VAN DER MEIJDEN, A.*; VREDENBURG, V.; SOPORY, A.; PETIRS, B.; TIWARI, R.; WAKE, D.B.: AmphibiaWeb: an information system for amphibian conservation biology

Amphibian populations have declined over the past decades, particularly in countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, Australia and the United States of America. Several species have gone extinct and others are at great risk of extinction. The cause or causes of this decline are numerous and synergistic, and cannot always be attributed to habitat loss. There is a great need for accessible, accurate and authoritative information on the current status of populations of amphibian species world-wide. This presentation will report the findings of AmphibiaWeb a web-based communication and database system which is developing an account of the status each amphibian species, contributed by and accessible by researchers all over the world. The goal is to be able to make a definitive statement about every species of amphibian on the planet. AmphibiaWeb provides at least partial accounts for all species of amphibians (about 5300), and maintains up-to-date lists of all of the species of amphibians in the world, as well as lists per country. Development of AmphibiaWeb relies upon scientists from around the world volunteering information to create a Web page for each species. AmphibiaWeb has received many contributions including written species accounts (over 500), photographs (over 700), range-maps (more than 1000), literature references (over 2000), and sound files. AmphibiaWeb invites contributions of information, species accounts and photographs. Please contact us: amphibiaweb@elib.cs.berkeley.edu.