Search

Since 2008 the commercial trade of Laotriton laoensis has been prohibited in Laos. This is to be welcomed although protection in practice is hardly to be monitored. According to IUCN the species is listed as “Endangered EN”. The species is still threatened by local people by poisonous fishing. The newts are used for food in Laos. Even more problematic is the use in traditional medicine, which can become a serious threat in the medium term despite the trade ban. They are used for example as drugs against respiratory diseases and arthritis. The importance for the international animal trade was repeatedly discussed. Due to the diurnal activity the newts are easily captured. Its size and attractiveness make the newts to a desirable species for the pet trade. However, the report presented here shows that coordinated offspring management is a good way to counter the threats. All possible keepers who are interested in keeping this species should refrain from acquiring wild caught animals.

A method for the quantification of the sum of short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) by GC–ECNI-MS was developed. This method is suited to the special demands of environmental sediment analysis using an approach of sum determination by multiple regression quantification and is independent of the chlorine content as well as robust against changes in C-number distribution of the SCCPs to be analysed. The method is based on the integration of the signals for two selected m/z values (375 and 423) over the full retention range of the SCCPs. The calibration is performed using three synthetic mixtures representing the variety of SCCP-mixtures as found in environmental samples as well as in technical mixtures. Quantification is performed using a multiple linear regression calibration with two selected m/z value signals achieving an LOQ of 0.6 μg/g sediment. The proposed quantification procedure for sediments was verified by 16 independently prepared and differently composed SCCP-mixtures mimicking a variety of sediment samples quoted in literature. For the analysis of the sediment samples a two-step clean-up was applied comprising a column chromatographic clean-up and GPC. The method allows for a standardized analysis according to the European water framework directive, especially in the case of trend monitoring of sediments.