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The lab’s latest publication focuses on Hoplobatrachus chinensis, a frog species that lives mainly in plains and hilly landscapes at altitudes between 20 and 1120 m. It is commonly found in moist habitats such as agricultural wetlands, ditches, and ponds in East and Southeast Asia. The species is generally present in rice paddies and their surrounding areas, as rice paddies provide the necessary conditions for development, growth, and breeding, such as shallow, slow-moving water bodies, surrounded by moist surface soils, abundant food sources, and adequate sheltering micro-habitat. In recent decades, due to human disturbance, over-harvesting, and ecological degradation, H. chinensis has declined sharply in population density and distribution area.

Therefore, in order to explore the effects of climate change and dispersal ability on the range of H. chinensis and its occupation of agricultural wetlands, we use survey records and secondary sources (Global Biodiversity Information Facility database), together with climate, geography and vegetation data, to build environmental niche models in MaxEnt and dispersal models in MigClim to assess the impacts of climate change and dispersal ability on the range of H. chinensis. Based on the model results, we calculated the overlap between suitable habitats and agricultural wetlands.

The models indicated that temperature was a key factor affecting H. chinensis distribution. Increasing temperatures positively correlated with habitat suitability, with suitable habitat expanding northward by 2060 while maintaining suitability in the southern parts of the range. We found a 25.18% overlap between the current potential suitable habitat of H. chinensis and agricultural wetlands. MigClim model indicated that H. chinensis might be able to track shifts in suitable habitats under climate change given a 15 km dispersal ability per generation. Climate change will likely expand suitable habitat for H. chinensis. Our predictions offer important guidance for the conservation of the species, especially for the integrated role of natural and agricultural wetlands such as rice paddies.

To read more, the paper is free to read at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110732.
Highlights

Temperature is a key factor affecting the distribution of Hoplobatrachus chinensis

Climate change will expand the suitable habitat of Hoplobatrachus chinensis

The species has a 25% overlap between suitable habitats and agricultural wetlands

H. chinensis might be able to track shifts in suitable habitats under climate change

The lab’s latest publication started with a big green blob sitting next to a stream. The oversized leaf-colored lump was a Dennys’ large treefrog (Zhangixalus dennysi), a species of frog that was a real surprise for all of us there that night. The Chinese name for this species is 大树蛙, which translates literally to “big tree frog,” and these frogs certainly live up to the name, with the largest individuals exceeding ten centimeters in length. Their oversized feet and large toe pads are perfectly suited for a life in the trees, though the first one we encountered that night was hanging out next to the streambed. Their fingers and toes are even webbed to help them glide between branches.

Over several nights of surveys in the southernmost portion of Jiangsu Province in September 2023, the lab encountered several species of animal that we later realized had few or no previous records of in the province. All five of these species—four frogs and one snake—have larger ranges further south, but the extent of their distribution within Jiangsu Province was a mystery.

The four frogs we encountered with limited documentation in Jiangsu Province: a) Dennys’ large treefrog (Zhangixalus dennysi) 大树蛙; b) white-lipped treefrog (Polypedates braueri) 布氏泛树蛙; c) broad-folded frog (Hylarana latouchii) 阔褶水蛙; d) Tianmu odorous frog (Odorrana tianmuii) 天目臭蛙. The snake (the brown spotted viper, Protobothrops mucrosquamatus, 原矛头蝮) is not pictured as it was less photogenic, having been killed and mutilated by people, unfortunately.

Using our own survey records, the existing locality records for these five species, and climate data on temperature and precipitation, we used environmental niche modeling to see how much other habitat in Jiangsu would be climatically suitable for these five species. 

The models indicated that, at least from a purely climatic standpoint, there is more viable habitat for all four frog species within Jiangsu, so perhaps in the future they’ll be found even further north than we found them. The model for the viper species didn’t show suitable habitat within Jiangsu, but as the climate warms this subtropical species may work its way further north anyway. To view the maps for the other four species or read more details, the full paper is free to read at https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.37.e117370.

