Amphibian and Reptile Conservation have picked up an article about a colony of toads that disappeared before the L'Aquila quake.
Scientists have been studying a colony of breeding toads living in an Italian lake. They found that they all suddenly disappeared five days before a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the town of L'Aquila in central Italy on 6 April 2009. Within days of the earthquake, the toads returned to their breeding pool to continue spawning.
It has been suggested that the toads may have been able to detect the release of radioactive radon gas from the ground, or the presence of charged particles in the ionosphere of the night sky.
To see the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8593000/8593396.stm
and
www.independent.co.uk/news/science/toads-with-a-super-sensitive-side-hopped-it-before-laquila-quake-1931629.html
Monday, 19 April 2010
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Spring is Sprung
The coldest winter for thirty years has delayed the usual appearances of amphibians and reptiles, but the more recent warm spell means that everything is happening at once.
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) workers and other amphibian and reptile enthusiasts are reporting that common frogs are appearing and spawning all over the country. Common Toads are starting to migrate to their spawning sites in many locations. Adders have been seen throughout March. Even the late risers are on the move. The first sand lizards have been recorded and the first pool frog in Norfolk was seen on the 17 March.
If your thoughts are turning to things amphibian and reptile, then note that NARRS training courses are planned for this year http://www.narrs.org.uk/Documents/TRAINING_FLYER_17-03-10.pdf.
If you can't get that involved, you can visit http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk to report any amphibian and reptiles you see. You can find an identification guide there and, of course, plenty of photographs can be found on the ARC website.
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) workers and other amphibian and reptile enthusiasts are reporting that common frogs are appearing and spawning all over the country. Common Toads are starting to migrate to their spawning sites in many locations. Adders have been seen throughout March. Even the late risers are on the move. The first sand lizards have been recorded and the first pool frog in Norfolk was seen on the 17 March.
If your thoughts are turning to things amphibian and reptile, then note that NARRS training courses are planned for this year http://www.narrs.org.uk/Documents/TRAINING_FLYER_17-03-10.pdf.
If you can't get that involved, you can visit http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk to report any amphibian and reptiles you see. You can find an identification guide there and, of course, plenty of photographs can be found on the ARC website.
Thursday, 11 March 2010
40,000 toads to be rescued from death on Britain’s roads
Volunteers are gearing up to rescue over 40,000 toads from death on the UK’s roads in the coming fortnight, setting a new record.
The action is being coordinated to highlight to planners and highways authorities that roads need to be made more amphibian-friendly, to stop toads from undergoing further local extinctions in the UK.
With the sudden arrival of the milder spring conditions, toads across the country are now beginning their seasonal migrations to breeding ponds. At many sites, these migrations occur across busy roads and thousands of toads become victims of road traffic. A national network of volunteer ‘toad patrollers’ exists to help toads across designated roads, armed with torches and buckets.
This network of over a thousand volunteers rescued 34,970 toads last spring – the equivalent of a line of toads the length of 550 London buses.
The volunteers are coordinated through Toads on Roads, a campaign run by the charity Froglife. 758 toad-crossing points have been registered with the charity.
“These volunteer toad patrollers are incredibly committed and some volunteers have been out on spring nights saving toads for almost 25 years.” said Lucy Benyon, Froglife's Toads on Roads coordinator.
“This spring, we’re keen to break the 40,000 toad-mark, partly as a symbolic gesture to show planners and highways authorities that this is a serious issue for wildlife conservation, and that this issue isn’t going away without their taking notice.”
The common toad Bufo bufo has experienced declines in parts of the UK, in some cases caused by the effect of road traffic. In 2007, the common toad was added to the Government’s Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) priority species list.
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is keen to inform planners and highways engineers about measures they can take to make amphibian-friendly roads. To help, they have produced a best-practice booklet called Common toads and roads: guidance for planners and highways engineers. The booklet is being given free to local authorities across England.
“Public bodies have a responsibility to consider biodiversity priority species, including toads, when they are planning new roads and other developments.” said Dr John Wilkinson, ARC’s species expert.
