A new study led by lab collaborator Rudi von May presents an updated evolutionary tree for frog species in the genus Noblella, most of which live in the leaf-litter and moss layer of high-elevation montane forests and Andean grasslands.  Adult frogs in this group measure approximately half an inch or less and are not easy to find in the field. One of the species included in the study was Noble’s pygmy frog (Noblella pygmaea), the smallest frog of the Andes (inset photo).

The research team used DNA sequences of two ‘lost’ or missing species (Noblella peruviana and Noblella bagrecito) to build an evolutionary tree (also known as phylogeny), which helps better understand their shared ancestry. “The last time these frogs were seen in their natural habitats was 116 and 42 years ago, respectively,” said coauthor Alessandro Catenazzi from Florida International University. Access to these sites required trekking on steep mountain areas for several days. In one of the surveys, Catenazzi and two colleagues from Peru, M. Isabel Diaz and Alex Ttito, reached an abandoned Inca Mine in the Cordillera de Carabaya in southern Peru while another colleague, Roy Santa-Cruz surveyed montane sites in northern Peru.​

Citation: von May, R., M.I. Diaz, A. Ttito, R. Santa-Cruz, A. Catenazzi. 2024. The rediscovery of Noblella peruviana after more than 115 years helps resolve the molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of Noblella (Amphibia, Anura, Strabomantidae). Diversity 16: 613. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/d16100613

Alessandro gave the opening plenary talk at the VI meeting of the Asociación para la Investigación y Conservación de Anfibios y Reptiles in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca on Monday 30 September.

Gustavo passed his qualifying exams today -- congratulations!

A new study published in Communications Biology highlights the crucial role of microreserves in protecting the world’s most vulnerable vertebrate class – amphibians. As the global community strives to protect 30% of Earth’s land and sea by 2030, researchers have examined how to effectively target gaps in the existing protected area network.

The study, led by Emma Steigerwald at the University of California Berkeley, found that microreserves, defined as reserves smaller than 10 square kilometers, can play a disproportionate role in amphibian conservation. Despite their small size, microreserves can protect a significant portion of many amphibian ranges, especially threatened species. The researchers discovered that existing microreserves can host a similar level of amphibian species richness as much larger protected areas, demonstrating their effectiveness in conserving biodiversity.

“Amphibians face a multitude of threats, including habitat loss, climate change, and pollution,” said co-author Alessandro Catenazzi. “By focusing on microreserves, we can target areas that are often overlooked but can provide critical habitat for these vulnerable species.” 

Citation: Steigerwald, E.C., J. Oshiro, J. Chen, V. Vredenburg, A. Catenazzi, M. Koo. 2024. Microreserves are an important tool for amphibian conservation​. Communications Biology​ 7: 1177. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06510-0 

We are excited to announce that Gustavo Ruano Fajardo, a Ph.D. student in the Catenazzi Lab at Florida International University (FIU), has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from the WWF: the Education for Nature Fonseca Leadership Program. This competitive program, supported by the Global Environment Facility, provides financial support to emerging researchers in Latin America for graduate studies in conservation. Gustavo's research focuses on amphibian-bromeliad interactions. His work aims to explore amphibian threats posed by climate change and disease in this microhabitat, offering new insights into amphibian conservation. Congratulations, Gustavo!

Isabel Diaz attended the Applied Hierarchical Modeling workshop at the University of Michigan from July 22-26. The workshop was led by experts Ken Kellner, Marc Kéry, Andy Royle, and Josh Twining, who provided valuable tools and techniques for applying Bayesian techniques to demographic analyses. These insights will aid in studying the montane frog communities in Peru. We are excited to see the results of her work following this training.

A new study and lab contribution published today in Plos Biology offers a significant leap forward in our understanding of the world's tetrapods, a group encompassing amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. These creatures are crucial models for studying global biodiversity, but research has been hampered by incomplete and inconsistent data.

The challenge lies in the vast number of species – over 33,000 – combined with ongoing changes in how they are classified and limited standardization of data collection. This has led to missing information and potential biases in ecological and conservation studies. To address this issue, researchers led by Dr. Mario Moura developed TetrapodTraits 1.0.0, a comprehensive database that integrates information on various aspects of tetrapod biology, including: body size, activity patterns, habitat preferences, ecosystem type, threat status, geographic distribution, sensitivity to island environments, environmental preferences, and human impact.

Citation: Moura, M. R. , K. Ceron, J. J. M. Guedes, R. Chen-Zhao, Y. V. Sica, J. Hart, W. Dorman, J. M. Portmann, P. Gonzalez-del-Pliego, A. Ranipeta, A. Catenazzi, F. P. Werneck, L. F. Toledo, N. S. Upham, J. F. R. Tonini, T. J. Colston, R. Guralnick, R. C. K. Bowie, R. A. Pyron, W. Jetz. 2024. A phylogeny-informed characterization of global tetrapod traits addresses data gaps and biases. Plos Biology 22(7):  e3002658. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002658

The lab contributed to the latest version of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP) by co-authoring chapter six on infectious disease. Emerging infectious diseases pose a critical threat to amphibian biodiversity, driving population declines and extinctions. The chapter of the ACAP synthesizes recent advancements in understanding these diseases, focusing on pathogen characteristics, host responses, and environmental influences. We examine current diagnostic tools, explore ecological factors relevant to effective management, and evaluate proposed intervention strategies. Additionally, we address the human dimensions of amphibian disease, including management and policy actions needed to mitigate disease-driven declines at local and global scales, ultimately emphasizing the urgent need for integrated conservation efforts. 

Citation: ​Bletz, M. C., B. Gratwicke, A. M. Belasen , A. Catenazzi, , A. L. J. Duffus, M. Lampo, D. H. Olson , F. Toledo, K. Vasudevan. 2024. Infectious diseases: Advances and challenges in addressing emerging pathogens. Pages 149-179 in: Wren, S., A. Borzée, R. Marcec-Greaves, A. Angulo. Amphibian conservation action plan : a status review and roadmap for global amphibian conservation. Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland, 354 pp. doi: https://doi.org/10.2305/QWVH271

Rachel gave a talk at the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles meeting in Ann Arbor, titled "Lack of innate and learned avoidance of the chytrid fungus in the strawberry poison frog". Congrats Rachel!