Sh april 2012

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Volume 25

January 2012 April 2012

this month’s speaker

Matthew E. Kaplan, Ph.D. Facility Manager Functional Genomics Core University of Arizona

Population history of Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard and its malarial parasite: climate change, parasite invasion, and dispersal

M

7:15 PM Tuesday, 17 April University of Arizona, BIO5/Keating Building 1657 East Helen Street

att completed his B.S. in Biological Science at the University of Vermont in 1992. After graduation Matt spent a summer as a research assistant on a small island in the Lesser Antilles studying the ecological and evolutionary aspects of lizard malaria in a population of Anolis lizards. In 1993 Matt came to Tucson to see the west and take herpetology in the desert. After a few months in town he was hired as a research technician in the University of Arizona’s Laboratory Molecular Systematics and Evolution. In this capacity Matt provided technical support and training to a wide assortment of researchers working on projects in the field of evolutionary genetics.

Number 14

After a year Matt entered the doctoral program in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology where he began his work on Sceloporus jarrovii that he will be discussing during the program. As a graduate research assistant to Dr. Michael Hammer, Matt worked on several research projects using the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA to investigate the population genetics and population history of human populations. In the fall of 1999 Matt started a collaborative project between the University of Arizona and Family Tree DNA in Dr. Hammer’s laboratory testing DNA for genealogical reconstruction. Over the following five years this project grew at a very rapid rate, testing tens of thousands of individuals. In April of 2005 Family Tree DNA and the University of Arizona teamed up to provide all of the public DNA testing for National Geographic and IBM’s Genographic Project. In 2010 when the work on the human DNA testing slowed, Matt shifted his focus back to his work on Sceloporus jarrovii and completed his doctorate this past December. Tonight Matt will share with us the findings of his doctoral dissertation, “Population structure of Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus jarrovii, and its malarial parasite, Plasmodium chiricahuae.”

Book review 33

Life in Cold Lane: Hibernation in Anurans

R e c e n t ly P u b l i s h e d Pa p e r s 34

Frequency of Reproduction in Female Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes from the Sonoran Desert of Arizona is Variable in Individuals: Potential Role of Rainfall and Prey Densities

minutes 35

February 2012

Membership 36

April 2012

next month’s Sp e a k e r

Young Cage Some thoughts on nature photography Tuesday, 15 May Tucson Herpetological Society meetings are open to the public and are held on the third Tuesday of each month starting at 7:15 PM

Matt meets Welwitschia mirabilis in northern Namibia. Photo by Hans-Werner Herrmann.

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Book review

Life in Cold Lane: Hibernation in Anurans Howard O. Clark, Jr., Sonoran Herpetologist; editor.sonoran.herp@gmail.com Suman Pratihar and Jayanta Kumar Kundu; Paperback: 136 pages; $81.00. Publisher: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing (January 31, 2011); Language: English; ISBN-10: 3844303006; ISBN-13: 978-3844303001 Summary from Amazon.com: Amphibians watched the dinosaurs come and go, but today almost half of them are threatened with extinction. Amphibian species diversity is highest in the tropics. Hibernation is usually thought of as a resting condition in which an animal exists in a state of complete or partial torpidity. This is associated with low temperature. During this time animal’s dramatically slowing heart and breathing rates, lowering body temperature, going for long periods without eating. Biochemical and physiological parameters played a very crucial role during hibernation. Antioxidant activity, enzyme expression pattern, and RT-PCR analysis helped to understand the biology of hibernation.