Measures that roads can take to be more amphibian-friendly include: ‘toad tunnels’, wildlife bridges, and lowered kerbs (which toads can climb) to escape the road surface.
To find your nearest registered toad crossing, visit: www.froglife.org/toadsonroads
ARC would like to thank the following funders who have made our recent updates to the Toads on Roads campaign possible: Patagonia Environmental Grants, ACO Wildlife Technologies and Greenwillows Associates Ltd.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Poor state of Britain’s pond should provide “wake-up call” say charities
A report published today shows that 80% of ponds in the British countryside are in a ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ condition. In England and Wales, the study also shows that the condition of ponds has got worse since 1996.
The Countryside Survey 2007 shows that small waterbodies are in poorest condition in intensive agricultural areas and where they have high nutrient levels, usually where they are connected to streams or were fed by water that ran off from farmland, towns, villages and roads. Many ponds were both shaded and polluted which further reduced their wildlife value.
Ponds support more threatened freshwater plant and animal species than either rivers or lakes and, in a typical patch of English countryside, a wider variety of common species too. Loss of breeding ponds is a main factor behind recent declines for a number of amphibian species.
“It is shocking that ponds are in such a terrible state. This should be a wake up call for everyone concerned with protecting freshwater wildlife and involved in water management. Practically unnoticed, wildlife-rich, clean and unpolluted ponds have become a rarity in the countryside.” said Dr Jeremy Biggs of Pond Conservation.
David Orchard, ponds project officer with Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, joined Pond Conservation in commenting on the results:
“Ponds provide habitats for some of the UK’s most threatened species but the importance of water quality and the factors affecting this are often overlooked. The Countryside Survey results show the relationship between wildlife value and the water quality of ponds, emphasising the importance of managing our land sensitively to protect freshwater habitats for the future.”
“Ponds are essential for the survival of amphibians such as our frogs, toads and newts as well as other, once familiar, species such as damselflies and dragonflies.” he said.
Significantly, the study shows that large numbers of new ponds are created annually in Britain (more than 7,000 ponds per year), and that many of these new ponds rapidly became rich wildlife habitats.
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is working closely with Pond Conservation on the Million Ponds Project, an initiative to support the creation of an extra 5,000 good water quality ponds by 2012.
“If most new ponds are located in areas where they are protected from pollutants, and are not fed by streams or ditches, they rapidly become wildlife oases that help to protect Britain’s freshwater biodiversity in the long term.” say Pond Conservation.
Today’s report also highlights the ecological value of ‘protective networks’ of ponds, where freshwater habitats are linked together. These can be valuable to amphibian populations, offering corridors for dispersal and helping reduce the fragility of local populations.
For more information on Pond Conservation’s Million Ponds Project: click here
The Countryside Survey 2007 shows that small waterbodies are in poorest condition in intensive agricultural areas and where they have high nutrient levels, usually where they are connected to streams or were fed by water that ran off from farmland, towns, villages and roads. Many ponds were both shaded and polluted which further reduced their wildlife value.
Ponds support more threatened freshwater plant and animal species than either rivers or lakes and, in a typical patch of English countryside, a wider variety of common species too. Loss of breeding ponds is a main factor behind recent declines for a number of amphibian species.
“It is shocking that ponds are in such a terrible state. This should be a wake up call for everyone concerned with protecting freshwater wildlife and involved in water management. Practically unnoticed, wildlife-rich, clean and unpolluted ponds have become a rarity in the countryside.” said Dr Jeremy Biggs of Pond Conservation.
David Orchard, ponds project officer with Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, joined Pond Conservation in commenting on the results:
“Ponds provide habitats for some of the UK’s most threatened species but the importance of water quality and the factors affecting this are often overlooked. The Countryside Survey results show the relationship between wildlife value and the water quality of ponds, emphasising the importance of managing our land sensitively to protect freshwater habitats for the future.”
“Ponds are essential for the survival of amphibians such as our frogs, toads and newts as well as other, once familiar, species such as damselflies and dragonflies.” he said.
