1. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY OF HERPTILES I.What is the Problem II.What is Being Done III.What Needs to be Done IV.Characteristics of Rare Taxa

2. Currently In Midst of Largest Extinction Since the Cretaceous Epoch Species You Know That Are In Trouble Locally: Spade Foot Toad, Newts, Spotted Salamanders, Queen Snakes, Ring-necked Snakes, Leopard Frogs, Timber Rattlers, Spotted Turtles. Nationally: Copperbelly Water Snakes Red-Legged Frogs, Yellow-Legged Frog, Cascade Frog, American Croc, Alligator Snappers, Most Amphibians Internationally: Most Crocks, Sea Turtles, SE Asian Turtles,Large Snakes.

3. MAJOR PROBLEMS 1. Commercial Trade/Persecution: Pets: June 1990-92 in FL: 119,813 Commercial Captures Skins : 304,186 pairs of Boa boots imported in 1981 Alligator Nearly Killed Off in Late 1960s Meat/Eggs: Iguana’s in Central America, Frog Legs Sea Turtles, Pond Turtles Persecution: Lizards in Iran Snakes in US, Rattlesnake Roundup Other: Snakes for Services (Appalachia) Antivenin, Scientific Research

4. MAJOR PROBLEMS 2. Pollution a.Estrogen Mimics b.Acid Rain c.Direct Toxicity d.Increased Parasite Loads in Polluted Habitat e.Retinoids (Vitamin A Mimics)

5. MAJOR PROBLEMS 3.Exotic Species Interactions a.Bullfrogs b.Bufo marinus c.Fungus In Australia d.Commensals of Man Goats Pigs Cats Dogs Rats Mice

6. 4. Habitat Modification a.Roadkills b.Crystallization of Landscape c.Changes in Flooding Regimes d.Changes in Fauna e.Destruction of Habitat f.Fragmentation of Habitat MAJOR PROBLEMS Tbl 17-1

7. MAJOR PROBLEMS 5. Most Are Multiple Factors: Example Crotalus horridus a.Persecution: horridus--nuf said b. Collections: Boots, Meat, Churches in Appalachia c.Oil Field Overflow d.Gasoline Used in Roundups e.Development of Sand Hills of NJ f.Habitat Damage From Hogs

8. WHAT IS BEING DONE 1.Reintroductions 2.Captive Breeding of Marketable Populations 3.Listing of Taxa 4.Monitoring of Rare Taxa 5.Public Education 6.Reduce Exotic Impacts a.Direct Persecution b.Cat-on-a-Leash 7.Some Habitat Conservation

9. WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING? 1.Habtitat Conservation 2.Softening Development 3.Basic Research a.Natural History b.What Works 4.Public Education Efforts 5.Reduce Persecution 6.REDUCE EXOTIC PETS 7.Mutispecies Approaches 8.THINK

10. A SPECIES IN REAL TROUBLE Large, High Commercial Value, Slow Reproduction, High Juvenile Mortality, Hated by People, Specializes on Rare Habitat. (Komoto Dragon) A SPECIES THAT SURVIVES Small, Weedy Species; Moderately Valuable; High Reproductive Potential; High Survivorship; Habitat Generalist; Common on Hallmark Figurines (Bull Frog)