Sducedumana publication Pratihar and Jayanta Kumar Kundu have prothat focuses on the hibernation of

anurans, with an overarching theme of global amphibian decline. The first part of the publication contains an assessment of possible and confirmed causes for amphibian decline, a comprehensive list of anuran species occurring in India, and another list specific to the West Midnapore region. The book’s focus species is the Indian Common Toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, and the authors provide a detailed species account to supplement the future chapters (see Pratihar and Kumar Kundu 2011). The next section details the biology of hibernation. Here, the authors provide a literature review and summary of what research has already been conducted on hibernating animals. Various terms are used to describe animals that go into a lower state of metabolism, including hibernation, aestivation, torpidity, and brumation. The authors explore these terms and provide relative definitions to allow the reader access to a full understanding of their differences and similarities. Following the hibernation section, the authors document the methods they used to study hibernation in the Indian Common Toad, including heartbeat recording, metabolic rate, blood urea, serum cholesterol, and white blood cell count. In all, thirty-six tests were conducted, demonstrating how complex hibernation actually is. Ten non-hibernating and ten hibernating toads (80-100 g) were tested. The remaining 11 chapters document the results of the tests with each chapter divided into these parts: introduction, animals tested, results and discussion. These 11 chapters are difficult to follow if the reader is not well versed in

physiology, cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, and related fields. The final chapter is the conclusion section. Here, the authors summarize the entire volume into a comprehensive narrative. Some of the major conclusions are: • Heart rate, metabolic rate, and body weight of the hibernating toads decreased significantly during the hibernation period. • Significant seasonal variations in plasma protein, plasma glucose, and serum lipid profile were found in hibernating toads. • There is a strong link between elevated urea levels and cryoprotection during hibernation. • During hibernation the immunity of the toad was specifically antibody dependant. • Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in liver and heart tissues significantly increased and glutathione activity was significantly reduced in response to the decreased temperature in hibernating toads.

Suman Pratihar and Jayanta Kumar Kundu have produced a publication that focuses on the hibernation of Anurans, with an overarching theme of global amphibian decline.

Overall the publication provides additional information regarding the hibernation of anurans, specifically the Common Indian Toad. One item that could have been expanded on is the relationship between hibernation in amphibians and amphibian declines. How does global climate change impact hibernating amphibians? How will hibernation and the associated physiology combat disease when the amphibians are vulnerable? Another chapter focusing on these and related questions would have been very helpful and is warranted in today’s rapid climate-focused world. Here are a few caveats regarding this review: the copy I received was a pre-press copy and some editing was still needed. Hopefully these errors were corrected prior to the volume going to press. In addition, the publication is not a book in the classic sense; it appears

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to be a research thesis that was published in book form by the publisher, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, which is known for publishing theses and dissertations for students. Amphibians are declining at an alarming rate and further research is needed to address these declines as they relate to a variety of factors, including: habitat destruction, alteration, and fragmentation; introduced species; over-exploition of natural resources; climate change; UV-B radiation; chemical contamination; disease; deformities; and synergisms. With the publication of this thesis, I hope other graduate students take the lead and discover ways to conserve our amphibian species. About the Authors Suman Pratihar, M.Sc., zoology (Gold Medelist), Vidyasagar University, is presently interested in the molecular aspects of metabolic depression in the hibernating anuran. Jayanta Kumar Kundu is an associate professor in zoology at Vidyasagar University. They have published 16 research articles (biochemistry and molecular biology) in peer-reviewed journals and 6 review articles (genome evolution). Literature cited Pratihar, S., and J. Kumar Kunda. 2011. Common Indian Toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus. Sonoran Herpetologist 24(9):88-89.

Common Indian Toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, West Midnapore district (22°15’ N and 870° 39’ E) of West Bengal, India. Photo by Suman Pratihar.

