Amphibians

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Mountain Yellow-legged Frog
Amphibian Species Spotlight


[Copyright: Chris Brown, USGS]

Rana muscosa

DESCRIPTION: Small frog (2-3'') typically of light color with dark splotches on back. The lower abdomen and underside of hindlegs are usually yellow or orange

HABITAT: Wet meadows, streams, and lakes. Frequently close to water.

DISTRIBUTION: Southern Sierra Nevadas of eastern California with a disjunct southern population in southern California.

STATUS: Rare and declining. Endangered in California.

RESOURCE: AmphibiaWeb

Focus on Amphibians

Amphibian populations are in decline in many areas of the world.
In cities and in natural areas, in rainforests and in wetlands, countless areas which previously hosted a range of healthy amphibian populations now have fewer - or even no - frogs, toads, and salamanders. Although healthy populations of some species may exist elsewhere, in some cases, a few species - including Costa Rica's Monteverde golden toad and Australia's Gastric brooding frog - are now believed extinct.

How can you help?
Several amphibian conservation organizations and initiatives are working to stop amphibian declines.

Amphibian Facts

Frogs and toads, salamanders, and caecilians are members of the Class Amphibia.

Of the world's seven continents, only Antarctica has no native amphibian species.

The continental United States is home to at least 230 amphibian species: 90 frog and toad species, and 140 species of salamanders.

In the U.S., declines in amphibian populations are particularly serious in California, the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest, and Puerto Rico. Worldwide, decline "hot spots" also include Australia and Central America.

Amphibian malformations - extra limbs, malformed or missing limbs, and facial malformations - have been documented in 44 states, and involve nearly 60 species. In some local populations, up to 60% of the amphibians exhibit malformations.

Issue Overviews for Amphibian Populations, Distributions, and Life Histories

Showing 10 of 95 ( Show All )

An evaluation of three aquatic sampling techniques for amphibians: implications for inventory and monitoring project design
Description: Web version of a poster presenting an evaluation of research methods used as part of the USGS Southeastern Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI).
Resource Type: Image Galleries, Issue Overviews, Journal Articles
Resource Format: URL
Publisher: United States Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center (USGS FISC)

Effects of predatory fish on Rana capito and Rana sphenocephala larvae
Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of predatory fish on the survival and behavior of Leopard Frog and Gopher Frog tadpoles.
Resource Type: Image Galleries, Issue Overviews, Journal Articles
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: United States Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center (USGS FISC)

Using Artificial Refugia to Sample Hylid Frogs in Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge An evaluation of three aquatic sampling techniques for amphibians: implications for inventory and monitoring project design
Description: Web version of a poster presenting an evaluation of research methods used as part of the USGS Southeastern Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI).
Resource Type: Image Galleries, Issue Overviews, Journal Articles
Resource Format: URL
Publisher: United States Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center (USGS FISC)

Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative, Midwest Region Current Research Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Description: An overview of research activities conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative, Midwest Region in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan.
Resource Type: Bibliographies and Web Indexes, Case Studies, Issue Overviews, Monitoring Protocols
Resource Format: URL
Publisher: Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

A message from the frogs (PDF, 2 pp., 223.91)
Description: The harlequin frogs of tropical America are at the sharp end of climate change. About two-thirds of their species have died out, and altered patterns of infection because of changes in temperature seem to be the cause.
Resource Type: Issue Overviews
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: James Cook University in Tropical Northern Queensland, Australia

A Molecular Phylogenetic Study of the Genus Ribeiroia (Digenea): Trematodes Known to Cause Limb Malformations in Amphibians
Description: The species Ribeiroia cause severe limb malformations and elevated mortality in amphibians. In order to get a better understanding of this species, specimens were collected for research from much of their known range.
Resource Type: Issue Overviews, Journal Articles
Resource Format: PDF, URL
Publisher: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EBIO), a department in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder

Alaska's Amphibians and Reptiles - Review of First Statewide Conference
Description: Article reviewing the First Statewide Conference held in Alaska bringing together scientists to share knowledge and research efforts on frogs, salamanders, and toads in Alaska.
Resource Type: Announcements and News Articles, Issue Overviews
Resource Format: URL
Publisher: Alaska Fish and Wildlife News, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Alliance Works to Save Frogs from Extinction
Description: Radio interview with Joseph Mendelson III, curator of herpetology, Zoo Atlanta, and acting executive officer, Amphibian Specialist Group, World Conservation Union. The discussion centered around the world decline of amphibians, the steps needed to protect amphibians and the further work that needs to be done. Mr. Mendelson also discussed the proposal for a global organization called the Amphibian Survival Alliance. (Summarized from the interview.) Listeners will need Real Player or Windows Media Player.
Resource Type: Announcements and News Articles, Issue Overviews
Resource Format: .ra, .wav, URL
Publisher: National Public Radio

Amphibian Decline Phenomenon
Description: Explanations and hypotheses to reason why there is major amphibian declines worldwide.
Resource Type: Issue Overviews
Resource Format: URL
Publisher: University of California, Berkeley

Amphibian Declines
Description: A concise overview of recent observed amphibian declines and malformations phenomena, intended as a topical introduction for an audience unfamiliar with the issues.
Resource Type: Issue Overviews
Resource Format: URL
Publisher: Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency

( Show All )

Amphibians in the News

In pictures [Sat Feb 06 02:54:10 EST 2010]
The troubles faced by the world's largest amphibian

