, R.A.; Pavajeau, L. Captive breeding, reintroduction, and the conservation of amphibians. Conserv. Biol. 2008, 22, 852-861.
9. Beebee, T.J.C. Amphibian decline? Nature 1992, 355, 120.
10. McKinney, M.L. High rates of extinction and threat in poorly studied taxa. Conserv. Biol. 1999, 13, 1273-1281.
11. Pechmann, J.H.K.; Scott, D.E.; Semlitsch, R.D.; Caldwell, J.P.; Vitt, L.J.; Gibbons, J.W. Declining amphibian populations: the problem of separating human impacts from natural fluctuations. Science 1991, 253, 892-895.
12. Available on line: www.IUCN.org (accessed 21 September, 2009).
13. Temple, H.J.; Cox, N.A. European Red List of Amphibians; Cambridge Publications: Cambridge, UK, 2009.
14. Cox, N.A.; Temple, H.J. European Red List of Reptiles; Cambridge Publications: Cambridge, UK, 2009.
15. Collins, J.P.; Halliday, T.R. Forecasting changes in amphibian biodiversity: aiming at a moving target. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. B-Biol. Sci. 2005, 360, 309-314.
16. Gibbons, J.W.; Scott, D.E.; Ryan, T.J.; Buhlmann, K.A.; Tuberville, T.D.; Metts, B.S.; Greene, J.L.; Mills, T.; Leiden, Y.; Poppy, S.; Winne, C.T. The global decline of reptiles, déjà vu amphibians. BioScience 2000, 50, 653-666.
17. Schipper, J.; Chanson, J.S.; Chiozza, F.; Cox, N.A.; Hoffmann, M.; Katariya, V.; Lamoreux, J.; Rodrigues, A.S.L.; Stuart, S.N.; Temple, H.J.; et al. The status of the world's land and marine mammals: diversity, threat and knowledge. Science 2008, 322, 225-230.
18. Şekercioǧlu, C.; Daily, G.C.; Ehrlich, P.R. Ecosystem consequences of bird declines. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 2004, 101, 18042-18047.
19. Harris, S.; Yalden, D.W. Mammals of the British Isles: Handbook, 4th ed.; The Mammal Society: Southampton, UK, 2008.
20. Mayer, W.; Bischoff, W. Beitrage zur taxonomischen revision der gattung Lacerta (Reptilia: Laceridae).1. Zootoca, Omanosaura, Timon and Tiera als eigenstandige gattungen. Salamandra 1996, 32, 163-170.
21. Frost, D.R.; Grant, T.; Faivovich, J.; Bain, R.H.; Haas, A.; Haddad, C.F.B.; Desa, R.O.; Channing, A.; Wilkinson, M.; Donnellan, S.C.; Raxworthy, C.J.; Campbell, J.A.; Blotto, B.L.; Moler, P.; Derwes, R.C.; Nussbaum, R.A.; Lynch, J.D.; Green, D.M.; Wheeler, W.C. The amphibian tree of life. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 2006, 297, 1-370.
22. Beebee, T.J.C.; Buckley, J.; Evans, I.; Foster, J.P.; Gent, A.H.; Gleed-Owen, C.P.; Kelly, G.; Rowe, G.; Snell, C.; Wycherley, J.T.; Zeisset, E. Neglected native or undesirable alien? Resolution of a conservation dilemma concerning the pool frog. Rana lessonae. Biodivers. Conser. 2005, 14, 1607-1626.
23. Bell, T. A History of British Reptiles, 2nd ed.; J. Van Voorst: London, UK, 1869.
24. Cooke, M.C. Our Reptiles and Batrachians; W.H. Allen & Co.: London, UK, 1893.
25. Leighton, G.R. The Life-History of British Serpents; Blackwood & Sons: London, UK, 1901.
26. Leighton, G.R. British Lizards; Blackwood & Sons: London, UK, 1903.
27. Taylor, R.H.R. The distribution of reptiles and amphibia in the British Isles, with notes on species recently introduced. Brit. J. Herpetol. 1948, 1, 1-38.
28. Taylor, R.H.R. The distribution of amphibians and reptiles in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland and the Channel Islands: a revised survey. Brit. J. Herpetol. 1963, 3, 95-115.
29. Arnold, H.R. Provisional Atlas of the Amphibians and Reptiles of the British Isles; Biological Records Centre: Abbots Ripton, UK, 1973.
30. Arnold, H.R. Distribution Maps of the Amphibians and Reptiles of the British Isles; Biological Records Centre: Abbots Ripton, UK, 1983.
31. Arnold, H.R. Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Britain; ITE Research Publication 10; HMSO: London, UK, 1996.
32. Cooke, A.S. Indications of recent changes of status in the British Isles of the frog (Rana temporaria) and the toad (Bufo bufo). J. Zoo. (London) 1972, 167, 161-178.
33. Beebee, T.J.C. The natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) in the British Isles: a study of past and present status. Brit. J. Herpetol. 1976, 5, 515-521.