Significantly, the study shows that large numbers of new ponds are created annually in Britain (more than 7,000 ponds per year), and that many of these new ponds rapidly became rich wildlife habitats.
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is working closely with Pond Conservation on the Million Ponds Project, an initiative to support the creation of an extra 5,000 good water quality ponds by 2012.
“If most new ponds are located in areas where they are protected from pollutants, and are not fed by streams or ditches, they rapidly become wildlife oases that help to protect Britain’s freshwater biodiversity in the long term.” say Pond Conservation.
Today’s report also highlights the ecological value of ‘protective networks’ of ponds, where freshwater habitats are linked together. These can be valuable to amphibian populations, offering corridors for dispersal and helping reduce the fragility of local populations.
For more information on Pond Conservation’s Million Ponds Project: click here
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Herp Workers Meeting – deadline for registration approaches...!
The deadline is fast approaching for you to register your place at the national conference for those interested in the conservation of amphibians and reptiles…
The Herpetofauna Workers’ Meeting (HWM) is the event of the year for those interested in learning more about the latest conservation techniques, projects and research into the UK’s amphibians and reptiles. The conference takes place on 30th-31st January 2010.
Topics covered at the conference include amphibian disease in the UK, new educational approaches to promoting snake identification and appreciation, and special pond management workshops.
The closing date for registration, if you want accommodation, is Thursday this week (14 January). For those that aren’t seeking accommodation, the closing date for registration is 25 January 2010.
To see the programme for the event please click here.
For a booking form click here.
The Herp Workers' Meeting is organised by ARG UK (the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK) and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
The Herpetofauna Workers’ Meeting (HWM) is the event of the year for those interested in learning more about the latest conservation techniques, projects and research into the UK’s amphibians and reptiles. The conference takes place on 30th-31st January 2010.
Topics covered at the conference include amphibian disease in the UK, new educational approaches to promoting snake identification and appreciation, and special pond management workshops.
The closing date for registration, if you want accommodation, is Thursday this week (14 January). For those that aren’t seeking accommodation, the closing date for registration is 25 January 2010.
To see the programme for the event please click here.
For a booking form click here.
The Herp Workers' Meeting is organised by ARG UK (the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK) and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Released terrapins give added headache to wildlife experts
Efforts to make urban ponds more wildlife-friendly are being hampered by exotic terrapins, say Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
The charity’s urban pond regeneration scheme will leave their staff with a unique problem: how to find new homes for exotic terrapins, which, when caught during pond clean-ups, are prohibited by law from being re-released.
Originating from warmer climes, terrapins find it too cold to breed in the United Kingdom – but ‘populations’ have built up following several decades of former owners dumping unwanted pets into urban ponds and lakes.
“Wildlife conservationists have long been aware of the unwelcome effects of releasing non-native plants and animals into the wild – but lately terrapins are proving to be a new headache,” said Rebecca Turpin, London Living Water Officer at Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
“Much of our work involves making ponds more wildlife-friendly, but if terrapins are caught we are then faced with the problem of where to re-home them. Often terrapins end up being taken to animal rescue centres, but sadly many are either full, or lack the finances to look after an animal which can live for over twenty years.”
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is calling for the public to think carefully about buying terrapins over the Christmas period, which is a boom-time for sales of exotic reptiles.
“Baby terrapins might seem attractive pets. But they can grow to the size of a dinner plate. The importation of one species, the red-eared terrapin, was banned over ten years ago - but we’re still finding them in urban ponds because they can live for several decades.” said John Baker, Conservation Officer at Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
“More recently, their numbers have been reinforced by other terrapin species that have taken the place of red-ears in the pet trade.” added Dr Baker.
“Terrapins are best left to specialist pet-keepers. They’re not a suitable pet for casual interest and they certainly shouldn’t be purchased as a present at Christmas - or any other time.”
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is calling on the public to report sightings of exotic amphibian and reptile species (including terrapins) seen in the wild. For more information see the website, Alien Encounters - www.alienencounters.org.uk
The charity’s urban pond regeneration scheme will leave their staff with a unique problem: how to find new homes for exotic terrapins, which, when caught during pond clean-ups, are prohibited by law from being re-released.
