froggy
Site Contributor
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2002
- Messages
- 1,779
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- Age
- 35
- Location
- Manchester, England
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Display Name
- Chris Michaels
Hi all,
A colleague and I have just launched a new website and database with the intention of collecting data on habitat parameters of wild amphibians (and reptiles, too). The motivation for it is the extent to which zoos, private keepers and institutions have to rely on guesswork and trial and error to create suitable conditions for captive animals. In the case of conservation, a number of programs have failed or are in the process of failing as they lack the knowledge of how to keep the animals successfully. Some of the most threatened amphibians are also the most sensitive to environmental parameters, which has contributed to this effect.
On top of this, animals that do survive over generations under inappropriate conditions are likely to adapt genetically to a greater extent than animals maintained under natural conditions (on top of other sources of captive selection pressures). This has been the case in Alytes muletensis, for example, which after 12 generations in captivity no longer react to predator cues as tadpoles.
For many species, habitat data is available, but it is often buried in academic literature, which is extortionately pricey to access, or on internet forums or in a notebook on a shelf somewhere. For others, data could often be collected if people visiting them in the wild took simple equipment with them.
The HabiData database is public domain and free to access, but with just two of us working on it it will never have enough species to become as useful as it could be.
The sort of data we need is very simple - water temperatures, soil and water parameters, UV index records, basking site temperatures, breeding triggers. Data on both common and rare species are equally necessary. This could literally mean taking a thermometer and an aquarium test kit next time you go to a pond with Notophthalmus or Triturus in it.
I am hoping that members of this site who have data or know they could collect data from sites near them or on their travels. This forum has members from all over the world, most of which goherping at some time or another. All it takes is to bring some simple aquarium equipment with you. If you want to invest in a UVi meter or a lux meter, thats brilliant, but you don't need to spend very much money or time to help.
If you think you can contribute, or want to use the database or find out more, visit our site at Home - Habidata
Thanks
Chris
A colleague and I have just launched a new website and database with the intention of collecting data on habitat parameters of wild amphibians (and reptiles, too). The motivation for it is the extent to which zoos, private keepers and institutions have to rely on guesswork and trial and error to create suitable conditions for captive animals. In the case of conservation, a number of programs have failed or are in the process of failing as they lack the knowledge of how to keep the animals successfully. Some of the most threatened amphibians are also the most sensitive to environmental parameters, which has contributed to this effect.
On top of this, animals that do survive over generations under inappropriate conditions are likely to adapt genetically to a greater extent than animals maintained under natural conditions (on top of other sources of captive selection pressures). This has been the case in Alytes muletensis, for example, which after 12 generations in captivity no longer react to predator cues as tadpoles.
For many species, habitat data is available, but it is often buried in academic literature, which is extortionately pricey to access, or on internet forums or in a notebook on a shelf somewhere. For others, data could often be collected if people visiting them in the wild took simple equipment with them.
The HabiData database is public domain and free to access, but with just two of us working on it it will never have enough species to become as useful as it could be.
The sort of data we need is very simple - water temperatures, soil and water parameters, UV index records, basking site temperatures, breeding triggers. Data on both common and rare species are equally necessary. This could literally mean taking a thermometer and an aquarium test kit next time you go to a pond with Notophthalmus or Triturus in it.
I am hoping that members of this site who have data or know they could collect data from sites near them or on their travels. This forum has members from all over the world, most of which goherping at some time or another. All it takes is to bring some simple aquarium equipment with you. If you want to invest in a UVi meter or a lux meter, thats brilliant, but you don't need to spend very much money or time to help.
If you think you can contribute, or want to use the database or find out more, visit our site at Home - Habidata
Thanks
Chris