R e c e n t ly P u b l i s h e d Pa p e r s

Frequency of Reproduction in Female Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes from the Sonoran Desert of Arizona is Variable in Individuals: Potential Role of Rainfall and Prey Densities G. W. Schuett, R. A. Repp, and S. K. Hoss; Journal of Zoology; Volume 284, Issue 2, pages 105–113, June 2011

I

n many species of snakes, particularly viperids from temperate regions, production of offspring by individuals occurs on a less-than-annual schedule. Accordingly, acquiring sufficient energy and nutrient reserves for reproduction in females often requires more than a single active season. This is termed capital mode. Yet, in some instances, annual reproduction occurs under conditions where foraging success is high and environmental factors are compliant. This is termed income mode. Here, the authors addressed the hypothesis of annual versus less-than-annual reproduction from a long-term radio-telemetric study involving female Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes, Crotalus atrox, from a population in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. From 2001 to 2008, 16 of 20 radio-telemetered females produced 36 litters, of which 32 were informative in addressing the hypothesis of reproductive frequency. In 14 females, litters were produced on a biennial or at-least-biennial (≥biennial) cycle. However,

seven females demonstrated annual reproduction, of which several had previously reproduced on a biennial or greater cycle. Because their study was non-experimental, they were unable to unambiguously identify specific proximate factors that contributed to the shift in annual reproduction. Nonetheless, they established that greater annual rainfall was significantly correlated with shifts to annual reproduction. Based on other studies, they hypothesize that increased rainfall was causally linked with increases in rodent densities and the foraging success of female C. atrox, which in turn is linked to reproduction. They describe several characteristics of female C. atrox that appear to facilitate the potential for annual reproduction. In long-lived species, such as C. atrox, their research underscores the necessity to follow individuals for extended periods to gain insights on reproductive cycles not captured by point sampling methods, such as short-term field studies or reliance on museum specimens.

SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST 25 (4) 2012

Amphibians are declining at an alarming rate and further research is needed to address these declines as they relate to a variety of factors, including: habitat destruction, alteration, and fragmentation; introduced species; overexploition of natural resources; climate change; UV-B radiation; chemical contamination; disease; deformities; and synergisms.

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Board meeting minutes

Tucson Herpetological Society Board of Directors Meeting Minutes 28 February 2012 – 7 p.m. U of A B105/Keating Building 1657 E. Helen Street

Directors Present: Robert Villa (President), Roger Repp (VP), Heidi Flugstad (Treasurer), René Clark (Secretary), Dennis Caldwell (Director), Krista Schmidt (Director), Rob Nixon (Director), Warren Savary (Director) Directors Absent: Jim Rorabaugh, Trevor Hare, Robin Llewellyn Member Present: Ed Moll Minutes of January 2012 Meeting: Schmidt moved to accept, Nixon seconded. Approved. Treasurer’s Report (Flugstad): Caldwell moved to accept, Repp seconded. Approved. (as of February 28, 2012) Beginning Balance Deposits Expenses Ending Balance

$34,088.89 $94.00 $0.00 $34,182.89

General Fund Speaker’s Bureau Jarchow Award FTHL Fund C.H. Lowe Award Fund Bolson Tortoise Research Fund Desert Tortoise Research Fund CRHSD V Bolson Tortoise Land Fund

$16,188.11 $37.32 $372.43 $1,069.00 $4,301.33 $20,800.00 $1,256.09 $4,158.71 $1,000.00

Total: (less) Savings Checking Balance CRHSD CD

$49,182.99 -$15,000.00 $34,182.99 $5,123.35

Summary Report (Jan 24 to Feb 28, 2012) Income Mexican Tortoise Fund Jarchow Fund

