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Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.

The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

12/13- Amphiaweb list of papers on amphibian declines, causes, amphibian conservation, emphasis those describe methods for monitoring and conserving amphibian populations.

This reference list is compiled by Professor Tim Halliday (formerly DAPTF International Director) (tim.r.halliday@gmail.com). It lists papers on amphibian declines and their causes and papers on amphibian conservation, with an emphasis on those that describe methods for monitoring and conserving amphibian populations. Tim is always delighted to receive details of forthcoming papers from their authors.

December 2013

Araújo, C. V. et al.  (2013)  Copper-driven avoidance and mortality in temperate and tropical tadpoles.  Aquatic Toxicology:  146C;  70-75.
(cristiano.araujo@icman.csic.es)
Blaustein, J. et al.  (2014)  Influence of fire salamander larvae on among-pool distribution of mosquito egg rafts:  oviposition habitat selection or egg raft predation?  Hydrobiologia:  723;  157-165.
(leon@research.haifa.ac.il)
Carlsson, G. & Norrgren, L.  (2013)  Comparison of embryo toxicity using two classes of aquatic vertebrates.  Envtl. Toxicology & Pharmacology:  37;  24-27.
(gunnar.carlsson@slu.se)
Castroviejo-Fisher, S. et al.  (2014)  Neotropical diversification seen through glassfrogs.  J. Biogeography:  41;  66-80.
(castroviejo.fisher@gmail.com)
Catenazzi, A. et al.  (in press)  Thermal physiology, disease, and amphibian declines on the eastern slopes of the Andes.  Conservation Biology:
(acatenazzi@siu.edu)
Catenazzi, A. & Kupferberg, S. J.  (2013)  The importance of thermal conditions to recruitment success in stream-breeding frog populations distributed across a productivity gradient.  Biological Conservation:  168;  40-48.
(acatenazzi@gmail.com)
Cohen, J. S. & Blossey, B.  (2013)  No apparent effects of soil inoculum on green frog (Lithobates clamitans Latreille) tadpole performance.  Aquatic Ecology:  47;  425-431.
Cove, M. V. & Spínola, R. M.  (2013)  Pairing noninvasive surveys with capture-recapture analysis to estimate demographic parameters for Dendrobates auratus (Anura:  Dendrobatidae) from an altered habitat in Costa Rica.  Phyllomedusa:  12;  107-115.
(m.cove3@gmail.com)
Davenport, J. M. et al.  (2013)  The effects of two fish predators on wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) tadpoles in a subarctic wetland:  Hudson Bay lowlands, Canada.  Canadian J. Zoology:  91;  866-871.
(jon.davenport@mso.umt.edu)
Davies, S. J. et al.  (in press)  Farm dams facilitate amphibian invasions:  extra-limital range expansion of the painted reed frog in South Africa.  Austral Ecology:  38;  851-863.
(sdavies@sen.ac.za)
Dugas, M. B. et al.  (2013)  Carotenoid supplementation enhances reproductive success in captive strawberry frogs (Oophaga pumilio).  Zoo Biology:  32;  655-658.
(cori@tulane.edu)
Egea-Serrano, A. & Tejedo, M.  (2013)  Contrasting effects of nitrogenous pollution on fitness and swimming performance of Iberian waterfrog, Pelophylax perezi (Seoane, 1885), larvae in mesocosms and field enclosures.  Aquatic Toxicology:  146C;  144-153.
(aegea@um.es)
Ettling, J. A. et al.  (2013)  Captive reproduction and husbandry of adult Ozark hellbenders, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi.  Herpetol. Review:  44;  605-610.
(ettling@stlzoo.org)
Fenolio, D. B. et al.  (2013)  Status and conservation of a Gondwana legacy:  Bullock’s false toad, Telmatobufo bullocki (Amphibia:  Anura:  Calyptocephalellidae).  Herpetol. Review:  44;  583-590.
(acharrier@gmail.com)
Gomez-Mestre, I. et al.  (2013)  Mechanisms and consequences of developmental acceleration in tadpoles responding to pond drying.  PLoS One:  8 (12);  e84266.
(igmestre@ebd.csic.es)
Hanlon, S. M. & Parris, M. J.  (2014)  The interactive effects of chytrid fungus, pesticides, and exposure timing on gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) larvae.  Envtl. Toxicology & Chemistry:  33;  216-222.
(shanlon1@memphis.edu)
Hanlon, S. M. et al.  (2013)  Mouthparts of southern leopard frog, Lithobates sphenocephalus, tadpoles not affected by exposure to a formulation of glyphosate.  Bulletin of Envtl. Contamination & Toxicology:  91;  611-615.
(hanloc2107@gmail.com)
Higley, E. et al.  (2013)  Effects of triphenyltin on growth and development of the wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus).  Aquatic Toxicology:  144-145;  155-161.
(steve.wiseman@usask.ca)
Homan, R. C. et al.  (2013)  Detection of ranavirus in Ohio, USA.  Herpetol. Review:  44;  615-618.
(homanr@denison.edu)
Hoverman, J. T. et al.  (2013)  Does timing matter?  How priority effects influence the outcome of parasite interactions within hosts.  Oecologia:  173;  1471-1480.
(jhoverm@purdue.edu)
Jeliazkov, A. et al.  (2014)  Level-dependence of the relationships between amphibian biodiversity and environment in pond systems within an intensive agricultural landscape.  Hydrobiologia:  723;  7-23.
(jeliazkov@mnhn.fr)
Liang, C. T.  (2013)  Movements and habitat use of Yosemite toads (Anaxyrus (formerly Bufo) canorus) in the Sierra National Forest, California.  J. Herpetol:  47;  555-564.
(christinaliang@fs.fed.us)
Lillo, F. et al.  (2013)  Identification and potential origin of invasive clawed frogs Xenopus (Anura:  Pipidae) in Sicily based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA.  Italian. J. Zoology:  80;  566-573.
