Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation

New book published by the lab, available from Elsevier: https://shop.elsevier.com/books/continental-northeast-asian-amphibians/borzee/978-0-323-91857-2

“Continental Northeast Asian Amphibians: Origins, Behavioural Ecology, and Conservation is the only comprehensive compilation of knowledge on the amphibian species of continental northeast Asia. Along with accounts for each species, the book introduces the biogeographic history, behavioral patterns, ecological requirements, and threats in the region. Written by a leading expert on Asian amphibians, this book delves into the details of origin and life history and distinguishes which variables have been instrumental to the distribution of populations and amphibian biodiversity in this region. Sections provide detailed accounts for field identification and range of the species’ behaviour during both breeding and non-breeding seasons. Finally, the book provides in-depth accounts on the threats and trends for each species, considering the current conservation pressure in the region. Each point is explained in relation with the very contrasted landscapes of the region that include two rather different species assemblages, one on the alluvial plains and the other at higher elevation on mountain ranges”.

New paper on amphibian habitat connectivity in collaboration with Mr Peng and Prof Li from Yanbian University! This research project started when wondering about habitat suitability and connectivity for the least studied amphibian of northeast Asia: the Clawed Salamanders (Onychodactylus)!

https://amaelborzee.com/2023/10/28/landscape-connectivity-for-clawed-salamanders-in-the-sino-korean-transboundary-area/

We are delighted to share the success of our recent two-day online workshop on Amphibian Bioacoustics that was conducted on 14 & 15 October. The workshop was facilitated by Prof. Amaël Borzée and the two-day sessions were conducted by Vishal Kumar Prasad. This workshop brought together scholars and researchers from over 5 countries to delve into the fascinating world of amphibian bioacoustics. The workshop exemplified the power of modern techniques in advancing our knowledge of amphibian behavior, ecology, and conservation through bioacoustics.

Online Workshop on Amphibian Bioacoustics and Analysis We are delighted to share the success of our recent two-day online workshop on Amphibian Bioacoustics that was conducted on 14 & 15 October. The workshop was facilitated by Prof. Amaël Borzée a…

We are delighted to share the success of our recent two-day online workshop on Amphibian Bioacoustics that was conducted on 14 & 15 October. The workshop was facilitated by Prof. Amaël Borzée and the two-day sessions were conducted by Vishal Kumar Prasad. This workshop brought together scholars and researchers from over 5 countries to delve into the fascinating world of amphibian bioacoustics. The workshop exemplified the power of modern techniques in advancing our knowledge of amphibian behavior, ecology, and conservation through bioacoustics.

Vishal is giving a talk on "Amphibians of the Western Himalayas & application of bioacoustics in conservation". It's online, and linked to

Amphibians of the Western Himalayas & application of bioacoustics in conservation (Monsoon Beauty Talks 2nd Sept. 23)) # # # India's Nature Monsoon Beauty 23 - Talks : # # # # Join us this **Saturday, 2nd September 2023**, for a **Monsoon Beauty 2023 Talk**! Meet with **Vishal Kumar Prasad, Research Scientist and Ph.D Scholar**. In his talk, **'Amphibians of the Western Himalayas & application of bioacoustics in....

We often get confronted with conservation problems, and Sustainable Daisen NPO exposed the Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation within the context of the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group to the "solvable" plea of the Japanese Giant Salamanders (Andrias japonicus) in the Nawa River Basin. It took a few months, but we went there, with a 16 people strong team of conservation researchers, with skills including behavioural ecology, landscape use, eDNA, landscape modeling, cognition, drone survey, ecological needs, landscape restoration, all linked to conservation, ready to do what we could to understand the needs and problems of the salamanders there, and fix it.

Successful attendance to the 10th meeting of the East Asian Federation of Ecological Societies! Many talks and posters by lab members and collaborators, and some awards!

The lab, in collaboration with numerous colleagues, recently published a policy recommendation highlighting why the trade of Brown Frogs (Rana) towards the Republic of Korea is bad for biodiversity.

The Rana trade towards the Republic of Korea should stop! The lab, in collaboration with numerous colleagues, recently published a policy recommendation highlighting why the trade of Brown Frogs (Rana) towards the Republic of Korea is bad for biodiversity…

New Hynobius salamander species from southern China: the Fujian Bamboo Salamander (Hynobius bambusicolus)!

