Conservation Evidence: Evidence Data

Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Exclude domestic animals or wild hogs by fencing Three replicated, site comparison studies in the USA found that excluding livestock from streams or ponds did not increase numbers of amphibian species or overall abundance, but did increase larval abundance and abundance of green frog metamorphs. Two studies found that the abundance of green frogs and/or American toads was higher with grazing. One randomized, replicated, controlled, before-and-after study in the USA found that excluding cattle from ponds did not increase numbers of eggs or larval survival of Columbia spotted frogs. One before-and-after study in the UK found that pond restoration that included livestock exclusion increased pond use by breeding natterjack toads. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F746https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F746Wed, 17 Jul 2013 10:35:16 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Add lime to water bodies to reduce acidification One before-and-after study in the UK found that adding limestone to ponds resulted in establishment of one of three translocated populations of natterjack toads. One replicated, site comparison study in the UK found that species-specific habitat management that included adding limestone to ponds increased natterjack toad populations. One before-and-after study in the UK found that adding limestone to ponds temporarily increased breeding by natterjack toads. Three before-and-after studies (including one controlled, replicated study) in the Netherlands and UK found that adding limestone increased larval and/or egg survival of moor frogs and common frogs and resulted in metamorphosis of natterjack toads at two of three sites. Two before-and-after studies (including one controlled study) in the UK found that adding limestone to ponds resulted in high tadpole mortality and pond abandonment by natterjack toads and higher numbers of abnormal common frog eggs. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F748https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F748Thu, 18 Jul 2013 15:41:50 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Engage volunteers to collect amphibian data (citizen science) Five studies in Canada, the UK and USA found that amphibian data collection projects engaged 100–10,506 volunteers and were active in 16–17 states in the USA. Five studies in the UK and USA found that volunteers undertook 412 surveys, surveyed 121–7,872 sites, swabbed almost 6,000 amphibians and submitted thousands of amphibian records. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F760https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F760Fri, 16 Aug 2013 11:11:34 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use antifungal skin bacteria or peptides to reduce chytridiomycosis infection Three of four randomized, replicated, controlled studies in the USA found that adding antifungal bacteria to the skin of salamanders or frogs exposed to the chytrid fungus did not reduce chytridiomycosis infection rate or death. One found that adding antifungal bacteria to frogs prevented infection and death. One randomized, replicated, controlled study in the USA found that adding antifungal skin bacteria to soil significantly reduced chytridiomycosis infection rate of red-backed salamanders. One randomized, replicated, controlled study in Switzerland found that treatment with antimicrobial skin peptides before or after infection with chytridiomycosis did not significantly increase survival of common toads. Three randomized, replicated, controlled studies in the USA found that adding antifungal skin bacteria to chytrid infected amphibians reduced weight loss. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F764https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F764Fri, 16 Aug 2013 15:10:05 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use temperature treatment to reduce chytridiomycosis infection Four of five studies (including four replicated, controlled studies) in Australia, Switzerland and the USA found that increasing enclosure or water temperature to 30–37°C for over 16 hours cured frogs and toads of chytridiomycosis. One found that heat treatment at 30–35°C for 36 hours did not cure northern leopard frogs. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F770https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F770Mon, 19 Aug 2013 16:15:16 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Create refuges Two replicated, controlled studies (including one randomized study) in the USA and Indonesia found that adding coarse woody debris to forest floors had no effect on the number of amphibian species or overall abundance, but had mixed effects on abundance of individual species. One before-and-after study in Australia found that restoration that included reintroducing coarse woody debris to the forest floor increased frog species. One replicated, before-and-after study in the UK found that creating refugia for great crested newts, along with other interventions, maintained four populations. Two studies (including one replicated study) in New Zealand and the USA found that artificial refugia were used by translocated Hamilton's frogs and hellbenders, although few were used for breeding. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F772https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F772Tue, 20 Aug 2013 15:40:21 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Provide education programmes about amphibians One study in Taiwan found that education programmes about wetlands and amphibians, along with other interventions, doubled a population of Taipei frogs. Three studies (including one replicated study) in Germany, Mexico, Zimbabwe and the USA found that education programmes increased the amphibian knowledge of students, boatmen and their tourists. Two studies (including one replicated study) in Germany and Slovenia found that students who were taught using live amphibians and had previous direct experience, or who participated in outdoor amphibian conservation work, gained greater knowledge, had improved attitudes towards species and retained knowledge better than those than those taught indoors with pictures. Four studies in Mexico, Taiwan, Zimbabwe and the USA found that courses on amphibians and the environment were attended by 119–6,000 participants and amphibian camps by 700 school children. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F776https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F776Wed, 21 Aug 2013 11:04:07 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use herbicides to control mid-storey or ground vegetation Three studies (including two randomized, replicated, controlled studies) in the USA found that understory removal using herbicide had no effect or some negative effects on amphibian abundance. One replicated, site comparison study in Canada found that following logging American toad abundance was similar and wood frogs lower in stands with herbicide treatment and planting compared to stands left to regenerate naturally. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F778https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F778Wed, 21 Aug 2013 15:38:27 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Legal protection of species Three reviews (including one systematic review) in the Netherlands and UK (Bosman et al. 2011, Spitzen-van der Sluijs et al. 2011, Lewis 2012) found that legal protection of amphibian species was not effective at protecting populations during development. Two reviews in the UK (Edgar et al. 2005, Lewis 2012) found that the number of great crested newt mitigation licences issued over 10 years increased to over 600 in England and Wales. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F779https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F779Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:46:02 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use humans to assist migrating amphibians across roads Two studies (including one replicated study) in Italy and the UK found that despite assisting toads across roads during breeding migrations, 64–70% of populations declined over 6–10 years. One study in the UK found that despite assisting toads across roads during breeding migrations, at 7% of sites over 500 toads were still killed on roads. Five studies in Germany, the UK and Italy found that large numbers of amphibians were moved across roads by patrols. Numbers ranged from 7,532 toads moved before and after breeding to half a million moved during breeding migrations annually. In the UK, there were over 400 patrols and 71 patrols spent an average of 90 person-hours moving toads and had been active for up to 10 years. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F784https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F784Thu, 22 Aug 2013 13:52:12 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Pay farmers to cover the costs of conservation measures Three studies (including one replicated study) in Denmark, Sweden and Taiwan found that payments to farmers created amphibian breeding habitat or increased frog or toad populations. However, a second study in Taiwan found that payments did not maintain green tree frog habitat. One replicated, site comparison study in the Netherlands found that ditches managed under agri-environment schemes had higher numbers of amphibian species and higher abundance than those managed conventionally. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F818https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F818Fri, 23 Aug 2013 09:47:58 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Remove or control fish by drying out ponds One before-and-after study in the USA found that draining ponds to eliminate fish increased numbers of amphibian species. One replicated, before-and-after study in Estonia found that pond restoration, which sometimes included drying to eliminate fish, and pond creation increased numbers of species and breeding populations of common spadefoot toads and great crested newts compared to no management. Three studies (including one review) in the UK and USA found that pond drying to eliminate fish, along with other management activities in some cases, increased breeding success of frog or newt species. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F826https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F826Wed, 28 Aug 2013 11:56:43 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Remove or control fish by catching Four studies (including two replicated, controlled studies) in the USA found that removing fish by catching them significantly increased abundance of salamanders or frogs or increased recruitment, survival and population growth rate of cascades frog. One before-and-after study in the UK found that fish control had no significant effect on great crested newt populations and fish remained or returned within a few years. One replicated, before-and-after study in Sweden found that fish control did not increase green toad breeding success and fish were soon reintroduced. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F827https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F827Wed, 28 Aug 2013 13:51:49 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Raise awareness amongst the general public through campaigns and public information Two studies (including one replicated, before-and-after study) in Estonia and the UK found that raising public awareness, along with other interventions, increased numbers of natterjack toads and created 1,023 ponds for amphibians. One before-and-after study in Mexico found that raising awareness in tourists, increased their knowledge of axolotls. One study in Taiwan found that holding press conferences to publicize frog conservation had no effect on a green tree frog project. Two studies in Panama and the UK found that awareness campaigns reached over 50,000 members of the public each year or trained 1,016 people at 57 events over four years. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F831https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F831Wed, 28 Aug 2013 15:05:54 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Regulate water levels Two studies (including one replicated, site comparison study) in the UK found that habitat management that included maintaining pond water levels increased natterjack toad populations or maintained newt populations. One replicated, controlled study in Brazil found that keeping rice fields flooded after harvest changed amphibian species composition, but not numbers of species or abundance. One replicated, controlled study in the USA found that draining ponds, particularly in the summer, significantly increased abundance and numbers of amphibian species. One before-and-after study in the USA found that maintaining pond water levels enabled successful breeding by dusky gopher frogs. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F833https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F833Wed, 28 Aug 2013 15:19:57 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Captive breeding harlequin toads (Atelopus species) One review and three of five replicated studies (including one small study) in Colombia, Ecuador, Germany and the USA found that harlequin toads reproduced in captivity. One found that eggs were only produced in captivity by simulating a dry and wet season and one found that successful breeding was difficult. One found that captive-bred harlequin toads were raised successfully to metamorphosis in captivity. Two found that most toads died before or after hatching. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F836https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F836Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:54:34 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Harvest groups of trees instead of clearcutting Three studies (including two randomized, replicated, controlled, before-and-after studies) in the USA found that compared to clearcutting, harvesting trees in small groups did not result in higher amphibian or salamander abundance. A meta-analysis of 24 studies in North America found that partial harvest, which included harvesting groups or individual trees, thinning and shelterwood harvesting, resulted in smaller reductions in salamander populations than clearcutting Two studies (including one randomized, replicated, controlled, before-and-after study) in the USA found that compared to no harvesting, harvesting trees in small groups significantly decreased salamander abundance and changed species composition. One randomized, replicated, controlled, before-and-after study in the USA found that compared to unharvested plots, the proportion of female salamanders carrying eggs were similar and proportion of eggs per female and juveniles similar or lower in harvested plots that included harvest of groups of trees. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F844https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F844Fri, 30 Aug 2013 15:47:36 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use shelterwood harvesting instead of clearcutting Three studies (including two randomized, replicated, controlled, before-and-after studies) in the USA found that compared to clearcutting, shelterwood harvesting resulted in higher, similar or initially higher and then similar salamander abundance. A meta-analysis of 24 studies in North America found that partial harvest, which included shelterwood harvesting with three other types, resulted in smaller reductions in salamander populations than clearcutting Two of three studies (including two randomized, replicated, controlled, before-and-after studies) in the USA found that compared to no harvesting, shelterwood harvesting decreased salamander abundance and changed species composition. One found that shelterwood harvesting did not affect salamander abundance. One randomized, replicated, controlled, before-and-after study in the USA found that compared to unharvested plots, the proportion of female salamanders carrying eggs, eggs per female or proportion of juveniles were similar or lower in harvested plots that included shelterwood harvested plots, depending on species and time since harvest. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F851https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F851Thu, 05 Sep 2013 14:42:48 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Translocate natterjack toads Three studies (including one review) in France and the UK found that translocated natterjack toad eggs, tadpoles, juveniles or adults established breeding populations at one site or in 30–70% of cases, some of which also released head-started or captive-bred animals or included habitat management. The review found that re-establishing toads on dune or saltmarsh habitat was more successful than on heathland. One replicated study in the UK found that natterjack toad populations increased at sites established by translocations, particularly with replicated translocations of wild rather than captive-bred toads. Two replicated, before-and-after studies in Estonia and the UK found that translocating natterjack toad eggs or tadpoles resulted in breeding at 8–70% of sites, some of which had been restored. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F859https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F859Fri, 06 Sep 2013 13:48:11 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Translocate salamanders (including newts) One review and three before-and-after studies in the UK and USA found that translocated eggs or adults established breeding populations of salamanders or smooth newts. One replicated, before-and-after study in the USA found that one of two salamander species reproduced following translocation of eggs, tadpoles and metamorphs. One before-and-after study in the USA found that translocated salamander eggs hatched and tadpoles had similar survival rates as in donor ponds. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F860https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F860Fri, 06 Sep 2013 14:03:10 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Create ponds for natterjack toads Five before-and-after studies (including three replicated and one controlled study) in the UK and Denmark found that pond creation, along with other interventions, significantly increased natterjack toad populations, or in two cases maintained or increased populations at 75% of sites. One replicated, site comparison study in the UK found that compared to natural ponds, created ponds had lower natterjack toad tadpole mortality from desiccation, but higher mortality from predation by invertebrates. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F866https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F866Tue, 10 Sep 2013 15:47:29 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Create ponds for salamanders (including newts) Three before-and-after studies (including two replicated studies) in France, Germany and the USA found that naturally colonizing alpine newts, captive-bred smooth newts or translocated spotted salamanders established stable breeding populations in 20–100% of created ponds. Two replicated, before-and-after study in France and China found that alpine newts or Chinhai salamanders reproduced in 60–100% of created ponds. One small, replicated, before-and-after study in the USA found that translocated spotted salamanders but not tiger salamanders reproduced in created ponds. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F867https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F867Tue, 10 Sep 2013 15:55:04 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Release captive-bred green and golden bell frogs One review and two before-and-after studies in Australia found that captive-bred green and golden bell frogs released mainly as tadpoles did not established breeding populations, or only established stable breeding populations following one of four release programmes. One study in Australia found that a small proportion of captive-bred green and golden bell frog released as tadpoles survived at least 13 months after release. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F872https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F872Wed, 11 Sep 2013 16:03:45 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Release captive-bred Mallorcan midwife toads Three studies (including one replicated study and one review) in Mallorca found that captive-bred midwife toads released as tadpoles, toadlets or adults established breeding populations at 38%, 80% or 100% of sites. One randomized, replicated, controlled study in the UK found that predator defences were maintained, but genetic diversity reduced in a captive-bred reintroduced population. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F873https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F873Thu, 12 Sep 2013 10:43:06 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Release captive-bred toads Two of three studies (including two replicated studies) in Denmark, Sweden and the USA found that captive-bred toads released as tadpoles, juveniles or metamorphs established populations, in one case at 70% of sites. One of the studies found that populations were not established from captive-bred and head-started toads. Two studies in Puerto Rico found that survival of released captive-bred Puerto Rican crested toads was low and that 25% were predated within two days of release. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F875https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F875Thu, 12 Sep 2013 10:51:57 +0100