+$20,800.00 +$83.33

General Fund Membership T-shirts, hats, stickers

+$75.00 +$19.00

Total income

+$94.00

Expenses +$00.00

Committee Reports Homepage (Tuegel) – Tuegel doing a great job. Discussion about redesigning homepage, new THS website design, and features. Discussion about outside web designers such as Chris Caldwell from Boulder Co. Would need examples of work and price quote. Homepage committee consists of: Caldwell, Savary, Repp, and Flugstad. Conservation (Caldwell) – No activity. Speakers Bureau (Villa/Moll): February 8. Moll gave three presentations (9 to 12 AM) with live reptiles at Pistor School to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade classes. A total of 56 students and five teachers attended. The theme was adaptations to the desert environment. February 9. Tim Allen and Ed Moll manned a table at Holloway Elementary School for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) night (5:30 to 7:30). Some 175 parents and children attended. The live reptiles were very popular. February 9. Caldwell and Flugstad gave a presentation at the High Desert Landscaping and Gardening Conference. The topic was “Landscaping for Lizard Habitat”. February 10. Moll presented his program entitled “Being Neighbors With Monsters, Vipers, and Toads” to the La Canada Desert Homes HOA Annual Meeting in Green Valley. Ca. 20 persons attended. February 11. Moll presented his Being Neighbors talk to a group of 25 adults and children at Nanini Library. February 15. Moll presented his Being Neighbors talk to a group of 10 seniors for a 2 hour OASIS education program and then introduced the group to several native reptiles. February 24. Villa spoke to approximately thirty kids and four adults about what it’s like to be a desert reptile at the Pasqua Yaqui Wellness Center.

Board of Directors meetings are always on the last Tuesday of each month (except December), at 7:00 PM; University of Arizona, BIO5/ Keating Building, 1657 East Helen Street.

Tucson Festival of Books will be held on March 10th and 11th from 9am to 5:30 pm. College Academy UA will be held on March 3rd. Sonoran Herpetologist (H. Clark) – Welcomed new Associate Editor Suman Pratihar. Looking for submissions. Year-end reports: Discussion about year-end reports. Membership (Llewellyn) – No report. Program (Villa): February – Todd Esque; March – Melissa Amarello and Jeff Smith; April – Matt Kaplan

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C.H. Lowe Fund (Rorabaugh/Repp) – Committee Leader – Rorabaugh. Committee Members – Repp, Flugstad, Villa, and Don Swan. Amount offered? $1000.00 per proposal award. Student Chapter of the THS (Hare) – Nothing to report. Discussion about Student Chapter. Jarchow Conservation Award – Nothing to report. OLD BUSINESS

Letter to Catalina State Park RE: Gila Monster / Rattlesnake display. Rediscussed reptile interpretive

Individual Members Howard Clark Livy Williams David Bertelsen Royce Ballinger Ronald Spark

As of 11 April 2012 Membership Information Sustaining Contributing Life

Discussed the Animal Planet show “Rattlesnake Republic”. Repp sent an email to the producers of the show on behalf of himself expressing outrage concerning the show’s content.

Meeting adjourned. Caldwell moved, Flugstad seconded.

M e m B ERSHI P u p d a t e

$20 $25 $14

NEW BUSINESS

Discussed possibility of sending an email on behalf of THS, and appealing to concerned individuals to send their own emails to the producers of the show.

BOD holiday party – Schmidt – Everybody had a great time!

Individual Family Student

program at the park, and determined it is not in our jurisdiction. Discussion about redirecting concerned members of the public to the park.

$30 $50 $500

Sustaining Member Michael and Mary Ann Smith

Time to Renew Your THS membership?

The Tucson Herpetological Society would like to thank existing members and new members for renewing their membership. We appreciate your support and are always looking for members to actively participate in THS activities and volunteer opportunities. It is a great way to be involved with the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the Sonoran Desert.

This is a friendly reminder for those of you whose membership is due. Please send your check and a membership form (especially if information has changed) to THS, P.O. Box 709, Tucson, AZ, 85702. If you are a new member, please include your email address with your payment to receive monthly newsletter online. A membership renewal form is below for your convenience. We look forward to seeing you at the monthly meetings.

