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无斑雨蛙(Dryophytes immaculatus)当前与未来分布格局

无斑雨蛙(Dryophytes immaculatus)在20世纪80年代以前曾广泛分布并大量存在于中国江苏南部的平原地区。然而,自本世纪初以来,该物种几乎已难以再被观察到。

在我们最新发表于 BMC Zoology, 的研究中,我们于2017年至2025年期间在6000多个相互独立的样点开展了野外调查,并结合公民科学调查获得的1300余条观察记录,同时在条件允许的情况下对当地农户进行了访谈,以评估无斑雨蛙当前的出现与分布情况。我们在210个独立样点观察到了该物种,另从公民科学数据中获得了12个额外的独立分布点,并在另外8个地点确认了其局地灭绝。

无斑雨蛙(Dryophytes immaculatus)的当前分布。

基于当前时间尺度构建的生态位模型表明,其潜在适宜生境范围略大于目前实地调查所揭示的实际分布区域。

无斑雨蛙(Dryophytes immaculatus)当前适宜生境的生态位模型。

气候变化情景下的预测模型显示,在所有预测的气候情景和时间尺度下,该物种的适宜生境均发生了明显的空间位移,且与其当前分布范围的重叠程度较低。气候变化情景下的预测模型显示,在所有预测的气候情景和时间尺度下,该物种的适宜生境均发生了明显的空间位移,且与其当前分布范围的重叠程度较低。

不同气候变化情景下无斑雨蛙( Dryophytes immaculatus)未来适宜生境的生态位模型。

基于现有数据,我们进一步依据世界自然保护联盟(IUCN)《濒危物种红色名录》的分类与评估标准对该物种的受威胁等级进行了评估。结果表明,无斑雨蛙符合基于地理分布范围的标准 B2ab(i、ii、iii、v),以及基于种群规模较小且持续下降的标准 C2a(i),因此建议将其列为濒危(Endangered, EN)等级。

近几十年来,无斑雨蛙(D. immaculatus)的分布范围持续收缩,且收缩速度较快,已达到能够被长期与该物种共存的当地居民所感知的程度。同时,其适宜生境仍在不断减少,预计在所有未来气候变化情景下将完全丧失。尽管该物种目前尚未达到极危(Critically Endangered, CR)等级,但已明显面临较高的灭绝风险,亟需采取针对性的保护与管理措施,尤其应重点防范人类活动导致的生境质量进一步退化。

Borzee A., Zhang X., Prasad V.K., Wang R., Wang Z., Qin S., Messenger K.R., Guo T., Jang Y. Wang J. (2026). From Least Concerned to Endangered? An integrated approach to determine the distribution, suitable habitat and future of Dryophytes immaculatus. BMC Zoology. 11:2. DOI: 10.1186/s40850-025-00248-w

Current and future distribution of the Chinese immaculate treefrog

The immaculate treefrogs, Dryophytes immaculatus, were reported to be abundant in the plains of southern Jiangsu, China, until the 1980s. However, the species has scarcely been seen since the beginning of the century.

In our latest paper in BMC Zoology, We conducted field surveys at more than 6000 independent sites between 2017 and 2025, citizen science surveys resulting in more than 1300 entries, and questioned farmers, when possible, to determine the occurence and presence of D. immaculatus. We detected the species at 210 independent sites, obtained 12 additional independent sites from the citizen science data, and confirmed its local extinction at eight additional sites.

Current distribution of Dryophytes immaculatus.

The model for the current timeline identified suitable habitat in an area marginally broader than the one where the species is currently found.

Ecological models representing the current suitable habitat of Dryophytes immaculatus.

The climate change scenario models highlighted a shift in the location of the suitable habitat for all scenarios and time periods tested, with a weak overlap with the current distribution of the species.

Ecological models representing the future suitable habitat of Dryophytes immaculatus, under different climate scenarios.

Based on the data accumulated, we could also apply the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and we suggest the species to be listed as Endangered under both criteria B2ab (i, ii, iii, v) based on geographic range, and C2a (i) based on the small and declining population size.

The range of D. immaculatus has contracted over the last decades, fast enough for people sharing their land with the species to remember them. In addition, the habitat suitable for the species keeps on declining, and it is predicted to entirely collapse in all future climatic scenarios. While not Critically Endangered yet, D. immaculatus is in need of conservation actions, especially to prevent future decline in habitat quality due to human activities.

Borzee A., Zhang X., Prasad V.K., Wang R., Wang Z., Qin S., Messenger K.R., Guo T., Jang Y. Wang J. (2026). From Least Concerned to Endangered? An integrated approach to determine the distribution, suitable habitat and future of Dryophytes immaculatus. BMC Zoology. 11:2. DOI: 10.1186/s40850-025-00248-w

全球 41%两栖动物面临威胁,保护成果指明未来方向

一项新的全球综述整合了两栖动物保护状况评估和几十年的研究成果。该综述揭示了两栖动物保护状况的最新趋势,并概述了优先保护行动。研究结果强调了两栖动物数量下降的惊人速度,但也凸显了保护工作初见成效的积极迹象。作者强调,协调国际行动对于确保全球蛙类、蝾螈和蚓螈的未来至关重要。

https://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00101-5

两栖动物仍然面临着前所未有的高灭绝风险,其中41%的物种被归类为受威胁物种。主要威胁因素包括栖息地丧失、气候变化、疾病、污染和入侵物种。由Amaël Borzée教授牵头撰写的《Conservation Priorities for Global Amphibian Biodiversity》,对全球两栖动物保护工作的进展、种群趋势和政策措施进行了迄今为止最全面的综述。


