Conservation Science and Practice (Sep 2023)
Priority research needs to inform amphibian conservation in the Anthropocene
- Evan H. Campbell Grant,
- Staci M. Amburgey,
- Brian Gratwicke,
- Victor Acosta‐Chaves,
- Anat M. Belasen,
- David Bickford,
- Carsten A. Brühl,
- Natalie E. Calatayud,
- Nick Clemann,
- Simon Clulow,
- Jelka Crnobrnja‐Isailovic,
- Jeff Dawson,
- David A. De Angelis,
- C. Kenneth Dodd Jr,
- Annette Evans,
- Gentile Francesco Ficetola,
- Mattia Falaschi,
- Sergio González‐Mollinedo,
- David M. Green,
- Roseanna Gamlen‐Greene,
- Richard A. Griffiths,
- Brian J. Halstead,
- Craig Hassapakis,
- Geoffrey Heard,
- Catharina Karlsson,
- Tom Kirschey,
- Blake Klocke,
- Tiffany A. Kosch,
- Sophia Kusterko Novaes,
- Luke Linhoff,
- John C. Maerz,
- Brittany A. Mosher,
- Katherine O'Donnell,
- Leticia M. Ochoa‐Ochoa,
- Deanna H. Olson,
- Kristiina Ovaska,
- J. Dale Roberts,
- Aimee J. Silla,
- Tariq Stark,
- Jeanne Tarrant,
- R. Upton,
- Judit Vörös,
- Erin Muths
Affiliations
- Evan H. Campbell Grant
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Research Center (Patuxent Wildlife Research Center) Franklin County Massachusetts USA
- Staci M. Amburgey
- Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Brian Gratwicke
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival Washington DC USA
- Victor Acosta‐Chaves
- Universidad de Costa Rica, Sede del Atlántico Turrialba Costa Rica
- Anat M. Belasen
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Texas at Austin Austin Texas USA
- David Bickford
- Natural Sciences Division University of La Verne La Verne California USA
- Carsten A. Brühl
- Institute for Environmental Sciences Landau, University Koblenz‐Landau Landau Germany
- Natalie E. Calatayud
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Escondido California USA
- Nick Clemann
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Simon Clulow
- Centre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
- Jelka Crnobrnja‐Isailovic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics University of Niš Niš Serbia
- Jeff Dawson
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès Manor, La Profonde Rue Trinity Jersey Channel Islands
- David A. De Angelis
- La Trobe University, Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary Melbourne Victoria Australia
- C. Kenneth Dodd Jr
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
- Annette Evans
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst Massachusetts USA
- Gentile Francesco Ficetola
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy Università degli Studi di Milano Milan Italy
- Mattia Falaschi
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy Università degli Studi di Milano Milan Italy
- Sergio González‐Mollinedo
- Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen Groningen the Netherlands
- David M. Green
- Redpath Museum, McGill University Montreal Quebec Canada
- Roseanna Gamlen‐Greene
- Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Richard A. Griffiths
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent Kent UK
- Brian J. Halstead
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center Dixon California USA
- Craig Hassapakis
- Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (ISSN: 1083‐446X) Salt Lake City Utah USA
- Geoffrey Heard
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia
- Catharina Karlsson
- BIBS Huairou Academy Beijing China
- Tom Kirschey
- Teamleiter Internationaler Moorschutz und Südostasien‐Projekte, NABU Headquarters Berlin Germany
- Blake Klocke
- Detroit Zoological Society Royal Oak Michigan USA
- Tiffany A. Kosch
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Sophia Kusterko Novaes
- Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Florianópolis Santa Catarina Brazil
- Luke Linhoff
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival Washington DC USA
- John C. Maerz
- D. B. Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources Athens Georgia USA
- Brittany A. Mosher
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont Burlington Vermont USA
- Katherine O'Donnell
- Compass Resource Management Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Leticia M. Ochoa‐Ochoa
- Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México Mexico
- Deanna H. Olson
- U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Corvallis Oregon USA
- Kristiina Ovaska
- Biolinx Environmental Research Ltd Sidney British Columbia Canada
- J. Dale Roberts
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia—Albany Campus Albany Western Australia Australia
- Aimee J. Silla
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong New South Wales Australia
- Tariq Stark
- Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation Netherlands Nijmegen the Netherlands
- Jeanne Tarrant
- Endangered Wildlife Trust, Threatened Amphibian Programme Midrand Gauteng South Africa
- R. Upton
- Conservation Biology Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences The University of Newcastle Newcastle New South Wales Australia
- Judit Vörös
- Department of Zoology Hungarian Natural History Museum Budapest Hungary
- Erin Muths
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center Fort Collins Colorado USA
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12988
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 5,
no. 9
pp. n/a – n/a
Abstract
Abstract The problem of global amphibian declines has prompted extensive research over the last three decades. Initially, the focus was on identifying and characterizing the extent of the problem, but more recently efforts have shifted to evidence‐based research designed to identify best solutions and to improve conservation outcomes. Despite extensive accumulation of knowledge on amphibian declines, there remain knowledge gaps and disconnects between science and action that hamper our ability to advance conservation efforts. Using input from participants at the ninth World Congress of Herpetology, a U.S. Geological Survey Powell Center symposium, amphibian on‐line forums for discussion, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Gamete Biobanking group, and respondents to a survey, we developed a list of 25 priority research questions for amphibian conservation at this stage of the Anthropocene. We identified amphibian conservation research priorities while accounting for expected tradeoffs in geographic scope, costs, and the taxonomic breadth of research needs. We aimed to solicit views from individuals rather than organizations while acknowledging inequities in participation. Emerging research priorities (i.e., those under‐represented in recently published amphibian conservation literature) were identified, and included the effects of climate change, community‐level (rather than single species‐level) drivers of declines, methodological improvements for research and monitoring, genomics, and effects of land‐use change. Improved inclusion of under‐represented members of the amphibian conservation community was also identified as a priority. These research needs represent critical knowledge gaps for amphibian conservation although filling these gaps may not be necessary for many conservation actions.
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