Loudon, A. H. et al.  (in press)  Microbial community dynamics and effect of environmental microbial reservoirs on red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus).  Intl. Society for Microbial Ecology J:
(loudonah@dukes.jmu.edu)
McFadden, M. et al.  (2013)  Captive management and breeding of the critically endangered southern Corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) (Moore 1953) at Taronga and Melbourne Zoos.  Amphibian & Reptile Conservation:  5;  70-87.
(mmcfadden@zoo.nsw.gov.au)
Muelleman, P. J. & Montgomery, C. E.  (2013)  Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians of northern Calhoun County, Illinois, USA.  Herpetol. Review:  44;  614-615.
(chadmont@truman.edu)
Orozco-terWengel, P. et al.  (2013)  Mitochondrial introgression hybridization following a demographic expansion in the tomato frogs of Madagascar, genus DyscophusMolecular Ecology:  22;  6074-6090.
m.vences@tu-bs.de)
Ortega-Andrade, H. M. et al.  (2013)  Novel data on the ecology of Cochranella mache (Anura:  Centrolenidae) and the importance of protected areas for this critically endangered glassfrog in the neotropics.  PLoS One:  8 (12);  e81837.
(biomauro@hotmail.com)
Pinya, S. & Pérez-Mellado, V.  (2013)  Ageing and growth of the endangered midwife toad Alytes muletensis.  Endangered Species Research:  22;  263-268.
(sampinya22@gmail.com)
Popescu, V. D. et al.  (2013)  Moving into protected areas?  Setting conservation priorities for Romanian reptiles and amphibians at risk from climate change.  PLoS One:  8 (11);  e79330.
(vioreldpopescu@gmail.com)
Rodriguez-Perez, H. et al.  (2014)  Is the exotic red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) a current threat for the Mediterranean tree frog (Hyla meridionalis) in the Camargue (southern France)?  Hydrobiologia:  723;  145-156.
(hector.hrp@gmail.com)
Romero, D. et al.  (2014)  Uncertainty in distribution forecasts caused by taxonomic ambiguity under climate change scenarios:  a case study with two newt species in mainland Spain.  J. Biogeography:  41;  111-121.
(davidrp@uma.es)
Saenz, D. et al.  (2013)  Synergistic effects of the invasive Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) and climate change on aquatic amphibian survival.  Ecology & Evolution:  3;  4828-4840.
(dsaenz@fs.fed.us)
Sapsford, S. J. et al.  (2013)  Elevation, temperature, and aquatic connectivity all influence the infection dynamics of the amphibian chytrid fungus in adult frogs.  PLoS One:  8 (12);  e82425.
(sarah.sapsford@gmail.com)
Sharifi, M. et al.  (2013)  Suitability of the photographic identification method as a tool to identify the endangered yellow spotted newt, Neurergus microspilotus (Caudata:  Salamandridae).  Russian J. Herpetol:  20;  264-270.
Shulse, C. D. & Semlitsch, R. D.  (2014)  Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) bolster the prevalence and severity of tadpole tail injuries in experimental wetlands.  Hydrobiologia:  723;  131-144.
(christopher.shulse@modot.mo.gov)
Slough, B. G.  (2013)  Occurrence of amphibians in British Columbia north of 57oN.  Northwestern Naturalist:  94;  180-186.
Srinivas, G. & Bhupathy, S.  (2013)  Anurans of the Meghanalai landscape, Western Ghats, India.  J. Threatened Taxa:  5;  4973-4978.
Thomas, R. L. et al.  (2014)  Restoring breeding habitat for giant bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus adspersus) in South Africa.  African J. Herpetol:  63;  13-24.
Toranza, C. & Maneyro, R.  (2013)  Potential effects of climate change on the distribution of an endangered species:  Melanophryniscus montevidensis (Anura:  Bufonidae).  Phyllomedusa:  12;  97-106.
(ctoranza@gmail.com)
Townsend, J. M. et al.  (2014)  Avian, salamander, and forest floor mercury concentrations increase with elevation in a terrestrial ecosystem.  Envtl. Toxicology & Chemistry:  33;  208-215.
(jmtownsend@ucdavis.edu)
Venesky, M. D. et al.  (in press)  Linking manipulative experiments to field data to test the dilution effect.  J. Animal Ecology:
(mvenesky@gmail.com)
Vignoli, L. et al.  (2013)  Landscape of amphibian diversity in Latium region:  peaks, valleys and gaps of conservation priority.  Italian J. Zoology:  80:  586-595.
Watari, Y. et al.  (2013)  Evaluating the “recovery level” of endangered species without prior information before alien invasion.  Ecology & Evolution:  3;  4711-4721.
(tmiya@es.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp)
Wickramasinghe, L. J. M. et al.  (2013)  Rediscovery of Pseudophilautus hypomelas (Günther, 1876) (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Peak Wilderness, Sri Lanka, a species thought to be extinct!  J. Threatened Taxa:  5; 
5181–5193.
Wilson, L. D. et al.  (2013)  A conservation reassessment of the amphibians of Mexico based on the EVS measure.  Amphibian & Reptile Conservation:  7;  97-127.
(bufodoc@aol.com)
Wir, S. M. et al.  (in press)  Phthalate ester leachates in aquatic mesocosms:  implications for ecotoxicity studies of endocrine disrupting compounds.  Chemosphere: 
(scott.wir@tiehh.ttu.edu)
Winandy, L. & Denoël, M.  (2013)  Introduced goldfish affect amphibians through inhibition of sexual behaviour in risky habitats:  an experimental approach.  PLoS One:  8 (11);  e82736.
(mathieu.denoel@ulg.ac.be)
Zancolli, G. et al.  (2013)  Detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in river frogs (genus Amietia) on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.  Herpetol. Review:  44;  611-614.
(giulia.zancolli@gmail.com)
Zhang, C. et al.  (2014)  Teratogenic effects of organic extracts from the Pearl River sediments on Xenopus laevis embryos.  Envtl. Toxicology & Pharmacology:  37;  202-209.
(xhliu@bnu.edu.cn)

