Amphibians are declining worldwide. Recently an alarmingly steep decline in abundances of Fire Salamanders was reported in the Netherlands. In 2013 a unique fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, was isolated and shown to be responsible for the observed mortality in the Fire Salamander populations. In a project funded by the relevant Austrian ministry, we are cooperating with schools to study the distribution and encourage the protection of Alpine and Fire Salamanders. Consequently we decided to test some of the Fire Salamander populations around Salzburg for the presence of B. salamandrivorans within the framework of this project. In addition, we involved the school children in collecting samples in order to introduce them to a current topic and to sensitize them to issues of amphibian protection. Of the 58 skin samples of Fire Salamanders from 8 different locations collected in autumn 2013, none tested positive for the presence of B. salamandrivorans. These results suggest that there is no evidence for infected Fire Salamanders in the study areas around Salzburg.

The mixed forest of the locally protected Aigner Park in the city of Salzburg, Austria, is a good example of a perfect fire salamander habitat. It provides ideal habitat conditions for the aquatic and terrestrial life of this threatened amphibian species. It was therefore chosen as the study site for long-term larval monitoring and for defining the best conditions for larval detectability. Monitoring started in 2010 in the Schwarzenbach first-order stream and is still in progress. In 2012, it was possible to show for the first time the dependence of larval detection rates on the time of day and on weather conditions. Hence, nightly counts in the main larval season (April -May), in combination with dry weather conditions, can be recommended for future larval monitoring studies. Involving local school children in the field work raised and increased their awareness of this amphibian species and nature protection in general. Once more it was shown that successful conservation is only possible by involving the public, starting with the children, who are responsible for future protection. Altogether, the Sparkling Science Project turned out to be a perfect way to attain this goal.

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