New salamander species from Southern China! 中国南方小鲵新种 Welcoming the Fujian Bamboo Salamander to science! 欢迎虚竹小鲵走进科学！We described a new species, the Fujian Bamboo Salamander (Hynobius bambusicolus). The Fujian Bamboo Salamander (Hynobius bambusicolus) …

The National Geographic Kids - China (环球少年地理) ran a story on the Immaculate treefrogs (Dryophytes immaculatus) and the research conducted in the lab! #环球少年地理

The Lab collaborated with Prof. Wang from Nanjing University on a paper entitled "Spatial non-stationarity effect of determinants regulates variation in amphibian species richness" published in Ecological Indicators, with Mr. Wu from Prof. Wang's research group as the first author.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23004107

Understanding the formation mechanism and spatial heterogeneity characteristics of amphibian species richness patterns is an urgent issue for in-depth exploration in biodiversity research. The spatial non-stationary nature of environmental mechanisms is often overlooked as an important geographical feature. Based on multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR), this paper discusses the spatial heterogeneity and scale effect of amphibian species richness in China in response to environmental variables. The results indicate that factors with higher heterogeneity can more effectively explain changes in abundance, and climate is the main factor driving the abundance of amphibians. Human activity interference significantly increases the sensitivity of amphibians to environmental changes. Using a self-organizing feature mapping network (SOM) for spatial clustering, four major ecological impact areas were identified. This study provides new evidence revealing the spatial differentiation mechanism regulating the patterns in amphibian biodiversity.

Dr. Yi is now Associate Professor with us! Congratulations!

Yoonjung Yi Dr. Yoonjung Yi Currently an Associate Professor in the lab, Yoonjung is principally interested in behavioural ecology, especially social interactions of primates, such as inter-group interactions,…

We have finally welcomed Dr. Ghosh - in person - in the lab! Ready for some great work!

Deyatima Ghosh Dr. Ghosh received a Ph.D. from University of Calcutta on Zoology (Ecology) in the year 2021, and looked into the impact of agricultural intensification on herpetofaunal community and their ecosyst…

The lab's conservation research on treefrogs around the Yellow Sea has been covered by Research Features, in multiple languages! This news magazine article highlights the similarities in challenges for treefrog conservation all around the greater Yellow Sea Basin.

New lab paper using Population Viability Analyses to designate protected areas

How do you designate protected areas for treefrogs? New lab paper published in Animal Conservation in collaboration with Dr. Andersen and Prof. Jang! Threatened species with restricted ranges are at risk from habitat fragmentation and loss, which am…

New paper on avian biodiversity conservation issues at the Hwaseong Wetlands in Korea published in Conservation, accessible at:
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/2/4/36

New paper on avian biodiversity conservation issues at the Hwaseong Wetlands published in late September 2022 in Conservation, accessible at:
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/2/4/36

(Citation: Moores, N.; Jung, H.; Kim, H.-J.; Hwang, B.-Y.; Hur, W.-H.;
Borzée, A. The Hwaseong Wetlands Reclamation Area and Tidal Flats, Republic of Korea: A Case of Waterbird Conservation in the Yellow Sea. Conservation 2022, 2, 526–549. https://doi.org/10.3390/
conservation2040036)

If you have difficulty accessing the paper, please contact us through FB or email.

New collaborative study across northeast Asia: Impact of phylogeography and landscapes on the structure of release calls in the Mongolian toads, Strauchbufo raddei!

Impact of phylogeography and landscapes on the structure of release calls in the Mongolian toads, Strauchbufo raddei New collaborative study from across northeast Asia! Also explained on YouTube! There is no strong relation between evolutionary history and the structures of release calls as release calls must be …

Lab members attending international conferences and trainings is one of the best ways to develop their knowledge and help network!

Attendance to the Graduate Summer Course in Bioacoustics (Denmark) Vishal Kumar Prasad presented a poster/graphical summary about his recent publication “Vocal behaviour of Balloon frogs” at the Southern Denmark University in Odense, Denmark on 7 Augus…

New lab paper on the trade of Brown Frogs (Rana sp.) in northeast Asia, including the delineation of cryptic species, and morphological tools for species identification to act against the trade of mis-identified individuals.

