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Profile of a conservationist – Ute Nüsken, AURING

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This week Froglife meets Ute Nüsken, a German-born conservationist, who lives in Austria with her family. Ute works for AURING a local nature conservation society in the Morova-Dyie-floodplains (March-Thaya-Auen). She specialises in amphibians and aims to inspire as many people as possible about these species. Her favourite amphibians are newts (her local species being the Danube Crested Newt and Smooth Newt).

 

Why did you choose a career in conservation?

I’ve always been interested in nature and wildlife as my dad used to work in a zoo. After studying Agriculture I moved to the very vulnerable March-Thaya-Auen in Lower Austria and returned to my roots training as a nature-guide. I also took part in an amphibian monitoring project where I learned more about these animals.

 

What inspires you about working with AURING?

AURING is a local society in the north of the Morava-Dyje floodplains. As more and more lowland rivers are straightened and dammed, many wetland habitats dry out and are lost. In order to stop this development, at least on a local scale, AURING manages replacement habitats, such as the ‘vogel.schau.plätze Hohenau-Ringelsdorf’. Research and active conservation work form the basis of our public relations activities, and thereby also the preservation of this diverse region. Some very ambitious people committing themselves to this special area and I’m proud to be part of it.

 

Why did you specialise in amphibians?

I am fascinated by amphibians’ biology which enables them to live in so many different ecological niches all over the world. The changes during the metamorphosis are like a wonder, copying evolution in high speed. Amphibians are very good flag-ship species for floodplain-areas as they play such an important role in the ecosystem.

 

What do you find most inspires the children and adults that you work with about Amphibians?

Everybody knows a frog, hardly anyone knows a newt. And more or less nobody is familiar with the life of amphibians in general. Most people are surprised to find out that amphibians don’t live in the water all their lives. By dealing with these animals people come to know that they are endangered and everybody can do something for their protection. In times where exposure to nature is unfortunately no longer a matter of course, intimate encounters with animals have received a special significance. It offers particular chances for the very reason that these species do not come with the classic ‘cuddle factor’. First insights into the lives of these species arouse curiosity, personal experience and an emotional access which lead to wonder and understanding. Enthusiasm for the creatures of our immediate environment is key for a sustainable way of dealing with nature.

 

Can you tell us more about the photograph of a young person dressed up as a Danube Crested Newt?

‘One year as a newt’ is an game where young children are “transformed” into newts. They look for hibernation-places/partners/food/reproduction ground and experience metamorphosis by lying down with closed eyes and listening to the story. Our self-designed newt costumes are a great success. Once children have experienced being an amphibian they’re much more aware of their environmental interactions. The predecessor of this, ‘one year as a frog’, was named an Austrian UN-decade projects in 2008 by the UNESCO jury of the advisory committee ‘education for sustainable development’!

 

What has been your favourite memory while working with AURING?

Children’s laughing-eyes while touching a newt or toad! And comments like “now I will look for amphibians, too!” The general public of today is not familiar with most amphibians, but participants in the AURING projects are able to to establish a relationship with these animals through learning and an intimate, hands-on experience.

 

What you can do

 

   

Tips to avoid waste when gardening

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Slow Worms can often be found in compost heaps. Photo Nick Meade
Photo Nick Meade

Sometimes saving money and being environmentally conscious go hand in hand. More people are getting into the habit of looking around for cheap electricity deals and are prepared to switch providers than in previous years. We are also becoming more aware of the impact of our lifestyles on energy consumption in the home and beyond. In the home, this translates into energy-saving practices such as turning off lights and appliances when not in use, washing clothes and dishes at lower temperatures and choosing energy efficient models when purchasing new appliances.

We are also becoming more conscious of the waste we throw away. Usually we think about food waste and packaging. There are many ways to reduce food waste, including meal planning and freezing meals, and with excess packaging we can vote with our feet to reward retailers that follow environmentally friendly policies. But what about our garden waste? Many people often think of garden waste as not really waste – after all, it’s all green, isn’t it? Surely it will just compost down somewhere. Green waste is not usually sent to landfill because it decomposes under anaerobic conditions – without oxygen – producing methane, a key contributor to global warming.

baby grass snake, LCB May11So councils usually encourage people to compost at home where they can, or take it to community recycling and composting schemes. Having a compost heap at home is not only a great way of getting rid of your garden waste but also provides a great habitat for slow worms and grass snakes who enjoy the warmer temperatures generated by the decomposing material.

In some areas green bins are provided, but with more councils starting to charge for green waste collection it can all add to household bills. Nearly a third of councils charge households for green bins, and the costs can be up to around £70. Charges are made to subsidise the cost of collection and composting. In some areas, garden waste can account for around a quarter of household waste, so it’s not an insignificant amount of material to be dealing with.