CRYPTOLINK: Don’t Blame The Dingo, People Are In The Frame

A word about cryptolinks: we are not responsible for the content of cryptolinks, which are merely links to outside articles that we think are interesting (sometimes for the wrong reasons), usually posted up without any comment whatsoever from me. 



The extinction of the Tasmanian tiger and devil on mainland Australia is best explained not by the arrival of the dingo but by human population growth and climate change, according to an Australian expert.

“The dingo has grown accustomed to bad press,” says Professor Richard G. Roberts at the University of Wollongong.

“Dingoes first set paw in Australia a few millennia ago, possibly in association with the spread of Austronesians into the Pacific.

CRYPTOLINK: Bigfoot dead? Hunter plans to take Sasquatch corpse on tour

A word about cryptolinks: we are not responsible for the content of cryptolinks, which are merely links to outside articles that we think are interesting (sometimes for the wrong reasons), usually posted up without any comment whatsoever from me. 
According to hunter Rick Dyer, this deceased Bigfoot is eight feet tall and a over 700 pounds.
According to hunter Rick Dyer, this deceased Bigfoot is 8 feet tall and weighs more than 700 pounds.
(Credit: Rick Dyer)
Poor Bigfoot can't catch a break. The elusive J.D. Salinger of mythical creatures has been the subject of endless movies, TV shows, games, and even monster erotica. The spotlight-shunning beast is also the subject of the new Spike TV reality show "10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty," which promises to pay top dollar to the team that brings in conclusive evidence of the hominoid's existence.
The teams, however, might be searching longer than expected if news of Bigfoot's death is to be believed. Infamous Bigfoot hunter Rick Dyer claims to have shot and killed the elusive Sasquatch and says he plans to show off its lifeless corpse on an upcoming whirlwind media tour.
Though Dyer has tried to fool the public before -- and deservedly faces more than a little skepticism -- he claims this corpse is the real thing. During a September 2012 expedition in San Antonio, Texas -- with BAFTA-winning filmmaker Morgan Matthews and his British documentary film crew in tow -- Dyer says he lured Hank out using "pork ribs from Wal-Mart" doused in his special BBQ sauce and attached to trees.