From the wild to our plates: crypticity in the northeast Asian trade of brown frogs – a muti-tool approach New lab paper on the trade of Brown Frogs (Rana sp.) in northeast Asia, including the delineation of cryptic species, and morphological tools for species identification to act against the trade of …

New publication describing the threatened Onychodactylus sillanus (Yangsan Clawed Salamander - 양산꼬리치레도롱뇽)!

Newly described: Yangsan Clawed Salamander (Onychodactylus sillanus) New publication through multiple collaborations including the description of Onychodactylus sillanus: Yangsan Clawed Salamander (양산꼬리치레도롱뇽)! Onychodactylus sillanus in life. A: adult male from Nort…

Newly described Rhacophorid treefrog species from China!

New Chinese treefrog species: Kurixalus inexpectatus New lab paper with collaborators describing a new Rhacophorid treefrog from Zhejiang in China! The species is named Kurixalus inexpectatus (Changxing Treefrog ; 长兴原指树蛙 ) following it’s unexpe…

Acoustic behaviour of the two balloon frogs: the graphical summary! An easy-to-read summary of the findings of our recently published study on the acoustic behaviour of two syntopic balloon frogs species.
https://amaelborzee.com/2022/06/08/the-graphical-summary-acoustic-behaviour-of-the-two-syntopic-and-elusive-balloon-frogs/

"Electrocution of wild Javan Gibbons"
Short paper on Javan gibbon electrocution published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa! While most primate electrocution is reported in urban areas, we found three electrocuted gibbons in the wild during our long-term study.

Electrocution of wild Javan Gibbons Our short paper on Javan gibbon electrocution cases has been published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. While most primate electrocution is reported in urban areas, we found three electrocuted gi…

New paper on the vocal behaviour and ecology of syntopic Balloon frogs from Central India! The two Balloon frogs diverge in their acoustic behaviour through segregation in call properties and microhabitat use!

Vocal behaviour and ecology of syntopic Balloon Frogs from Central India Most amphibians call but why do they call? Well, a male frog can call to attract a female or to defend his territory. As a part of the research, a team of scientists in Asia decided to study two el…

Congratulations Shin Yucheol for getting the Undergraduate research 2022 Roger Conant Grants-In-Herpetology from the SSAR! “Integrative Approaches to Resolve the Species Boundary between Elaphe anomala and Elaphe schrenckii (Serpentes: Colubridae): One Variable Species or Two Distinct Species?”

Announcing the 2022 Roger Conant Grants-In-Herpetology Winners An award in the amount of $500 was made to each of the following individuals.   For more information on the program, see   Conservation: Travis Rainey (Central Michigan University), “A Ti…

~ SAVE AMPHIBIANS OF HIMALAYAS AWARENESS PROGRAM! ~ Our lab member Vishal Kumar Prasad and his team and colleagues organised an awareness and education program: ‘Saving Amphibians of Nainital Himalaya’ on 2nd April 2022 for school students in Aarohi Peora, Nainital district 🐸🐸🐸

~ SAVE AMPHIBIANS OF HIMALAYAS AWARENESS PROGRAM! ~ Some good news from the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India! Our lab member Vishal Kumar Prasad and his team and colleagues organised a major awareness and education program: ‘Saving Amphibians of Nain…

Vishal and his team organised an amphibians conservation awareness program for the children of Simayal village in the Nainital district in India. 🐸🐸🐸

Awareness program about amphibian conservation in Nainital district Participants of the awareness program on the 18th of March 2022 Vishal and his team organised on the 18th of March 2022 an awareness program on amphibians conservation for the children of Simayal v…

The lab is proud of its latest publication involving numerous co-authors from northeast Asia and further away: "From Gondwana to the Yellow Sea, evolutionary diversifications of true toads Bufo sp. in the Eastern Palearctic and a revisit of species boundaries for Asian lineages".

New resolution in phylogeography and taxonomy of the true toads Bufo across the Eastern Palearctic The broad geographic range of true toads (genus Bufo) in the Eastern Palearctic has resulted in hidden diversity, uncertain origins of species complexes and unclear taxonomic boundaries. To reconst…