Wildflower gardenFortunately, there are several areas where we can cut back to reduce the amount of material that ends up in the green bin.  It’s understandable to want to tidy up grass cuttings after we’ve mown the lawn, but leaving them can not only save on our green waste but also provide nutrients for your lawn. The clippings will naturally begin to be absorbed after two days or so and the added nutrients will encourage thicker and healthier growth. Alternatively, you could consider a slower growing turf, allowing some areas of grass to grow longer to provide safer areas for wildlife to move through or even getting rid of your lawn completely and converting it to a wild flower meadow which will attract bees and encourage biodiversity.

Weed growth can be controlled by a number of different methods. You could try mulching, where a layer of material such as bark is spread over the top of soil. Pulling up weeds when they’re young is easier and they can just be left on top of the soil to dry out. You can also cut out the light weeds need by growing plants that give good ground cover.

Paying attention to your plants and their life cycles will help to reduce garden waste. Shrubs can typically be pruned just when the branches are young.  Prunings can be left in the garden as log piles to act as basking spots, shelter and attract food for reptiles. Putting plants in a place that is appropriate for them will cut back on the maintenance required to keep them in good condition. Choose slow growing species and dwarf and alpine plants that won’t create a lot of new growth. To provide the best amphibian and reptile habitats its’ vital to create a variety of plant heights.

 

Photo John Butter
Photo John Butter

What you can do:
• Find out more about wildlife friendly gardening
• Record sightings of amphibians and reptiles using our Dragon Finder App
• Report dead or diseased wildlife to the Garden Wildlife Health project

 

 

 

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Lethal Chytridiomycosis in Salamanders

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Fire Salamander

Croaking science is a new way for student volunteers and scientist to explore what’s occurring in the world of Science. Croaking Science looks at science facts, new research or old debates which are inspired by or affect amphibians and reptiles, and then communicates this in layman’s language to a wider audience. The aim of the feature is to provide a platform for those starting their foray into the world of science communications as well as established scientists. We welcome any submissions from students and scientists. Please note that the views expressed in the articles are not those of the Froglife Trust.

Croaking Science reporter Rhiannon Laubach looks at the history of chytridiomycosis and its impacts on the Fire Salamanders in Europe

The current worldwide loss of amphibians has reached crisis level. Some 40% of amphibian species in parts of Central America are at risk of extinction and there are also large scale losses in Europe, North America and Australia.  The main cause for this is an infectious disease known as ‘fungal chytridiomycosis’, chytrid or Bd for short.  Click here for a map showing global chytrid distribution.

Chytrid is a fungus that infects vertebrates with spores that grow in the top keratin layers of the infected host’s skin. Symptoms of chytridiomycosis in amphibians include lethargy, lost righting reflex and an abnormal posture. The amphibian’s skin can be ulcerated and slough off in an uncharacteristic way and haemorrhages can occur in the eyes, muscles and skin. The disease is fatal to almost all amphibians (Martel & al 2014).

The earliest evidence for chytrid has been found in a museum collection of African clawed frogs that were collected in Africa in 1938. The exportation of these frogs around the world, for human pregnancy testing and other research, is the likely vector for the spread of the fungus. The first case of chytrid outside of Africa was recorded in North America in 1961 (Laurence 2008). Its spread is made easier because particular species such as the African clawed frog can be affected by the fungus asymptomatically meaning that they do not show any symptoms of the disease.

It used to be thought that there was only one species – Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis – with several different strains that infected all amphibians. However, Dutch scientists studying high mortality rates in the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) have discovered a new species of chytrid known as Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (meaning salamander skin-eating fungus).

In the Netherlands, the fire salamander population has decreased so dramatically that it has brought it to ‘the edge of extinction’ in this country.  From 2010 to 2013, the salamander population decreased by 96%.  When researchers analysed the dead salamanders to see what was causing the fatalities, they were able to isolate the new species of chytrid.

Salamanders that are affected by this disease, usually die after suffering from anorexia, apathy and ataxia.  The infected animals have deep ulcers and shallow erosions all over their bodies which are then colonised by bacteria.

It was necessary for the researchers to find out if the new chytrid species was definitely the cause of the salamandrid mortality.  These experiments involved infecting salamanders with chytrid.  This research seems quite cruel but was necessary as the researchers needed to see how the fungus infected the salamanders.

Summary of experiment:

  • Healthy salamanders were inoculated with spores of the chytrid fungus, they all died by day 18.  Two healthy salamanders where introduced into the tank, these salamanders where fatally infected.
  • The common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) is easily infected by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, toads have been experimentally infected with Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans.  The toads where not colonised bythe new fungus species suggesting that it does not affect, or easily affect, other amphibian species such as frogs or toads (Martel & al 2014).

Amphibians are a diverse and charismatic class of species.  On a worldwide scale they are increasingly threatened by a wide range of threats such as habitat loss and climate change. Chyrtrid may be what pushes many vulnerable species to extinction.  As a result of their plight 2014 has been designated as Year of the Salamander by the Amphibian Survival Alliance and their partners.

