Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Allison R. Julien, Kristen R. Counsell, Isabella J. Burger, Andrew J. Kouba, Diane Barber, Cassidi Cobos, Randy D. Jennings, Bruce L. Christman, Carrie K. Kouba
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of captivity on amphibian reproduction by comparing the sperm production and quality of male Chiricahua leopard frogs in captive, semi-captive, and wild environments. The results showed no difference in sperm quality between groups, but there was a difference in sperm quantity, with captive and semi-captive males producing lower concentrations of sperm than wild males.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kathleen Higgins, Jorge Guerrel, Elliot Lassiter, Arne Mooers, Wendy J. Palen, Roberto Ibanez
Summary: The study found that proper vitamin supplementation and water filtration methods can significantly reduce the incidence of SLS, while lower tadpole husbandry density can delay metamorphosis. Moreover, tadpoles with more time for calcium sequestration during development showed reduced prevalence of SLS.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mallory de Araujo Miles, Mikayla Joyce Johnson, Adam M. M. Stuckert, Kyle Summers
Summary: This study examines the color production mechanisms in the mimic poison frog Ranitomeya imitator. It finds that there are differences in the mechanisms used to produce different color morphs, particularly in the coverage of xanthophores and melanophores. These findings contribute to our understanding of color production in amphibians.
Article
Zoology
M. L. Yuan, C. Jung, R. C. Bell, J. L. Nelson
Summary: Color and pattern are dynamic traits that change throughout an individual's lifetime. However, long-term shifts in coloration have been given limited attention. This study focused on three species in the Dendrobates genus and found that patterns shift predictably within the lifetimes of individual frogs. As individuals age, there is a consistent reduction in the relative area of aposematic color, and the rate of pattern shift does not differ between sexes. These findings suggest that individual variation in coloration can confound ecological studies that assume individual pattern is static. Additionally, noninvasive photography protocols in zoos and aquariums have the potential to enhance our understanding of color and pattern changes in various species throughout their lifetimes.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura A. Brannelly, Preeti Sharma, Danielle K. Wallace
Summary: Hormonal induction failed to breed the endangered alpine tree frog, but outdoor breeding mesocosms during winter/spring at natural temperatures were successful, resulting in 65% of egg masses successfully hatching with female frogs laying multiple clutches.
Article
Developmental Biology
Dale McGinnity, Sherri D. Reinsch, Heather Schwartz, Vance Trudeau, Robert K. Browne
Summary: Researchers successfully collected high to moderate quality semen from North American giant salamanders following hormonal induction, resulting in the first North American giant salamanders and externally fertilizing salamanders produced with cryopreserved sperm and IVF under human care in aquaria. Further research is needed to establish reliable techniques for producing large numbers of viable offspring with the application of cryopreserved sperm.
REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Berglind Karlsdottir, Andrew T. Knight, Kevin Johnson, Jeff Dawson
Summary: Captive breeding programmes are increasingly important for the conservation of global amphibian species threatened with extinction. Current programmes often suffer from a reactive and ineffective operational model, with human dimensions playing a critical role as barriers or enablers. Strategic partnerships and a proactive operational model can help improve the effectiveness of captive breeding programmes for global amphibian conservation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. E. Robinson, C. K. Elvidge, R. A. Frank, J. V. Headley, L. M. Hewitt, A. G. Little, S. A. Robinson, V. L. Trudeau, I. J. Vander Meulen, D. M. Orihel
Summary: This study investigates the effects of organic compounds in oil sands process-affected water on wood frogs. The results show that these compounds have no significant effect on mating behavior and fertility, but they decrease offspring viability and development, which may impact the recruitment of native amphibian populations.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
E. A. Roznik, S. B. Reichling
Summary: The study found that released dusky gopher frogs had a high survival rate, exhibited expected behavior, found suitable shelters, and selected habitat characteristics associated with effects of fire.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Michaela Lambert, Andrea N. Drayer, Wendy Leuenberger, Steven J. Price, Christopher Barton
Summary: The study in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, USA showed that creating wetlands on reclaimed mines can help restore lost ecosystem functions within disturbed landscapes and provide suitable breeding habitats for amphibians affected by habitat loss. Wetland characteristics such as size, canopy cover, vegetation cover, distance to streams, and distance to forests varied significantly among different wetland age classes. The water quality in the study region was within normal parameters for both natural and created wetlands. Amphibian occupancy and abundance were influenced by factors such as wetland age, vegetation cover, wetland size, and distance to forests.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Wenjing Jiao, Lina Liu, Zhiliao Zeng, Linmiao Li, Jinping Chen
Summary: Intestinal microorganisms are crucial for the health of pangolins, with adult Sunda pangolins possessing more diversity and proportion of microbial species to resist environmental pressure.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chengzhi Yan, Hui Ma, Yuejun Yang, Zhiping Mi
Summary: This study aimed to compare the metabolic profiles of mating period males and resting males in Asiatic toads. The results showed that males in the mating period had higher metabolic activity, which increases the likelihood of reproductive success.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ian du Plessis, Adrian Armstrong, Piet L. Malepa, Arnold T. Kanengoni, Cormac Price, Colleen T. Downs
Summary: Globally, the threats of habitat loss and disease have led to the need for ex-situ insurance populations as a conservation tool for amphibians. The study conducted at the Johannesburg Zoo aimed to create an insurance population for the endangered Pickersgill's reed frog and improve its conservation status. Understanding the different developmental stages and needs of the frog is important for captive breeding and subsequent release.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Lisa M. Schulte, Kyle Summers
Summary: There is no difference in pre hatching investment between males and females in Ranitomeya imitator, a species with biparental care. Both sexes increase general care behavior when caring for multiple clutches. This finding provides a basis for understanding why biparental care is stable in this species.