威胁状态的时空变化。a,1980–2004 年物种濒危等级变化(517 种),基于第二次全球两栖动物评估(GAA2)的回溯数据;b,2004–2022 年物种濒危等级变化(392 种),基于 GAA2 的回溯数据。

自1980年以来,数百种两栖动物的保护状况持续恶化,其中37个物种现已确认灭绝,另外185个物种消失并可能已灭绝。疾病是导致许多两栖动物衰退的主要因素,也是保护工作面临的关键挑战。然而,该综述也强调了有意义的进展,即由于有效的栖息地保护、针对性管理和专门的恢复计划,120个物种的保护状况已有所改善。

实验室开展的部分研究示例,用于帮助了解东北亚两栖动物的种群变化趋势,以及如何减缓种群损失。

事实证明,全球优先排序工具,如受威胁两栖动物景观(TAL)、高度受威胁属关键生物多样性区域,对于指导战略投资、确定优先保护地点和物种至关重要,而全球两栖动物保护行动计划《 Amphibian Conservation Action Plan》为可行方法提供了证据。这些工具有助于确保将有限的资源用于产生最大保护效益的地方。同时,IUCN红色名录指数物种绿色状况指数等生物多样性指标继续推动我们对保护进展和物种恢复潜力的理解。

自 1980 年以来,有 63 个物种的濒危等级下降(部分基于回溯评估),这归功于保护措施的成效。等级下降 1 级(红色)表示濒危等级改善一个等级,等级下降 2 级(蓝色)表示改善两个等级,等级下降 3 级(黄色)表示改善三个等级。图中绿色区域显示等级下降物种的分布位置。

尽管部分物种保护状况的改善证明了有针对性的保护行动具有恢复物种状况的潜力,但作者提醒,目前的保护努力仍然不足。长期成功需要与全球承诺(包括《昆明-蒙特利尔全球生物多样性框架》)相一致的保护行动。只有通过加强政府、保护组织、研究机构和当地社区之间的合作,我们才能扭转全球两栖动物的衰退趋势,使其从危机走向恢复。

41% of amphibians at risk, but conservation successes show a path forward

A new global review synthesises conservation status assessments and decades of amphibian conservation research to reveal the latest trends in conservation status and outline priority actions for their protection. The findings underscore the alarming rate of declines, but also highlight promising signs of recovery where conservation is working. The authors stress that coordinated international action is essential to secure the future of frogs, salamanders, newts, and caecilians worldwide.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s44358-025-00101-5

Amphibians continue to face an unprecedented high extinction risk, with 41% of species classified as threatened. The main drivers of threat include habitat loss, climate change, disease, pollution, and invasive species. The new review “Conservation Priorities for Global Amphibian Biodiversity“, led by Prof. Amaël Borzée, presents the most comprehensive synthesis to date of conservation progress, population trends, and policy measures guiding amphibian protection efforts worldwide.

Extract showing temporal and regional variation in threat status. a, Category changes
from 1980 to 2004 using backcast categories from the second Global Amphibian
Assessment (GAA2) (517 species). b, Category changes from 2004 to 2022 using
backcast categories from the GAA2 (392 species).

Since 1980, the conservation status of hundreds of amphibians has worsened, with 37 species now confirmed extinct, and another 185 have disappeared and are potentially extinct. Disease has been the primary driver behind many of these declines and remains a critical challenge for conservation efforts. Yet the review also highlights meaningful progress: the conservation status of 120 species has improved, thanks to effective habitat protection, targeted management, and dedicated recovery programs.

Example of some of the research conducted by the lab to help understand the population trends in amphibians in northeast Asia, and how to mitigate the losses.

Global prioritisation tools, such as Threatened Amphibian Landscapes (TAL), Highly Threatened Genera, and Key Biodiversity Areas, are proving essential for guiding strategic investment and identifying priority sites and species for action, and the global Amphibian Conservation Action Plan provides evidence for methods that work. These tools help ensure that limited resources are focused where they will deliver the greatest conservation impact. Meanwhile, biodiversity indicators such as the IUCN Red List Index and the Green Status of Species Index continue to advance our understanding of conservation progress and the potential for species recovery.

While improvements in the conservation status of some species demonstrate the potential for recovery with targeted conservation action, the authors caution that current efforts remain insufficient. Long-term success will require conservation actions that align with global commitments, including the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Only through strengthened collaboration between governments, conservation organisations, research institutions, and local communities can we shift amphibians worldwide from crisis toward recovery.

How to make agriculture sustainable with amphibians and reptiles?

A question that led to our recent publication in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

As the need for sustainable pest management grows, integrating animal cognition into biological control presents an innovative and effective approach. In our recent paper, “Biological pest regulation can benefit from diverse predation modes”, we explore the critical role of amphibians and reptiles in natural pest regulation, emphasising the cognitive mechanisms that drive their foraging behaviour.

Amphibians and reptiles, with their diverse predation strategies—ambush and active foraging—are key to efficient pest control. These species exhibit distinct cognitive traits, from perception and learning to spatial memory, all of which influence their interaction with prey. For instance, ambush predators rely heavily on movement cues, waiting for mobile prey, while active foragers actively seek out food, utilising olfactory and spatial cues to navigate their environment.

Overview of the concept showing the difference in foraging mode between active and ambush predators impacting biological pest regulation (with amphibians as the model bioregulator). More here: 10.1098/rsos.240535

By understanding these cognitive processes, we can develop more targeted strategies to keep pest management evolving. As agricultural landscapes become more fragmented and ecosystems face increasing pressure, tapping into the behavioural flexibility of amphibians and reptiles offers a promising path. Their cognitive abilities not only make them efficient bioregulators but also provide a natural, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, aligning pest control with biodiversity conservation. The future of pest management lies in understanding and leveraging these animal behaviours for both ecological and agricultural benefits.

Link: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240535