CRYPTOLINK: Massive Serpent Skeleton Permanently Hangs Out On European Shore

A word about cryptolinks: we are not responsible for the content of cryptolinks, which are merely links to outside articles that we think are interesting (sometimes for the wrong reasons), usually posted up without any comment whatsoever from me. 


Photo by Gino Maccarinelli
A 425-foot long sea serpent has emerged from the water in France, and people aren't running away from it, but rather flocking towards it. What the hell is wrong with them, you ask? Well, thankfully for the entire country, the massive water snake is merely a stunning work of art, rather than the creature from a Syfy flick come to life!
Serpent d'ocean
Photo by Philippe Cabaret


Fittingly titled Serpent d’océan, the giant aluminum skeleton is the work of artist Huang Yong Ping, a permanent piece of art that swims off the shore of France's Loire River. Yong Ping completed the incredible structure in 2012, and the twists and turns in its skeletal body cleverly mirror the curves of a nearby bridge. The artist hoped that by depicting a figure from Chinese mythology on European shores, it would make people think about identity and cultural hybridity.

Read on...

FORTEAN BIRD NEWS FROM THE WATCHER OF THE SKIES

What has Corinna's column of fortean bird news got to do with Cryptozoology?

In an article for the first edition of Cryptozoology Bernard Heuvelmans wrote that cryptozoology is the study of 'unexpected animals' and following on from that perfectly reasonable assertion, it seems to us that whereas the study of out-of-place birds may not have the glamour of the hunt for bigfoot or lake monsters, it is still a perfectly valid area for the Fortean zoologist to be interested in. 






THE GONZO BLOG DOO-DAH MAN HIDES

The Gonzo Daily - Wednesday
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls. We have broadband back, and I am now starting the process of what Richie West calls 'Playing Catchup'. This is going to take a few days, so be patient, but I assure you all that we are doing our best. We have an enormous number of emails to deal with and various issues that have been held up because of our lack of broadband access.
 
The saga of Vol. 2 of the Journal of Cryptozoology continues to trundle on. Last week it turned out that the email I sent about the final tweak to volume two of the Journal of Cryptozoology had gone astray and it took a string of telephone calls before it was finally entered in for processing. However, because of the unorthodox way that it had been processed it somehow vanished off the system, and it took another string of telephone calls and another two or three days. However, following a further call today, the proof has now been generated, and I will be able to OK it either later today or early tomorrow, following which the much delayed issue will be mailed out. A big apology to everyone who has been waiting for the Journal of Cryptozoology since the end of November. Although the initial cock up (to use the technical term) was my fault, the two or three most recent ones have been completely beyond my control. However, I have every reason to suppose that it will be mailed out this week.
 

Another visit to our old friend Thom the World Poet
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2014/01/thom-world-poet-daily-poem_15.html
 
 
 
 
Bristol and Weston dates for folk-rock band Fairport Convention
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2014/01/bristol-and-weston-dates-for-folk-rock.html
 
‘Trying to do something different’: Yes gears up for new album, but likely without Trevor Horn
http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2014/01/trying-to-do-something-different-yes.html
 
*  The Gonzo Daily is a two-way process. If you have any news or want to write for us, please contact me at  jon@eclipse.co.uk. If you are an artist and want to showcase your work or even just say hello, please write to me at gonzo@cfz.org.uk. Please copy, paste and spread the word about this magazine as widely as possible. We need people to read us in order to grow, and as soon as it is viable we shall be invading more traditional magaziney areas. Join in the fun, spread the word, and maybe if we all chant loud enough we CAN stop it raining. See you tomorrow....

*  The Gonzo Daily is - as the name implies - a daily online magazine (mostly) about artists connected to the Gonzo Multimedia group of companies. But it also has other stuff as and when the editor feels like it. The same team also do a weekly newsletter called - imaginatively - The Gonzo Weekly. Find out about it at this link: www.gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-gonzo-news-wots-fit-to-print.html
 
* We should probably mention here that some of our posts are links to things we have found on the internet that we think are of interest. We are not responsible for spelling or factual errors in other people's websites. Honest guv!

*  Jon Downes, the editor of all these ventures (and several others), is an old hippy of 54 who - together with his orange cat (who is currently on sick leave in Staffordshire) and two very small kittens (one of whom is also orange) - puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon, which he shares with various fish and sometimes a small Indian frog. He is ably assisted by his lovely wife Corinna, his bulldog/boxer Prudence, his elderly mother-in-law, and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus... did we mention the orange cat?

OLL LEWIS: Yesterday's News Today