Article
Ecology
Jace R. Elliott, Chad H. Newbolt, William D. Gulsby, Stephen S. Ditchkoff
Summary: Thousands of captive white-tailed deer facilities in North America aim to produce trophy-quality deer. However, little is known about the fate of introduced deer from these facilities. A study found that survival rates were higher for translocated deer from these facilities compared to wild-caught deer, but fawn survival and recruitment were poor. Another study focused on improving the accuracy of camera survey data for white-tailed deer by reducing sex-age misclassifications.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Matthew B. Dugas, Justin Yeager, Aaron M. Karkos
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2020)
Article
Ecology
David N. Fisher, James L. L. Lichtenstein, Raul Costa-Pereira, Justin Yeager, Jonathan N. Pruitt
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Vinicio Armijos-Jaramillo, Justin Yeager, Claire Muslin, Yunierkis Perez-Castillo
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2020)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Justin Yeager, Luis E. Baquero R, Andreas Zarling
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James B. Barnett, Constantine Michalis, Hannah M. Anderson, Brendan L. McEwen, Justin Yeager, Jonathan N. Pruitt, Nicholas E. Scott-Samuel, Innes C. Cuthill
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
David N. Fisher, Jonathan N. Pruitt, Justin Yeager
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2020)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hannah M. Anderson, David N. Fisher, Brendan L. McEwen, Justin Yeager, Jonathan N. Pruitt, James B. Barnett
Summary: The study found differences in sensory and behavioural lateralization between two terrestrial frog species, with some weak lateralization differences between social and nonsocial behaviors; population level lateralization and complementary laterality were not confirmed, while individual level lateralization was limited in one of the frog species.
Article
Ecology
Marie Claire Chelini, Kinsey Brock, Justin Yeager, Danielle L. Edwards
Summary: The study aims to investigate the impact of environmental factors on sexual size dimorphism and the number of male morphs in side-blotched lizards. It was found that environmental variables are a stronger predictor of sexual size dimorphism than the number of male morphs, and that the environment mediates sexual size dimorphism and potentially contributes to morph loss in colder environments. The environment favors smaller males in areas of high seasonality.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Justin Yeager, James B. Barnett
Summary: Warning signals are often characterized by highly contrasting, distinctive, and memorable colors. Greater chromatic and achromatic contrast contribute to greater signal efficacy, with longwave colored signals like red and yellow being particularly common. However, our understanding of the role of UV in aposematic signals is still incomplete.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Esteban Ortiz-Prado, Justin Yeager, Felipe Andrade, Camila Schiavi-Guzman, Paola Abedrabbo-Figueroa, Enrique Teran, Lenin Gomez-Barreno, Katherine Simbana-Rivera, Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy
Summary: Snakebite envenomation poses a global health threat, especially impacting rural populations in developing countries. Ecuador has one of the highest snakebite envenomation rates in Latin America, but faces challenges in locally producing antivenoms due to serious flaws in the production process, highlighting the need to improve the responsiveness of the healthcare system.
Article
Plant Sciences
Justin Yeager, Gabriel A. Iturralde, Luis Ocupa Horna, Abel Huayta Baltazar, Luis E. Baquero R
Summary: This paper describes a charismatic miniature orchid species, Lepanthes attenboroughii, which has been commonly misidentified as its related species, L. caprimulgus, in private and public collections for many years. By comparing the morphological characteristics of the two species in detail, it is found that the flowers of L. attenboroughii are rounder and the reflexed portion of the synsepal extends significantly farther than the middle of the total length of the sepaline cup.
Article
Ecology
James B. Barnett, Justin Yeager, Brendan L. McEwen, Isaac Kinley, Hannah M. Anderson, Jennifer Guevara
Summary: Colour plays an important role in various defensive strategies, and its effectiveness and detectability can be influenced by the size of the structures and how they interact with the background. In this study, researchers investigated size-dependent differences in colour in the gold-striped frog and found that smaller individuals had more detectable colours, while larger frogs exhibited better camouflage. The results suggest a change in defensive strategy from conspicuous signalling to camouflage with increasing size.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Felipe Andrade-Guerrero, Adriana Tapia, Vinicio Andrade, Jorge Vasconez-Gonzalez, Jose Andrade-Guerrero, Carlos Norona-Calvachi, Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy, Justin Yeager, Esteban Ortiz-Prado
Summary: Vaccination coverage in Ecuador has declined since 2013, falling short of the World Health Organization's goal. This deficiency in coverage is caused by lost vaccination opportunities, where patients without contraindications fail to receive recommended immunizations. A study was conducted to assess the knowledge of vaccination contraindications among health personnel in Quito and to determine missed vaccination opportunities.
Article
Biology
Justin Yeager, Olivier Penacchio
Summary: This study models the effects of natural and sexual selection on organisms with warning traits, and reveals the impact of selection combinations on phenotypic variation. By referencing actual populations, researchers find that multifarious selection can lead to monomorphism, continuous variation, and discrete polymorphism. These findings have important implications for understanding the evolution of visual signals.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Justin Yeager, James B. Barnett
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2020)