34. Prestt, I.; Cooke, A.S.; Corbett, K.F. British Amphibians and Reptiles. In The Changing Flora and Fauna of Britain; Hawksworth, D.L., Ed.; Academic Press: London, UK; Systematics Association Special Volume No. 6.
35. Cooke, A.S.; Scorgie, H.R.A. The Status of the Commoner Amphibians and Reptiles in Britain. Nature Conservancy Council: Peterborough, UK, 1983; Focus on Nature Conservation 3.
36. Hilton-Brown, D.; Oldham, R.S. The Atatus of the Widespread Amphibians and Reptiles in Britain, 1990, and Changes during the 1980's; Nature Conservancy Council: Peterborough, UK 1991; Nature Conservancy Council Contract Survey 131.
37. Carrier, J-A.; Beebee, T.J.C. Recent, substantial and unexplained declines of the common toad Bufo bufo in lowland England. Biol. Conserv. 2003, 111, 395-399.
38. Cooke, A.S.; Sparks, T.H. Population declines of common toads (Bufo bufo): the contribution of road traffic and monitoring value of casualty counts. Brit. Herpetol. Soc. Bull. 2004, 88, 13-26.
39. Buckley, J.; Beebee, T.J.C. Monitoring the conservation status of an endangered amphibian: the natterjack toad Bufo calamita in Britain. Anim. Conserv. 2004, 7, 221-228.
40. Beebee, T.J.C. Changes in status of the great crested newt Triturus cristatus in the British Isles. Brit. J. Herpetol. 1975, 5, 481-490.
41. Corbett, K.F. Distribution and status of the sand lizard, Lacerta agilis agilis, in Britain. Mertensiella 1988, 1, 92-99.
42. Moore, N.W. The heaths of Dorset and their conservation. J. Ecol. 1962, 50, 369-391.
43. Jackson, H.C. The decline of the sand lizard, Lacerta agilis L. population on the sand dunes of the Merseyside coast, England. Biol. Conserv. 1979, 15, 177-193.
44. Webb, N. Changes on the heathlands of Dorset, England between 1978 and 1987. Biol. Conserv. 1990, 51, 273-286.
45. Rose, R.J.; Webb, N.R.; Clarke, R.T.; Traynor, C.H. Changes on the heathland in Dorset, England, between 1987 and 1996. Biol. Conserv. 2000, 93, 117-125.
46. Baker, J.; Suckling, J.; Carey, R. Status of the Adder Vipera Berus and Slow-Worm Anguis Fragilis in England; English Nature: Peterborough, UK, 2004; English Nature Research report 546.
47. Braithwaite, A.C.; Buckley, J.; Corbett, K.F.; Edgar, P.W.; Haslewood, E.S.; Haslewood, G.A.D.; Langton, T.E.S.; Whitaker, W.J. The distribution in England of the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca Laurenti). Herpetol. J. 1989, 1, 370-376.
48. Young, S.L.; Beebee, T.J.C. An Investigation of Recent Declines in the Common Toad Bufo Bufo. English Nature: Peterborough, UK, 2004; English Nature Research Report 584.
49. Reading, C.J. A proposed standard method for surveying reptiles on dry lowland heath. J. Appl. Ecol. 1997, 34, 1057-1069.
50. Goverse, E.; Smit, G.; van der Meij, T. 10 Years of Amphibian Monitoring in the Netherlands: Preliminary Results. In Proceedings of the 14th European Congress of Herpetology, Porto, Portugal, 2007.
51. Zuiderwijk, A.; Janssen, I. Results of 14 Years Reptile Monitoring in the Netherlands. In Proceedings of the 6th World Congress of Herpetology, Manaus, Brazil, 2008.
52. Weir, L.A.; Royle, J.A.; Nanjappa, P.; Jung, R.E. Modeling anuran detection and site occupancy on North American amphibian monitoring program (NAAMP) routes in Maryland. J. Herpetol. 2005, 39, 627-639.
53. Available online: http://www.narrs.org.uk (accessed 21 September, 2009).
54. MacKenzie, D.I.; Nichols, J.D.; Lachman, G.B.; Droege, S.; Royle, J.A.; Langtim, C.A. Estimating site occupancy rates when detection probabilities are less than one. Ecology 2002, 83, 2248-2255.
55. Bosch, J.; Carrascal, L.M.; Durán, L.; Walker, S.; Fisher, M.C. Climate change and outbreaks of amphibian chytridiomycosis in a montane area of central Spain: is there a link? Proc. Roy. Soc. B-Biol. Sci. 2007, 274, 253-260.
56. Houlahan, J.E.; Findlay, C.S.; Schmidt, B.R.; Meyer, A.H.; Kuzmin, S.L. Quantitative evidence for global amphibian population declines. Nature 2000, 404, 752-755.
57. Beebee, T.J.C. Environmental change as a cause of natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) declines in Britain. Biol. Conserv. 1977, 11, 87-102.
