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During the 1970s and 1980s, researchers in many parts of the world reported seemingly drastic population declines and disappearances of amphibians. International amphibian and reptile scientific societies held special sessions at annual meetings. In February 1990, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences sponsored an international meeting to determine whether there was cause for alarm. From these meetings, researchers reached two conclusions: (1) although most of the evidence for amphibian declines was anecdotal, the number and geographically dispersed nature of the informal reports indicated that the situation should be addressed and treated as a possible environmental emergency and (2) an international working group should be established to produce scientifically defensible information to determine the extent of the problem as quickly as possible. The first sobering lessons from these early consultations related to the state of the science. It was readily apparent that information about amphibian populations was largely based on observations in western North America, Middle and South America, and parts of Australia. No generalized conclusions could be valid without an information base that encompassed other areas—especially the tropics, where most of the world’s amphibians are located. There was also a need to improve the reliability and compatibility of data. In the absence of generally accepted standard research protocols, trained investigators were completing work that was not comparable with other studies nor readily replicated by other scientists. Nevertheless, the anecdotal data, while not conclusive, were sufficiently consistent to require attention. If, as is widely accepted, amphibians are reliable bioindicators of environmental change, then these population declines had to be regarded as early warnings signaling an important biodiversity crisis. With such high stakes and with so many scientific disciplines involved, it was necessary to proceed with caution. The coverage of the data would have to be improved, and the field techniques would have to be standardized to ensure reliability and compatibility before reaching generalized conclusions. The scientific community responded by forming the IUCN/ SSC Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF) in December 1990. This Task Force is also affiliated with the World Congress of Herpetology. The Task Force operations are linked to the greater conservation community through the IUCN and the international DIVERSITAS program; these links ensure that the broader implications of the amphibian declines will be given appropriate attention. The Task Force has been successively chaired by Dr. David B. Wake, Mr. Robert Johnson, Dr. W. Ronald Heyer, Dr. James Hanken, and currently Dr. James Collins. DAPTF headquarters was initially established at the Center for Analysis of Environmental Change, Oregon State University, with Dr. James L. Vial serving as the coordinator, assisted by Lorelei Saylor. In June 1994, the Task Force transferred its office to Dr. Timothy Halliday’s home university, The Open University, in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. Dr. Halliday assumed the position of International Director and Dr. John M.R. Baker was hired as the first International Coordinator; Mr. John W. Wilkinson currently serves in this latter capacity. Early in 1992, the Task Force board of directors held its first meeting. At that meeting, the following goals were established: 1. Catalyze, catalogue, and coordinate efforts to gain an understanding of declining amphibian populations. 2. Identify those target populations, species, and regions that merit immediate attention. 3. Gather and critically examine evidence concerning causal factors contributing to amphibian declines and identify remedial action. 4. Promote data collection on amphibian populations on a long-term basis. 5. Enlist the support of appropriate scientific disciplines needed to address the issues. 6. Disseminate information on declines to the scientific community and promote public awareness. 7. Advise the IUCN, other conservation organizations, and appropriate governmental bodies on necessary and immediate action. Progress Report Overview With the formation of the Task Force closely linked to the general scientific community, the work has steadily moved ahead. 17 F IVE Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force W. RONALD HEYER AND JAMES B. MURPHY The Task Force developed a strategy to maintain its office as the nerve center with a worldwide network of investigators to collect data. The highest priority was given to the preparation of a standard research protocol to ensure compatible and reliable information. A program of seed money grants was set up to fund studies directed to filling important information needs. Among the first projects the Task Force completed was the preparation and adoption of the standard protocols (Heyer et al., 1994), which are now being used by investigators. A database was then established at Task Force headquarters to receive reports from field...

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