Research

We initiated a research project in the Qinling Mountains of China to study the environmental physiology of the critically endangered Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus). The goals of the project are to work with our Memphis Zoo and Chinese collaborators to determine key environmental conditions that are required for the species to survive in the wild and to use this information to improve captive breeding success in existing Chinese giant salamander breeding centers.

We presented preliminary results of this study at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting 2010 in Seattle, WA in a talk entitled, "Natural and captive habitat conditions of Chinese giant salamanders".

We have completed a research project in which we evaluated the reliability of four common amphibian marking techniques: (1) toe-clip, (2) PIT tag – Passive integrated transponder, (3) VIE – Visible implant elastomer, and (4) Alpha-numeric tags in recently metamorphed Fowler’s toads (Anaxyrus fowleri). In addition, we also assessed the effects of the marking techniques on toad growth, survival, and physiological performance, specifically jumping and swimming speeds and water balance. Before marking individuals using one of the techniques, we measured body size and baseline physiological performance during the ‘toad Olympics ’. We repeated each measurement after marking the toads at 7, 30, 90, and 180 days to assess any immediate or long-term effects. We evaluated mark reliability, toad growth and survival, and effects on physiological performances and found that toe-clipping is the best option for identifying very small frogs and toads. Our results have implications for amphibian conservation and reintroduction programs. We have presented our findings at Rhodes College’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium (URCAS), the Tennessee Academy of Sciences Collegiate Division – Western Region meeting, and at the Society for Conservation Biology annual meeting in Beijing China and we plan to publish our results by Fall 2009.