58. Reading, C.J. Linking global warming to amphibian declines through its effects on female body condition and survivorship. Oecologia 2007, 151, 125-131.
59. Beebee, T.J.C.; Flower, R.J.; Stevenson, A.C.; Patrick, S.T.; Appleby, P.G.; Fletcher, C.; Marsh, C.; Natkanski, J.; Rippey, B.; Battarbee, R.W. Decline of the natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) in Britain: Palaeoecological, documentary and experimental evidence for breeding site acidification. Biol. Conserv. 1990, 53, 1-20.
60. Rowe, G.; Beebee, T.J.C. Population on the verge of a mutational meltdown? Fitness costs of genetic load for an amphibian in the wild. Evolution 2003, 57, 177-181.
61. Beebee, T.J.C. British wildlife and human numbers: the ultimate conservation issue? Brit. Wildlife 2001, 13, 1-8.
62. Kotterat, M.; Freyhof, J. Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes; IUCN: Gland, Swiss, 2007.
63. Hall, R.J.; Henry, P.F.P. Assessing the effects of pesticides on amphibians and reptiles: status and needs. Herpetol. J. 1992, 2, 65-71.
64. Lawler, J.J.; White, D.; Sifneos, J.C.; Master, L.L. Rare species and the use of indicator groups for conservation planning. Conserv. Biol. 2003, 17, 875-882.
65. Dudgeon, D.; Arthrington, A.H.; Gessner, M.O.; Kawabata, Z.I.; Knowler, J.D.; Leveque, C.; Naiman, R.J.; Prieur-Richard, A.H.; Soto, D.; Stiassny, M.L.J.; Sullivan, C.A. Freshwater biodiversity: importance, threats, status and conservation challenges. Biol. Rev. 2006, 81, 163-182.
66. Davidson, A.D.; Hamilton, M.J.; Boyer, A.G.; Brown, J.H.; Ceballos, G. Multiple ecological pathways to extinction in mammals. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 2009, 106, 10702-10705.
67. Thomas, J.A.; Telfer, M.G.; Roy, D.B.; Preston, C.D.; Greenwood, J.J.D.; Aher, J.; Fox, R.; Clarke, R.T.; Lawton, J.H. Comparative losses of British butterflies, birds and plants and the global extinction crisis. Science 2004, 303, 1879-1881.
68. Gent, T.; Gibson, S. Herpetofauna Workers' Manual; Joint Nature Conservation Committee: Peterborough, UK, 1998.
69. Pellet, J.; Schmidt, B.R. Monitoring distributions using call surveys: estimating site occupancy, detection probabilities and inferring absence. Biol. Conser. 2005, 123, 27-35.
70. Kéry, M.; Schmidt, B.R. Imperfect detection and its consequences for monitoring for conservation. Community Ecol. 2008, 9, 207-216.
71. Lips, K.R.; Brem, F.; Brenes, R.; Reeve, J.D.; Alford, R.A.; Voyles, J.; Carey, C.; Livo, L.; Pessier, A.P.; Collins, J.P. Emerging infectious disease and the loss of biodiversity in a neotropical amphibian community. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 2006, 103, 3165-3170.
72. Ryan, M.J.; Lips, K.R.; Eichholz, M.W. Decline and extirpation of an endangered Panamanian stream frog population (Craugastor punctariolus) due to an outbreak of cytridiomycosis. Biol. Conserv. 2008, 141, 1636-1647.
73. Bosch, J.; Carrascal, L.M.; Durán, L.; Walker, S.; Fisher, M.C. Climate change and outbreaks of amphibian chytridiomycosis in a montane area of central Spain: is there a link? Proc. Roy. Soc. B-Biol. Sci. 2006, 274, 253-260.
74. Rodder, D.; Veith, M.; Loetters, S. Environmental gradients explaining the prevalence and intensity of infection with the amphibian chytrid fungus: the host's perspective. Anim. Conserv. 2008, 11, 513-517.
75. Holdich, D.; Sibley, P.; Peay, S. The white-clawed crayfish-a decade on. Brit. Wildlife 2004, 16, 153-164.
76. Rushton, S.P.; Lurz, P.W.W.; Gurnell, J.; Nettleton, P.; Bruemmer, C.; Shirley, M.D.F.; Sainsbury, A.W. Disease threats posed by alien species: the role of a poxvirus in the decline of the native red squirrel in Britain. Epidemiol. Infect. 2006, 134, 521-533.
77. Denton, J.S.; Hitchings, S.P.; Beebee, T.J.C.; Gent, A. A recovery program for the natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) in Britain. Conserv. Biol. 1997, 11, 1329-1338.
78. Corbett, K.F.; Moulton, N.R. The Sand Lizard Species Recovery Programme Project (1994-1997). English Nature: Peterborough, UK, 1998; English Nature Research reports No. 288.
79. Baker, J.M.R.; Halliday, T.R. Amphibian colonization of new ponds in an agricultural landscape. Herpetol. J. 1999, 9, 1-8.