Amphibian Ecology and Conservation

A Handbook of Techniques

Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

First book to integrate the themes of amphibian ecology and conservation
Describes the technique in each case, how it is used, and for what purposes
Clearly explains the biases of both techniques and analyses, and how results should be interpreted
Includes the latest statistical techniques for assessing conservation status and trends
Addresses issues at multiple scales - individual, community, and landscape
Truly international in scope

Amphibian Ecology and Conservation

A Handbook of Techniques

Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

Description

This practical manual of amphibian ecology and conservation brings together a distinguished, international group of amphibian researchers to provide a state-of-the-art review of the many new and exciting techniques used to study amphibians and to track their conservation status and population trends. The integration of ecology and conservation is a natural outcome of the types of questions posed by these disciplines: how amphibians can and should be sampled, marked, and followed through time; how abundance and population trends are measured; what are the robust statistical methods that can be used in ecology and conservation; what roles do amphibians play in community structure and function; how do animals function in their environment; and what affects the long-term persistence of species assemblages?

Although emphasizing field ecology, sections on physiological ecology, genetics, landscape ecology, and disease analysis are also included. The book describes the latest statistical approaches in amphibian field ecology and conservation, as well as the use of models in interpreting field research. Much of this information is scattered in the scientific literature or not readily available, and the intention is to provide an affordable, comprehensive synthesis for use by graduate students, researchers, and practising conservationists worldwide.

Amphibian Ecology and Conservation

A Handbook of Techniques

Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

Part 1. Introduction
1. Amphibian diversity and life history, Martha Crump
2. Setting objectives in field studies, Dan Cogalniceanu and Claude Miaud
Part 2. Larvae
3. Morphology of amphibian larvae, Roy W. McDiarmid and Ronald Altig
4. Larval sampling, David K. Skelly and Jonathan L. Richardson
5. Dietary assessments of larval amphibians, Matt R. Whiles and Ronald Altig
6. Aquatic mesocosms, Raymond D. Semlitsch and Michelle D. Boone
7. Amphibian water quality, Donald W. Sparling
Part 3. Juveniles and Adults
8. Measuring and marking post-metamorphic amphibians, John W. Ferner
9. Egg mass and nest counts, Peter W.C. Paton and Reid N. Harris
10. Adult diets, Mirco Solé and Dennis Rödder
11. Movement patterns and radiotelemetry, Dale M. Madison, Valorie R. Titus and Victor S. Lamoureux
12. Field enclosures and terrestrial cages, Elizabeth B. Harper, Joseph H. K. Pechmann and James W. Petranka
Part 4. Amphibian Populations
13. Drift fences, coverboards and other traps, John D. Willson and J. Whitfield Gibbons
14. Area-based surveys, David M. Marsh and Lillian M. B. Haywood
15. Rapid assessments of amphibian diversity, James R. Vonesh, Joseph C. Mitchell, Kim Howell, and Andrew J. Crawford
16. Auditory monitoring of anuran populations, Michael E. Dorcas, Steven J. Price, Susan C. Walls and William J. Barichivich
17. Measuring habitat, Kimberly J. Babbitt, Jessica S. Veysey and George W. Tanner
Part 5. Amphibian Communities
18. Diversity and similarity, C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.
19. Landscape ecology and GIS methods, Viorel D. Popescu and James P. Gibbs
Part 6. Physiological Ecology and Genetics
20. Physiological ecology: methods and field perspective, Harvey B. Lillywhite
21. Models in field studies of temperature and moisture, Jodi J. L. Rowley and Ross A. Alford
22. Genetics in field ecology and conservation, Trevor J.C. Beebee
Part 7. Monitoring, Status and Trends
23. Selection of species and sampling areas - the importance of inference, Paul Stephen Corn
24. Capture-mark-recapture, removal sampling and occupancy models, Larissa L. Bailey and James D. Nichols
25. Quantifying abundance: counts, detection probabilities and estimates, Benedikt R. Schmidt and Jérôme Pellet
26. Disease monitoring and biosecurity, D. Earl Green, Matthew J. Gray and Debra L. Miller
27. Conservation and management, C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.
Index

Amphibian Ecology and Conservation

A Handbook of Techniques

Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

Author Information

C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr. is Associate Professor at the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida. He was Research Zoologist at the Florida Integrated Science Center, US Geological Survey (1984-2007), where he was the southeastern Project Leader for the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative. He is the author of over 190 research and popular articles and has edited and written several books on amphibians and reptiles and their conservation. He was President of The Herpetologists' League (2002-2003) and the International Society for the Study and Conservation of Amphibians (2003-2005).

Contributors:

Ross A. Alford; Ronald Altig; Kimberly J. Babbitt; Larissa L. Bailey; William J. Barichivich; Trevor J.C. Beebee; Michelle D. Boone; Dan Cogălniceanu; Paul Stephen Corn; Andrew J. Crawford; Martha Crump; C. Kenneth Dodd Jr.; Michael E. Dorcas; John W. Ferner; J. Whitfield Gibbons; James P. Gibbs; Matthew J. Gray; D. Earl Green; Elizabeth B. Harper; Reid N. Harris; Lillian M.B. Haywood; Kim Howell; Victor S. Lamoureux; Harvey B. Lillywhite; Dale M. Madison; David M. Marsh; Roy W. McDiarmid; Claude Miaud; Debra L. Miller; Joseph C. Mitchell; James D. Nichols; Peter W.C. Paton; Joseph H.K. Pechmann; Jérôme Pellet; James W. Petranka; Viorel D. Popescu; Steven J. Price; Dennis Rödder; Jonathan L. Richardson; Jodi J.L. Rowley; Benedikt R. Schmidt; Raymond D. Semlitsch; David K. Skelly; Mirco Solé; Donald W. Sparling; George W. Tanner; Valorie R. Titus; Jessica S. Veysey; James R. Vonesh; Susan C. Walls; Matt R. Whiles; John D. Willson

Amphibian Ecology and Conservation

A Handbook of Techniques

Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

Reviews and Awards

"The book is far more than a cookbook or field guide. It is a synthesis. I hope my fellow amphibian ecologists (and discerning ecologists specializing in other taxa and systems) will join me in thanking the many folks who made this handbook a reality; we, our students, and protégés will benefit for years to come."--Bulletin of the Canadian Association of Herpetologists

"This handbook is likely to serve as a valuable herpetological reference tool for years to come."-- Bulletin of the British Ecological Society

"This manual provides a state-of-the-art review of many new techniques used to study amphibians. RECOMMENDATION: For herpetologists and conservation biologists."--Birdbooker Report

"The current volume edited by Dodd is largely different than its predeccessor, expanding some research areas, while adding serveral chapters on newer pertinent research foci. Noteworthy additions include chapters on amphibian molecular genetics, disease monitoring and biosecurity, landscape ecology, and GIS methods and rapid diversity assessments." -- New Biological Books