Originating from warmer climes, terrapins find it too cold to breed in the United Kingdom – but ‘populations’ have built up following several decades of former owners dumping unwanted pets into urban ponds and lakes.
“Wildlife conservationists have long been aware of the unwelcome effects of releasing non-native plants and animals into the wild – but lately terrapins are proving to be a new headache,” said Rebecca Turpin, London Living Water Officer at Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
“Much of our work involves making ponds more wildlife-friendly, but if terrapins are caught we are then faced with the problem of where to re-home them. Often terrapins end up being taken to animal rescue centres, but sadly many are either full, or lack the finances to look after an animal which can live for over twenty years.”
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is calling for the public to think carefully about buying terrapins over the Christmas period, which is a boom-time for sales of exotic reptiles.
“Baby terrapins might seem attractive pets. But they can grow to the size of a dinner plate. The importation of one species, the red-eared terrapin, was banned over ten years ago - but we’re still finding them in urban ponds because they can live for several decades.” said John Baker, Conservation Officer at Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
“More recently, their numbers have been reinforced by other terrapin species that have taken the place of red-ears in the pet trade.” added Dr Baker.
“Terrapins are best left to specialist pet-keepers. They’re not a suitable pet for casual interest and they certainly shouldn’t be purchased as a present at Christmas - or any other time.”
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is calling on the public to report sightings of exotic amphibian and reptile species (including terrapins) seen in the wild. For more information see the website, Alien Encounters - www.alienencounters.org.uk
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Herpetofauna Workers’ Meeting – details announced
Details of next year’s national conference for those involved in the conservation of amphibians and reptiles are being released today.
The Herpetofauna Workers’ Meeting (HWM), is the main event of the year for those interested in learning more about the latest conservation techniques and research into the UK’s amphibians and reptiles.
The event is organised by ARG UK (the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK) and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
At the conference in Leicestershire, Pond Conservation’s director Jeremy Biggs will be speaking and also leading a workshop on pond management. Other topics will include an update on amphibian disease in the UK, and new educational approaches to promoting snake identification and appreciation.
“The conference is an opportunity to meet lots of interesting people for an enjoyable weekend, as well as a chance to hear a great range of speakers on a diverse range of conservation issues.” said organiser John Baker of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and ARG UK representative.
The 2010 HWM will be held in Hinckley, Leicestershire on January 30-31st 2010. For further details please see our flyer and booking form
The all inclusive rate includes registration for both days of the conference, accommodation for the Friday and Saturday evening, lunch for both days, the evening meal on the Friday night and evening meal (and social event) on the Saturday evening.
“The recent Amphibian and Reptile Conservation/BHS conference in Bournemouth earlier this month was a sell out, so don't miss out on the HWM by leaving registration to the last minute.”
The Herpetofauna Workers’ Meeting (HWM), is the main event of the year for those interested in learning more about the latest conservation techniques and research into the UK’s amphibians and reptiles.
The event is organised by ARG UK (the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK) and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
At the conference in Leicestershire, Pond Conservation’s director Jeremy Biggs will be speaking and also leading a workshop on pond management. Other topics will include an update on amphibian disease in the UK, and new educational approaches to promoting snake identification and appreciation.
“The conference is an opportunity to meet lots of interesting people for an enjoyable weekend, as well as a chance to hear a great range of speakers on a diverse range of conservation issues.” said organiser John Baker of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and ARG UK representative.
The 2010 HWM will be held in Hinckley, Leicestershire on January 30-31st 2010. For further details please see our flyer and booking form
The all inclusive rate includes registration for both days of the conference, accommodation for the Friday and Saturday evening, lunch for both days, the evening meal on the Friday night and evening meal (and social event) on the Saturday evening.
“The recent Amphibian and Reptile Conservation/BHS conference in Bournemouth earlier this month was a sell out, so don't miss out on the HWM by leaving registration to the last minute.”
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