Influence of midsummer drainage and agricultural modernization on the survival of Zhangixalus arboreus tadpoles in Japanese paddy fields.

Previous studies reported that habitat degradation and alteration (e.g., urbanization, agricultural intensification, and abandonment, as well as contaminants) led to frog population decline, which has become a serious global ecological issue.

Microhabitat use by Hyla japonica and Pelophylax porosa brevipoda at Levees in rice paddy areas of Japan.

In Japan, rice paddies have acted as substitute habitats for pond-breeding frogs. However, frog populations are declining due to the loss of habitat and environmental changes in rice paddy areas. Frogs need both aquatic and terrestrial habitats to complete their life history; in rice paddy areas, levees that surround rice paddies provide terrestrial habitats for basking, foraging, and shelter from predators.

Effects of water management, connectivity, and surrounding land use on habitat use by frogs in rice paddies in Japan.

In Japan, rice paddies play an important role as a substitute habitat for wetland species, and support rich indigenous ecosystems. However, since the 1950s, agricultural modernization has altered the rice paddy environment, and many previously common species are now endangered. It is urgently necessary to evaluate rice paddies as habitats for conservation.

Development of microsatellite markers for Euryale ferox (Nymphaeaceae), an endangered aquatic plant species in Japan.

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers were developed to investigate genetic diversity and genetic structure of Euryale ferox, a vulnerable aquatic plant.

Methods And Results: Ten microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for this species. Eight loci showed polymorphisms with two or three alleles per locus.