Chapter 14 - Bibliography

Bantle, J. A., J. Dumont, N. R. Finch and G. Linder. 1991. Atlas of Abnormalities: A Guide for the Conduct of FETAX. Oklahoma State Publications, Stillwater, OK. The FETAX system was developed to standardize testing of toxicity levels of environmental hazards on amphibians. By using the laboratory raised Xenopus frogs rather than native species, it avoids putting even more pressure on these endangered species.

Bishop, S. C. 1941. The Salamanders of New York. New York State Museum Bulletin No. 324. University of the State of New York, Albany, NY. This is a very detailed account of salamanders that occur in many regions besides New York. Specifics on breeding, egg masses, and individual eggs make it invaluable for species identification of eggs.

Bishop, S. C. 1943. Handbook of Salamanders: The Salamanders of the United States, of Canada, and of Lower California. Comstock Publishing, Ithaca, NY. This is one of the classics that all herpetologists know well. More conversational than his earlier work, it is both entertaining and an excellent reference.

Blaustein, A. R., J. M. Kiesecker, D. P. Chivers, D. G. Hokit, A. Marco, L. K. Belden and A. Hatch. 1998. Effects of ultraviolet light on amphibians: Field experiments. Amer. Zool. 38: 799–812. This excellent review of the effects of UV radiation on amphibians also discusses the synergistic effects of ultraviolet radiation and low pH, which can greatly increase mortality.

Blaustein, A. R. and D. B. Wake. 1995. The puzzle of declining amphibian populations. Sci. Amer. 272: 52–57. A beautifully illustrated article on a number of the threats to amphibian species, including UV radiation, destruction of habitat, pollution, disease, and human uses.

Doyle, R. 1998. Amphibians at risk. Sci. Amer. 279: 27. This short article shows maps of areas in the United States where amphibians are at risk.

Duellman, W. E. and L. Trueb. 1994. Biology of Amphibians. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. A general textbook about amphibians, covering anatomy, physiology, reproduction, ecology, and evolution. Its discussion of mating behaviors and breeding patterns is especially useful for this laboratory.

Elliott, L. 1998. A Guide to Night Sounds NatureSound Studio, P.O. Box 84, Ithaca, NY 14851-0084. This extremely useful collection is available as an audiocassette or CD and comes with a guide. It is a wonderful introduction for the novice. And it’s cheap. It includes calls of ten of the most common anurans as well as night-calling birds, a few insects, and some mammals. It can be ordered from the NatureSound website, www.naturesound.com, or from North Sound by calling 1-800-336-6398.

Elliott, L. 1998. The Calls of Frogs and Toads. NatureSound Studio, P.O. Box 84, Ithaca, NY 14851-0084. More comprehensive than the selection above, this collection is available in both audiocassette and CD form. It e includes the sounds of 42 species of anurans along with a booklet on identification. It can be ordered from the NatureSound website, www.naturesound.com, or from North Sound by calling 1-800-336-6398.

Freda, J. 1991. Effects of acidification on amphibians. In Acidic Deposition: State of Science and Technology, Vol. II. Aquatic Processes and Effects. U.S. National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program, Washington, D.C., pp. 13-135–13-151. A good summary of the effects of acid rain on amphibian development, this both reviews and critiques early and more recent studies.

“Froglog.” Newsletter from the World Conservation Union (IUCN), Species Survival Commision (SSC), Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF), and Center for Analysis of Environmental Change (CAEC). This is an extremely informative and concise publication available on the web at www.npwrc.usgs.gov/narcam/info/news/froglog2.htm.

Heyer, W. R., M. A. Donnelly, R. W. McDiarmid, L. C. Hayek and M. S. Foster (eds.). 1993. Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity: Standard Methods for Amphibians. Smithsonian Institution Press, Dept. 900, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0900, 1- 800-782-4612. Very recent, and inexpensive in its paperback version, this is an important book for anyone who would like to help in conducting amphibian counts for their geographic area and protecting local populations. It gives standardized methods for sampling and information on analyzing and using data.

Houck, L. D. 1998. Integrative studies of amphibians: from molecules to mating. Amer. Zool. 38: 108–117. This is a nice discussion of courtship pheromones used by male salamanders in courtship.

