The Florida State University Coastal & Marine Lab Conservation Lecture Series
FROGS, CONSERVATION, AND WHAT GENETICS CAN TELL US: TALES FROM AFRICA AND
BACK
A Presentation by
LISA BARROW
Amphibians are one of the most threatened groups of vertebrates, with nearly a
third of all species threatened with extinction. Reports of amphibian population
declines on a global scale were first recognized over 25 years ago, prompting
widespread concern among scientists. Frogs (comprising >80% of all amphibian
species) are not only an essential part of natural ecosystems, but are often
considered to be indicator species of overall environmental health. Monitoring
some species can be challenging, however, because they have unpredictable or
short breeding seasons, and are difficult to find at other times of year. I will
discuss three of my research projects related to frog conservation, from systems
in South Africa, the Midwestern U.S., and the local North Florida area, including
how genetic tools help us understand the status of these fascinating creatures.