New paper on amphibian habitat connectivity in collaboration with Mr Peng and Prof Li from Yanbian University! This research project started when wondering about habitat suitability and connectivity for the least studied amphibian of northeast Asia: the Clawed Salamanders! 与延边大学的彭玉玺和李颖老师的合作，在两栖动物栖息地连通性方面的新论文！这个研究项目始于对东北亚少有研究的两栖动物——爪鲵的栖息地适宜性和连通性的好奇！

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989423003293

Human activities and climate change have caused damage to the natural world, leading to increased attention on habitat protection. However, most conservation efforts focus on flagship species, while many other species lack protection and are gradually becoming extinct due to the lack of conservation efforts and public attention. 人类活动和气候变化对自然界造成了破坏，引发了对栖息地保护的日益关注。然而，大多数保护努力都集中在代表性物种上，而许多其他物种缺乏保护，由于缺乏保护措施和公众关注而逐渐灭绝。

The Liaoning clawed salamander (Onychodactylus zhaoermii) and the Jilin clawed salamander (Onychodactylus zhangyapingi) are two amphibians endemic to Northeast Asia, but they have not received enough conservation attention, and little is known about their distribution. In this study, we collected field survey and literature data for both species to obtain data on occurrence, and constructed ecological niche models to understand their suitable habitat and potential distribution. 辽宁爪鲵（Onychodactylus zhaoermii）和吉林爪鲵（Onychodactylus zhangyapingi）是东北亚特有的两种两栖动物，但它们并没有受到足够的保护关注，对它们的分布了解甚少。在本研究中，我们收集了两种物种的野外调查和文献数据，获取了出现数据，并构建了生态位模型，以了解其适宜的栖息地和潜在分布情况。

The ecological niche models revealed that the suitable habitat of the Jilin Clawed Salamander was primarily located within the Yalu River basin, as well as the western and eastern mountains of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPR Korea). On the other hand, the suitable habitat for the Liaoning Clawed Salamander was mainly distributed in the Xiuyan area of Liaoning in China, the Changbai Mountains, and north of the Tumen River basin. Although there is currently no direct evidence of the species’ presence in DPR Korea, the ENM results support their putative presence in the nation, as there are large patches of suitable habitat. 生态位模型显示，吉林爪鲵的适宜栖息地主要位于鸭绿江流域，以及朝鲜的西部和东部山区。另一方面，辽宁爪鲵的适宜栖息地主要分布在中国辽宁的岫岩地区、长白山地区和图们江流域北部。尽管目前没有直接证据表明这两个物种在朝鲜存在，但生态位模型结果支持它们可能存在于该国，因为存在大片适宜栖息地。

In addition, the connectivity model showed the presence of transboundary corridors between patches of suitable habitat, with some nodes (here defined as continuous patches of habitat enabling connection between suitable habitats) located in multiple provinces or within different countries. In our evaluation of the transboundary corridors in the eastern and western parts of the study area, we found that the surfaces located downstream along the Tumen River showed a better quality for a corridor. However, the gradual fragmentation and disappearance of the landscape may lead the two species to extinction. 此外，连通性模型显示了适宜栖息地之间存在的跨界走廊，其中一些节点（定义为能够连接适宜栖息地的连续栖息地片）位于多个省份或不同国家内。在对研究区域东部和西部的跨界走廊进行评估时，我们发现沿图们江下游的表面更适合作为走廊。然而，陆地逐渐破碎和消失可能导致这两个物种灭绝

Therefore, we recommend establishing a transboundary amphibian protection network in the China-DPR Korea river basin and encouraging collaborations for amphibian surveys and applied conservation projects in the Tumen River basin. 因此，我们建议在中朝流域地区建立跨国境两栖动物保护网络，并鼓励在图们江流域进行两栖动物调查和应用保护项目的合作。

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989423003293

We are delighted to share the success of our recent two-day online workshop on Amphibian Bioacoustics that was conducted on 14 & 15 October. The workshop was facilitated by Prof. Amaël Borzée and the two-day sessions were conducted by Vishal Kumar Prasad. This workshop brought together scholars and researchers from over 5 countries to delve into the fascinating world of amphibian bioacoustics. The workshop exemplified the power of modern techniques in advancing our knowledge of amphibian behavior, ecology, and conservation through bioacoustics.

Day 1 was dedicated to enlightening the science of understanding animal behaviour through sound. Participants were introduced to the foundational principle of bioacoustics, delving into the essentials of sound production, propagation, and reception. The sessions also provided an in-depth exploration of various types of vocalizations. Day 2 provided a detailed understanding of recording units and technical equipment used in the field, helping participants enhance their sound recording skills. The final session of the workshop focused on the critical phase of bioacoustics research i.e. analysis using different software. Participants were guided through the process of handling and processing recorded data.

The diversity of perspectives and experiences brought by participants from different corners of the globe enriched the discussions and sparked new avenues of research.

Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events and initiatives from the Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation.

🌿🌎 #BioacousticsWorkshop #ConservationScience #GlobalResearchCollaboration 🌿🌍