A MSc position is available at the University of Alberta, Edmonton
Alberta, Canada, with Dr. Cindy Paszkowski (University of Alberta,
Biological Sciences) and Dr. Garry Scrimgeour (Parks Canada) to work
on Long-toed Salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum) in spectacular
Waterton Lakes National Park in the Rocky Mountains of southeastern
Alberta.   (more…)

The Memphis Zoo is seeking a post-doctoral fellow who will be responsible for conducting research on salamander reproductive physiology, under the general direction of the Director of Research and Conservation at the Memphis Zoo. The candidate will work on several different threatened and common species of salamanders during the two (2) year post-doctoral fellowship and will be located at Mississippi State University (MSU) as part of a multi-institutional effort. The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology will be hosting the candidate and the applicant will be co-supervised by the department chair. Research work may include the development of novel hormone protocols for sperm production and ovulation, in-vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, cryopreservation of gametes and in general improving reproductive output within captive assurance colonies. 

(more…)

NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
19 March 2009

THE CRYPTOBRANCHID INTEREST GROUP RON GOELLNER CONSERVATION FUND

In honor and memory of Ron Goellner, noted zoologist, the Cryptobranchid Interest Group offers a monetary grant to help support research and educational initiatives that contribute to the conservation of cryptobranchid salamanders.

Grant Amount: up to $1,000.

Eligibility: Anyone may apply for this award. If funding is provided, the awardee(s) is required to recognize the CIG Ron Goellner Conservation Fund in all publications and presentations. Copies of reports and publications are to be provided to CIG and reports of progress are to be submitted on an annual basis. CIG also requests that 3-5 images be provided to CIG to post on its website or in CIG publications to promote its support of this project.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the project to contribute to the biological knowledge and conservation of cryptobranchid salamanders. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the project, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the project, the likelihood of successful completion and publication, and the overall application towards cryptobranchid conservation.

Application Procedure:

1. Download the application forms from the CIG website at:

http://www.caudata.org/cig

or contact Diane Barber at:

dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the project.

3. Applications must be accompanied by curriculum vitae(s) of principle investigator(s), copies of appropriate permits, and letters of support (if applicable).

4. Completed application materials must be electronically submitted by 15 April to Diane Barber at:

darber@fortworthzoo.org

5. The grant recipient(s) will be selected by the CIG steering committee and will be notified of his/her selection by 15 May of the same calendar year.

Diane Barber
Curator of Ectotherms
Fort Worth Zoo
1989 Colonial Parkway
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-759-7180
dbarber@fortworthzoo.org

Dramatic declines in neotropical salamander populations are an important part of the global amphibian crisis

by Sean M. Rovito, Gabriela Parra-Olea, Carlos R. Vasquez-Almaza, Theodore J. Papenfuss, and David B. Wake

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
www.pnas.orgcgidoi10.1073pnas.0813051106

We document major declines of many species of salamanders at several sites in Central America and Mexico, with emphasis on the San Marcos region of Guatemala, one of the best studied and most
diverse salamander communities in the Neotropics. Profound declines of several formerly abundant species, including 2 apparent extinctions, are revealed. Terrestrial microhabitat specialists at mid- to high elevations have declined more than microhabitat generalists. These terrestrial microhabitat specialists have largely
disappeared from multiple sites in western Guatemala, including in well-protected areas, suggesting that the phenomenon cannot be explained solely by localized habitat destruction. Major declines in
southern Mexican plethodontid salamanders occurred in the late 1970s to early 1980s, concurrent with or preceding many reported frog declines. The species in decline comprise several major evolutionary
lineages of tropical salamanders, underscoring that significant portions of the phylogenetic diversity of Neotropical salamanders are at risk. Our results highlight the urgent need to document and understand Neotropical salamander declines as part of the larger effort to conserve global amphibian diversity.