Tylototriton yangi

Wang, Kai, Yuan, Zhiyong, Zhong, Guanghui, Li, Guangyu & Verrell, Paul A., 2017, Reproductive biology of Tylototriton yangi (Urodela: Salamandridae), with suggestions on its conservation, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 145) 11 (2), pp. 33-43 : 39-41

Conservation of Tylototriton yangi

Our field observations indicate that scattered permanent ponds and other permanent bodies of stationary water are used for reproduction by T. yangi . Not all available water sources were occupied by newts during the duration of this study (e.g., the reservoir, and PBP#10, PBP#15, and PBP#16), and some pools (e.g., PBP#13 and PBP#14) were used by more newts than the others. These differences in pool use may be due to ecological factors such as nearby canopy coverage, amount of aquatic vegetation, water depth, food availability, and predation risk. We found the most newts in deep pools (30–50 cm in depth) with no large aquatic predators (e.g., large fish), some but not dense aquatic vegetation and dense surrounding terrestrial vegetation. These may be key factors for breeding site selection by T. yangi . Further studies are needed to determine the details of factors that affect breeding-site selection.

Having a restricted range in southern Yunnan Province of China, Tylototriton yangi faces a number of serious anthropogenic challenges. Habitat loss, especially of breeding habitat, is the greatest threat to the species ( Hernandez 2016). Heavy tin/coal mining and accompanying deforestation were observed at our field sites during this study. This contaminated remaining potential breeding ponds and split terrestrial habitats into fragmented patches ( Fig. 6 ). In addition to the habitat loss, illegal collections are the second most serious threats to the persistence of local populations of T. yangi . Local people harvest breeding adults from May to July every year, which are then dried and sold for traditional medicines. In addition, individuals are collected and sold alive as exotic pets in the illegal pet-trade. In fact, T. yangi , which was confused with T. kweichowensis , was the most common species of Tylototriton sold in the U.S. market before the official importation ban of Asian newts ( Rowley et al. 2016), and illegally collected animals have also reached European countries such as France, Germany, and Russia ( Hernandez 2016).

Because of these anthropogenic challenges, we recommend increasing attention to the conservation of the endemic species, Tylototriton yangi . Specifically, we recommend: 1) adding T. yangi to the List of Endangered Species of China as a Class II nationally protected species; 2) increasing law enforcement of the Wildlife Protection Act of China during the breeding season of the species from May to August, especially increasing patrol frequency in the pet markets and traditional medicine markets in Mengzi and Gejiu of Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan, China, 3) conserving existing adult habitats, particularly at the type locality in Gejiu, through restoration of natural plant communities and construction of artificial breeding ponds; and 4) initiating captive-breeding programs in research institutions in China, giving hope for subsequent release of newts to augment natural populations. Lastly, following the recommendation by Fei et al. (2012) and IUCN assessment criteria (extent of occurrence estimated to be <20,000 km 2, severely fragmented, and inferred continued decline in extent of occurrence and area of occupancy), we recommend the listing of T. yangi as Vulnerable under IUCN assessment criteria.

Acknowledgements. —We would like to thank Mr. Jiajun Zhou for providing the locality information, Mr. Qiang Li for his great assistance in the field, Dr. Kevin Messenger, Dr. Max Sparreboom, and Dr. Gernot Vogel for providing and translating literature for us, Ms. Jingting Liu for editing photographs, and Dr. Jesse Brunner for providing insightful comments on the manuscript. This research was generously supported by the Undergraduate Herpetological Research Grant from Chicago Herpetological Society and the MHS Grant in Herpetological Conservation and Research from Minnesota Herpetological Society.

Figures

Figure 6. Habitat destruction of Tylototriton yangi in southern Yunnan Province, China. a) Coal mining site at Yangjie, Mengzi, Yunnan Province, China; b) illegal tin mining at the type locality of T. yangi in Gejiu, Yunnan, China; c) Deforestation and infrastructure constructions at the type locality of T. yangi in Gejiu, Yunnan, China. Photographs by Kai WANG.