What you can do

This can be a depressing topic but there are things that we can all do to help protect amphibian populations:

  • Find out more, click here to find out more about Chytrid
  • Try to make your gardens as amphibian friendly as possible
  • Record and monitor the health of amphibian populations.  You can report diseased or dead animals found in your garden to the Garden Wildlife Health project.  This will help researchers build a better picture of the state of our garden wildlife and understand the threats that it faces
  • Support amphibian friendly charities.  There are lots of ways you can support Froglife you can: become a Froglife Friend, donate, shop online with Give as you Live (at no extra cost to you) or volunteer

References

Lawerence, D. (2008). Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Chytrid disease. Available: http://depts.washington.edu/oldenlab/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Batrachochytrium-dendrobatidis_Lawrence.pdf. Last accessed 2nd April 2014.

Martel,A., Spitzen-van der Sluijs, Blooi, M., Bert, W., Ducatelle, R., Fisher, M., Woeltjes, Bosman,W., Chiers, K.,Bossuyt,F., Pasmans, F. (2014). Batrachochytrium salamandrivon sp nov. causes lethal chytridiomycosis in amphibians. Available: www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1307356110. Last accessed 31 March 2014.

Natterchat Spring / Summer 2014 – The wildlife health and disease issue

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NatterchatWe’re pleased to the present the latest issue of Natterchat our bi-annual newsletter.  This issue focuses on wildlife health and disease.  We hear from Froglife’s founder Tom Langton on the discovery of Ranavirus in the 1980s, and discuss a new research project looking into disease in amphibians, reptiles, garden birds and hedgehogs.  Find out more about the latest research and policies relating to wildlife health as well as other news.

Natterchat: Spring/Summer 2014

Froglife’s CEO, Kathy Wormald, says “Writing the introduction for the Spring edition of Natterchat is always a great pleasure.  As the weather perks up, the wildlife wakes up and we also start to feel invigorated.  Whilst out walking Grezley (the office Airedale) people give us a cheerie greeting rather than the usual Winter grunt.”

“Whilst you are out enjoying the glorious Spring weather and wonderful wildlife, please do remember to send on your data, made even easier by our free Dragon Finder App”

“Here’s to a wonderful Spring and Summer!”

What you can do:

Inspired by Nature: Nostalgic poetry

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Inspired by Nature is a new themed Croak to entertain you with some of my own and my favourite famous poems written about nature and the outdoors. I hope it will stimulate you to get creative with words and write something yourself. If you do and would like to share them with us, please post them on our Facebook page.
Becca (Conservation Youth Worker: Green Pathways Project).

This week’s poem was inspired by my favourite children’s story “Bears in the night” by Stan and Jan Berenstain. I wrote it about a visit to Froglife’s Hampton Nature Reserve. Thankfully the situation described has never actually happened! Could you use the same form to write about a walk you regularly do?

 

It’s a long way back

In the bus.

Out of the bus.

Out of the bus, by the road, to the edge of the puddle

Through the puddle.

Through the puddle, over the fence.

Through the puddle, over the fence, into the long grass.

Between the spiky bushes, under the logs.

At the pond, beside the fire.

Up the tree.

Down the tree.

Down the tree, along the path, to the ditch.

Across the ditch.

Across the ditch, up the hill.

Upon the hill, against the wind, in the mud.

Towards the wood, by the water.

Below the trees, within the den.

Along the path, back to the bus

Where are the keys?

Introducing Froglife’s Design Heroes

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We were approached back in 2013 by a team of graphic design students from Salford City College.

Their class has created a small design agency of students called “Design Heroes”, the aim of which is to help charities by designing and selling artwork inspired by the charities work, and donating the proceeds to the associated charity.

Froglife was honoured to be selected by our group of Design Heroes – Michael Hardman, Daniel Heywood and Charlie Dutton; who picked us as they have a love for reptiles and amphibians and find them fascinating.

Froglife’s own Design Heroes Daniel (left), Charlie (centre) and Mike (right)
Froglife’s own Design Heroes Daniel (left), Charlie (centre) and Mike (right)

 

They have an upcoming final year exhibition at The Lowry Outlet, where they will be selling their work. You can get a sneak peak at some of their work via their Twitter feed and their Facebook page.

Having had a sneak preview of their work in progress, I’d say that this exhibition will appeal to anyone with an interest in print art and other mediums. The styles shown by our design heroes encompass styles reminiscent of poster art from the early 20th century to advertising art from the 1920’s and body art to pop art.

If you live or work in Salford or are shopping that week for Mother’s day, don’t forget to make a note in your diaries and pop in to the exhibition and see what these inspiring students have come up with in their efforts to support their nominated charities.

We would like to thank our Design Heroes for choosing to support us.

Exhibition details:

EXHIBITION POSTER

The opening night on Thursday the 27th of March will be from 6pm – 8pm, and the exhibition will run until Sunday the 6th of April.

Address: Design Heroes Exhibition. The Lowry Outlet, First Floor, Unit F1B, MediaCityUK. M50 3AH.

If you can’t make the exhibition but would still like to donate to Froglife you can do so here or if you are feeling inspired and would like to organise your own fundraising event please click here to find out more.

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