On the journey

To understand the quality of environment or the effects of a restoration, scientist use certain indicator species. The habit and habitat of a particular indicator species is a very useful index to quantify the effectiveness of a conservation project. For example increase in the diversity and species richness of indicator species is good measure of a successful project. To ensure the sustainability of conservation efforts for a long run, researchers mark an individual and follow its activities throughout. Birds and amphibians are usually considered to be the best indicator species.

In Nepal, I have known about marking of rhinos and periodic tracking. In America I came across concept of bird banding. When a particular bird is captured a band is applied on its leg. The band includes a code which is entered in a big database, whenever the same bird is captured somewhere else the band code will deliver all the information about the history of that bird (Follow this link to find more information on bird banding).

Unlike birds anurans have a very small spatial range so they are confined to the same area for rest of their life. Today I attended a seminar by a Herpetologist where he mentioned different ways to mark a particular anuran species. One of the easiest and popular ways he mentioned was toe clipping. Oh yes, cutting the toe of a frog so that it will be easily identified next time. The process is simple and inexpensive, but is that ethical? I know painting on the back of the rhino doesn’t hurt and banding doesn’t seem to bother the birds, but I loathed the idea of toe clipping. Although it’s not proven scientifically that toe clipping affects their survival rate, but still why would someone hurt a species to know how good the environment is? I have dissected earthworms, frogs, and squirrels during my high school but still for some reason I got shivers when I heard about toe clipping. May be the species I dissected were dead and this toe clipped anuran has to live it’s life with it.

Human are the most superior species on earth, so it’s unlikely that some other species will run experiment on them, but what if like in Star Trek some superior species from other planet use human as an ecological indicator for their “Earth’s Restoration Project”. In that case I would be happier to wear a band around my neck than clip my toe.

Banding Picture Source: http://www.audubonmagazine.org/auduboninaction/images/IAbird.jpg
Toad Picture Source: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v431/n7007/images/431403a-f1.0.jpg