Genetic Uniformity in the Japanese Giant Salamander, Andrias japonicus

Development of Microsatellite Markers for the Two Giant Salamander Species (Andrias japonicus and A. davidianus)

“…Although the A. davidianus sample used here was an assemblage of pet-traded individuals without any reliable information regarding original locality or localities, it is probable that these individuals actually represent several geographically distant populations. Results of our present study coincide with those of some previous studies on the giant salamanders by use of allozyme and mitochondrial DNA data (Matsui and Hayashi, 1992;Murphy et al, 2000;Matsui et al, 2008). Detailed genetic structures and variations within these two species are still unclear, and the microsatellite markers described here will be useful for future genetic and ecological studies on the Andrias species, and also for establishing effective management plan for conservation of their populations.…”

“…Thus, A. japonicus is now strictly protected by Japan's National laws, which prohibit killing or harming it. Such law-regulations have also been preventing studies on biological aspects of the species due to rather complicated procedure to get its handling permission from the Government (Matsui and Hayashi, 1992). Thanks to recent methodological progress, a few molecular genetic studies have been conducted for A. japonicus (Matsui et al, 2007(Matsui et al, , 2008 using tissue samples obtained by non-invasive methods.…”

Diagnostic Histological Findings in Yosemite Toads (Bufo canorus) from a Die-off in the 1970s

“…Acute lethal intoxications, as occur in a direct application of pesticides or accidental chemical spill (Kirk, 1988;Matsui and Hayashi, 1992), were unlikely for four reasons: (1) there are no records of pesticide applications at Tioga Pass (e.g., for the control of lodgepole needle miners, Coleotechnites milleri; Struble, 1972); (2) the deaths spanned several years rather than being limited to a few days; (3) tadpoles were not affected; and (4) no other taxa suffered concurrent mortalities. The habitat at TPM is protected and has not been degraded by farming, ranching, or logging (Kagarise Sherman and Morton, 1993), and there has been no introduction of potential predators or competitors such as bullfrogs (R. catesbeiana) at TPM (CKS, pers.…”

Sensitive and efficient surveillance of Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) distribution in Western Japan using multi-copy nuclear DNA marker

“…Their larvae incubate in winter and metamorphose after approximately three years, and sexual maturity is considered to take ve years or more. They forage mainly on crustaceans and small sh, and are at the top of the trophic chain in stream ecosystems in Japan (Matsui & Hayashi, 1992;Matsui et al, 2008;Browne et al, 2014). However, recent climate and land use changes, as well as competition with the alien Chinese-originated Andrias sp.…”