Howells, G., 1990. Acid Rain and Acid Waters. Ellis Horwood Limited, West Sussex, England. This has only a short section on the effects of acid rain on amphibians, but helps to give a general understanding of the global effects of acid rain.

Hunter, M. L., Jr., J. Albright and J. Arbuckle (eds.). 1992. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Maine. Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Maine Press, Orono, ME.

Hunter, M. L., A. J. K. Calhoun and M. McCollough. 1999. Maine Amphibians and Reptiles. University of Maine Press, Orono, ME. All herp-enthusiasts, whether seasoned pros or the newly initiated, should have this book. It is an extremely complete compilation of information about amphibians and reptiles in Maine, but most of the information is applicable to many regions. It is delightfully written and beautifully illustrated with color photographs, pen-and-ink drawings, and includes a CD on calls of male frogs.

La Clair, J. J., J. A. Bantle and J. Dumont. 1998. Photoproducts and metabolites of a common insect growth regulator produce developmental deformities in Xenopus. Environ. Sci. Technol. 32: 1453–1461. A paper that uses the frog embryo teratogenesis assay-Xenopus (FETAX) method to determine the level of toxicity of a commonly used insecticide.

Pierce, B. A. 1985. Acid tolerance in amphibians. BioScience 35: 239–243. This is a very useful, easily understood review article, including a table and a long reference list.

Pierce, B. A., J. B. Hoskins and E. Epstein. 1984. Acid tolerance in Connecticut wood frogs (Rana sylvatica). J. Herpetology 18: 159–167. An important study on the effects of acid rain, it includes information on different stages of development as well as larvae.

Phillips, K. 1995. Tracking the Vanishing Frogs: An Ecological Mystery. Viking Penguin, NewYork. Geared toward a lay audience, this well-written account reveals the devastation to amphibian populations caused by human activities.

Pough, F. H. 1976. Acid precipitation and embryonic mortality of spotted salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum. Science 192: 68–72. One of the early articles on the effects of acid rain on amphibians, it is cited in all review articles on the subject.

Rugh, R. 1948. Experimental Embryology: A Manual of Techniques and Procedures. Burgess Publishing, Minneapolis, MN. An extremely valuable, out-of-print manual that was written by one of the venerable experts in amphibian development. The careful descriptions of techniques and developmental stages, illustrated with drawings and photographs, are invaluable to any embryologist. Look for it on out-of-print book lists, and snatch it up when you see it.

Schlichter, L. C. 1981. Low pH affects the fertilization and development of Rana pipiens eggs. Can. J. Zool. 59: 1693–1699. This study, though somewhat confusing, is the first to attempt to determine effects of acidity on amphibian sperm. The conclusions are now in some dispute, since buffered solutions were used and the buffers themselves might have been toxic to the sperm.

Stebbins, R. C. 1951. Amphibians of Western North America. University of California Press, Berkeley. An extremely thorough guide that includes information on breeding, egg masses, and larvae for each of the species covered.

Stebbins, R. C. 1985. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, 2nd Ed. Peterson Guides, Princeton, NJ. This is an excellent guide, not as detailed as the volume above, but very handy in the field.

Tome, M. A. and F. H. Pough. 1982. Responses of amphibians to acid precipitation. In Acid Rain/Fisheries. Proceedings of an International Symposium on Acid Precipitation and Fisheries Impacts in Northeastern North America, Ithaca, New York, August 2–5, 1981. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD, pp. 245–254. An older review article than that by Freda, this is still useful, including a number of charts and tables.

Twitty, V. C. 1966. Of Scientists and Salamanders. W. H. Freeman, San Francisco. A truly delightful account of one embryologist and his work, this stands as a valuable historical work and entertaining bedtime reading.

Tyning, T. F. 1990. A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles. Little, Brown, Boston. This well-written, informative guide concentrates on relatively few species, but gives extremely useful information about their behavior and mating.

Wright, A. H. and A. A. Wright. 1949. Handbook of Frogs and Toads of the United States and Canada, 3rd Ed. Comstock Publishing, Ithaca, NY. What the Bishop handbook is for salamanders, this classic is for anurans. Illustrated with photographs of adults, larvae, and egg masses, it an important reference to add to any herpetologist’s or naturalist’s library.

Wyman, R. L. 1990. What’s happening to the amphibians? Cons. Biol. 4: 350–352. This is an excellent summary of the problem of declining amphibian populations.