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Amphibians that produce fewer offspring 'face greater extinction risk'
The study found that extinction risk increases in smaller amphibians that produce fewer young, such as rain frogs.

Findings could guide future conservation actions.

Smaller amphibians face a higher extinction risk because their females produce fewer offspring, according to new research.

The breakthrough study, published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, suggests extinction risk increases in species that produce fewer young, such as rain frogs but decreases in species that produce more, such as bufonid toads.

Amphibians are the most endangered animals in the world. Currently, more than 40 per cent of amphibians, including frogs, toads, salamanders and newts, face being wiped out altogether.

It is a long-held belief that larger body size increases extinction risk – a theory derived from research on mammals. In this new study, researchers investigated, for the first time, whether it is not body size, but instead, the number of babies a female produces per clutch that determines extinction risk. 

The team looked at amphibians from across the globe, including frogs, salamanders and caecilians, and matched the endangerment levels of thousands of species. They then analysed this information against their body sizes and the number of babies they produce per clutch. 


Lead author Dr Daniel Pincheira-Donoso, a lecturer in Evolutionary Biology and Macroecology at Queens University Belfast, explains: “Our findings explain the discrepancies in the body size-extinction risk relationship observed between mammals and amphibians, given that larger mammals have fewer babies per birth and therefore extinction increases with larger body size, whereas in amphibians, larger females produce more babies, thus reducing extinction risk with larger body size.” 

It is hoped the findings will guide future conservation action about which species and areas to protect - resetting the theory to focus on reproduction levels of animals rather than on body size when calculating extinction risk.

The study was a collaboration between Queens University Belfast, Nottingham Trent University, Tel Aviv University, Exeter University and the University of Lincoln. 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.