Individual Members Robert Villa Tim Allen

Thank you! Robin Llewellyn - Membership Director

Family Member Itzchak & Carolyn Gilboa

Tucson Herpetological Society P.O. Box 709, Tucson, Arizona 85702-0709 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM NAME: ________________________________________________ Date ______________ Address or Personal Information Changes_______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ MEMBERSHIP DUES [ ] $20 Individual [ ] $25 Family [ ] $14 Student [ ] $30 Sustaining [ ] $50 Contributing [ ] $500 Life $ _______ Jarchow Conservation Award $ _______ Flat-tailed horned lizard Fund

$ _______ Speakers Bureau $ _______ C.H. Lowe Herp Research Fund

$ _______ Total (MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: TUCSON HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY) The THS newsletter, the Sonoran Herpetologist, is delivered online only. Please indicate the email address you would like to receive the newsletter if you are not currently receiving the newsletter at your preferred address. If you are unable to receive the newsletter online, please contact Robin at robinia2@msn.com. If not already done, please add my email to the THS directory and/or email Monthly meeting announcement (circle one or both). Please return this form with your check to the address above. Email address ___________________________________________________________

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Sonoran Herpetologist is the newsletter-journal of the Tucson Herpetological Society, and is Copyright 2012. The contents of Sonoran Herpetologist may be reproduced for inclusion in the newsletters of other herpetological societies provided the material is reproduced without change and with appropriate credit, and a copy of the publication is sent to the Tucson Herpetological Society. Occasional exceptions to this policy will be noted. Contents are indexed in Zoological Record. A complete set of back issues are available in the Special Collections area of the University of Arizona library. They are accompanied by a copy of The Collected Papers of the Tucson Herpetological Society, 1988-1991. Editor-in-Chief Howard Clark, editor.sonoran.herp@gmail.com Associate Editors Roy Averill-Murray, averill-murray@sbcglobal.net Don Swann, donswann@dakotacom.net Robert Bezy, bezy@comcast.net Tim Allen, tallen@elmontgomery.com Suman Pratihar, pratihar_vu@rediffmail.com Art Editor Dennis Caldwell, dennis@caldwell-design.com Book Review Editor Philip Brown, philipandbarbara@earthlink.net

Information for Contributors Authors should submit original articles, notes, book reviews to the Editor, either via email using an attached word processed manuscript or by mail to the Society’s address. The manuscript style should follow that of Journal of Herpetology and other publications of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. For further information, please contact the editor, at editor.sonoran.herp@gmail.com.

Tu c s o n H e r p S o c i e t y. o r g

The Tucson Herpetological Society is dedicated to conservation, education, and research concerning the amphibians and reptiles of Arizona and Mexico. Tucson Herpetological Society is a registered non-profit organization.

Officers President Robert Villa, cascabel1985@gmail.com Vice President Roger Repp, repp@noao.edu Secretary RenĂŠ Clark, serpentprincess@comcast.net Treasurer Heidi Flugstad, heidi_flugstad@hotmail.com Directors: Dennis Caldwell, dennis@caldwell-design.com Robin Llewellyn, robinia2@msn.com Robert Nixon, sapo1047@msn.com Jim Rorabaugh, jrorabaugh@earthlink.net Warren Savary, wsavary@yahoo.com Krista Schmidt, turtlerad@hotmail.com Past President Trevor Hare, trevor@skyislandalliance.org

Society Activities

Monthly Members Meeting Robert Villa, Program Chair 3rd Tuesday, 7:15 PM Board of Directors Meeting Last Tuesday of each month (except December), 7:00 PM University of Arizona, BIO5/Keating Building 1657 East Helen Street Speakers Bureau (scheduled presentations) Robert Villa & Ed Moll Conservation Committee Dennis Caldwell Herpetological Information Hotline Bob Brandner, 760-0574 Jarchow Conservation Award Roger Repp Publications: Sonoran Herpetologist, Backyard Ponds brochure, Living with Venomous Reptiles brochure, THS Herp Coloring Book, THS Collected Papers, 1988-1991 THS Internet World Wide Webpage http://tucsonherpsociety.org Marty Tuegel, Webmaster, mtuegel@cox.net

Deadline for Sonoran Herpetologist: 15th of each month

For more information about the THS and the reptiles and amphibians of the Tucson area visit

tucsonherpsociety.org

SONORAN SONORAN HERPETOLOGIST HERPETOLOGIST 25 (1)252012 (4) 2012

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