Translocation of an endangered endemic Korean treefrog Dryophytes suweonensis

Amaël Borzée, Ye Inn Kim, Ye Eun Kim, Yikweon Jang

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5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Endangered species in heavily modified landscapes may be vulnerable to extinction if no conservation plan is implemented. The Suweon treefrog Dryophytes suweonensis is an endemic endangered species from the Korean Peninsula. In an attempt to conserve the species, a translocation plan was implemented in the city of Suwon. The receptor site was a specially modified island in a reservoir. Egg clutches were collected from four nearby sites, and were hatched and reared in a laboratory during 2015. One hundred and fifty froglets were released at the new site. In 2016, one year after the translocation, calling male D. suweonensis, and newly hatched tadpoles and juveniles were recorded. Juveniles were seen until the last week before hibernation in autumn 2016. However, only a single male was recorded calling in 2017. The population was consequently considered functionally extinct. Failure of the translocation most likely arose from mismanagement of the vegetation surrounding the wetlands, and the resulting inability of the site to fulfil the ecological requirements of the species. The project allowed the development of rearing protocols for the species, and defined its ecological requirements.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6-11
Number of pages6
JournalConservation Evidence
Volume15
StatePublished - 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank Minwha Hong, Yeongseon Park, Ham Chae Won, Kyongman Heo, Yoonhyuk Bae, and Miyeon Kim for their help. This work was financially supported by a grant from the National Geographic Society Asia (Young Explorer #17-15) to AB, and grants from the National Geographic Asia (# 2-2016-1632-001-1), from the Rural Development Administration of Korea (#PJ01228503) and by the Korea Rural Community Corporation to YJ. This work was conducted under the permit 2015-4 issued by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, University of Cambridge. All rights reserved.

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