Zoo Assistance in the Conservation of Michigan Amphibians Becky Johnson, Associate Curator of Amphibians Detroit Zoological Society 20 February 2009

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1 Zoo Assistance in the Conservation of Michigan Amphibians Becky Johnson, Associate Curator of Amphibians Detroit Zoological Society 20 February 2009

2 In 2004 and 2005, the Detroit Zoo assisted in two projects involving the relocation of amphibians. Both projects involved removing amphibians from a habitat slated for development. DZS staff members assisted in the collection, veterinary care, testing, daily husbandry and enclosure set up and maintenance of the collected amphibians.

3 Blanchard s Cricket Frog Translocation

4 Blanchard s Cricket Frog/ Acris crepitans blanchardi This is an amphibian of special concern in Michigan that may be up listed to threatened; it has been nearly extripated from southeastern Michigan Possible causes for its decline include pollution, predation, habitat loss, fragmentation and climatic fluctuations Southeast Michigan only has 3 natural extant populations, 2 populations from the translocation There are several more populations in Southwest Michigan, but still less than 30 known sites statewide

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7 Getting Started Early 2004, Dr. Kevin Zippel, Curator of Amphibians at the time, began a feasibility study for the translocation of Blanchard s cricket frogs to the Detroit Zoo. Edi Sonntag, Amphibian Zookeeper, conducted a comparative study to determine habitat preference of the BCF; this would allow assessment of a proper translocation site on Zoo grounds. Ariana Rickard, graduate student at the Univ. of Mich in Ann Arbor, while studying population dynamics, discovered in Ypsilanti Township BCF s living in a habitat slated for the construction of condominiums. This population would be translocated to the Zoo and two other sites as well as becoming the subjects of the translocation project.

8 Moving Frogs Edi organized the collection of the BCF from the site receiving help from zoo staff, college peers, friends and concerned community members frogs and tadpoles were collected between 4 August and 6 October. Amphibian staff set up tanks in the Zoo s new hospital to house frogs and tadpoles. Keepers were responsible for daily husbandry and vet staff treated medical issues and tested for disease. They were treated as strict quarantine animals.

9 Rescue Source Pond

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13 Translocation September and October of 2004 frogs were released 731 BCF s were relocated to 3 new sites, 449 were released into the wetlands around DZS s National Amphibian Conservation Center. 195 were released to St. John s Marsh and 189 to Port Huron.

14 Source and Translocation Sites Port Huron State Game Area St. John s Marsh Ypsilanti, Michigan (source population) The National Amphibian Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo

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17 Detroit Zoo

18 The site at the Detroit Zoo was surveyed 2 years ago without finding only a few BCF s, however adults have been heard calling every year since the rescue, in late spring to early summer

19 Salamander Translocation

20 In August 2009, David Mifsud, Herpetologist for the city of Ann Arbor, discovered plans to develop a high school on the site of a wetland. He began planning for the translocation of all the reptiles and amphibians from that site Collection of animals from the site began March 2005

21 DZS was asked to assist in this effort by providing a space for some of the rescued salamanders to stay. Amphibian staff created a quarantine room at their animal hospital where the salamanders could await the completion of a translocation site. Amphibian staff was responsible for the daily care and husbandry of these salamanders. One Amphibian keeper kept a substantial amount of wood frogs in her own home during this time

22 Rescue Efforts

23 Over 80 spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum), 3 eastern red- spotted newts (Notophthalmus v viridescens) and 8 hybrid Ambysomids ( LJJ salamanders with the genetic compliment of 2 species- one set of genes from a blue- spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale) and 2 sets of genes from a Jefferson s salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) stayed at the Zoo from March to July.

24 Testing of the hybrid salamanders

25 8 salamanders were suspected to be small- mouthed salamanders (Ambystoma texanum) Blood samples were taken and slides prepared by the DZS vet staff. Slides were read by Jim Ball. The salamanders were found to be a hybrids of Jefferson and blue- spotted salamander s. If they had been smallmouth s.

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28 Project Statistics Final Totals for Collected 14 Species Present onsite Adults Recovered: Amphibians: Wood frogs 830 Green Frog 55 Gray Treefrog 10 Spring Peepers 703 Chorus Frog 45 American Toad 45 Additional Counts Animals that were relocated onsite to allow them to breed naturally ~400 Totals amphibian larvae and metamorphs: ~3,000 animals! Over 5,000 rescued in total!!! >60 volunteers and more than 300 hours volunteers! <1% of the animals collected did not survive captivity Red-spotted Newts 88 Red-backed Sals 5 Reptiles: Eastern Garter Snake 135 Northern Brown Snake 110 Red-bellied Snake 27 Blue Racer 0

29 Salamanders and newts housed at DZS were marked with elastomer before release. In the years since, 28.92% of these amphibians from the Zoo have been recaptured.

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31 Binder Park Zoo s Comparative Tadpole Diet Study

32 In 2007, Binder Park Zoo ran a study on Blanchard Cricket frog tadpole diet. Keeper and vet staff participated in the study and were responsible for the husbandry of the 83 tadpoles as well as the data collection. At the studies end, data was compiled and tadpoles were released into the park. 15 metamorph s were added to the Zoo s animal collection and placed into a newly created exhibit in hopes of educating the visiting public.

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34 Binder Park plans on continuing working with Blanchard s cricket frogs as both an exhibit animal as well as monitoring their new population on grounds.

35 Detroit River Mudpuppy Surveys

36 Amphibian staff along with Belle Isle Nature Zoo staff have been trapping for mudpuppies (Necturus m maculosus)off the coast of Belle Isle since 2005 Vet staff collects blood samples and places transponders into the tails of larger adults; weights and body measurements are also taken Collecting data for future use as well as developing a recapture program

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