Endangered tiny toads in captivity are homeless in wild - Mother Nature Network [Tue Feb 02 15:37:15 EST 2010]

Mother Nature Network

Endangered tiny toads in captivity are homeless in wild
Mother Nature Network
The tiny amphibians were also attacked by pandemic of chytrid fungus, which has wiped out at least 120 species worldwide. And so, scientists sprung into ...

and more »

Winning Battles But Losing the War on Invasive Alien Species - Environment News Service [Thu Feb 04 04:48:55 EST 2010]

Environment News Service

Winning Battles But Losing the War on Invasive Alien Species
Environment News Service
The pathogenic chytrid fungus, for instance, entirely unknown until 1998, is thought to be the cause of the decline and extinction of many amphibians around ...

and more »

7 terrific toad survival tactics [Thu Feb 04 19:48:32 EST 2010]

They're everywhere! Toads have been able to populate most of the world's continents in the relative blink of an eye. Now scientists have figured out seven factors responsible for the toads' success.

Health - Medicine - Ophthalmology - Medical Specialties - Recreation

Watch out for alien invaders - G-Online [Sun Jan 31 23:17:42 EST 2010]

G-Online

Watch out for alien invaders
G-Online
Similarly, the chytrid fungus, which was entirely unknown until 1998, is thought to be the cause of the decline and extinction of many amphibian populations ...

How Toads Conquered the World [Slide Show] - Scientific American [Fri Feb 05 16:37:11 EST 2010]

Scientific American

How Toads Conquered the World [Slide Show]
Scientific American
Climate change is making life more difficult for specialized amphibians of all kinds, and amphibian chytrid fungus, an infection that is helping to wipe out ...

and more »

Close encounters with Japan's 'living fossil' [Sat Feb 06 10:18:11 EST 2010]

Giant salamander: Human threat, human promise [Sat Feb 06 10:18:04 EST 2010]

Japan's giant salamanders [Sat Feb 06 10:17:50 EST 2010]

Bristol Zoo Gardens Announces the Top 10 "At Risk" Species at the Zoo [Sat Feb 06 10:17:32 EST 2010]

Giant salamanders: Meet the world's biggest amphibian [Thu Feb 04 10:04:13 EST 2010]

Close encounters with Japan's 'living fossil' [Thu Feb 04 10:03:59 EST 2010]

Invasive species threat growing globally, experts warn - The Guardian [Fri Jan 22 06:14:41 EST 2010]

The Guardian

Invasive species threat growing globally, experts warn
The Guardian
... now endangered because of a surge in the number of rats, while the chytrid fungus is spreading around the world causing massive declines in amphibians. ...

and more »

Kihansi Spray Toad on Exhibit at Wildlife Conservation Society's ... [Wed Feb 03 11:16:32 EST 2010]

Bronx Zoo puts 'extinct' frogs on display [Wed Feb 03 11:16:21 EST 2010]

Endangered tiny toads in captivity are homeless in wild [Wed Feb 03 11:16:14 EST 2010]

Disappearing Ducks? North America's Prairie Potholes Vulnerable to Warming Climates [Mon Feb 01 09:30:00 EST 2010]

The loss of wetlands in the prairie pothole region of central North America due to a warmer and drier climate will negatively affect millions of waterfowl that depend on the region for food, shelter and raising young, according to research published today in the journal BioScience.

The new research shows that the region appears to be much more sensitive to climate warming and drying than previously thought.

?The impact to the millions of wetlands that attract countless ducks to these breeding grounds in spring makes it difficult to imagine how to maintain today?s level of waterfowl populations in altered climate conditions,? said Dr. Glenn Guntenspergen, a U.S. Geological Survey researcher and one of the report authors. ?Parents may not have time to raise their young to where they can fly because of wetlands drying up too quickly in the warming climate of the future,? he added.

A new wetland model developed by the authors to understand the impacts of climate change on wetlands in the prairie pothole region projected major reductions in water volume, shortening of the time water remains in wetlands and changes to wetland vegetation dynamics in this 800,000-square kilometer region in the United States (North and South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota and Iowa) and Canada.

Many wetland species -- such as waterfowl and amphibians -- require a minimum time in water to complete their life cycles. For example, most dabbling ducks -- such as mallards and teal-- require at least 80 to 110 days of surface water for their young to grow to where they can fly and for breeding adults to complete molting, the time when birds are flightless while growing new feathers. In addition, an abundance of wetlands are needed because breeding waterfowl typically isolate themselves from others of the same species.

?Unfortunately, the model simulations show that under forecasted climate-change scenarios for this region (an increase of 4-degrees Celsius), the western prairie potholes will be too dry and the eastern ones will have too few functional wetlands and nesting habitat to support historical levels of waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species,? said Dr. W. Carter Johnson, another study author and a researcher at South Dakota State University.

The authors noted that their model allowed a more comprehensive analysis of climate change impacts across the northern prairies because it simultaneously examined the hydrology and vegetation dynamics of the wetland complex, which are both important for the wildlife that depend on the prairie potholes for part or all of their life cycles.

?Our results indicate that the prairie wetlands are highly vulnerable to climate warming, and are less resilient than we previously believed,? said Guntenspergen. ?All but the very wettest of the historic boom years for waterfowl production in the more arid parts of the prairie pothole region may be bust years in a 4-degrees Celsius warmer climate.?

These findings may serve as a foundation for managers and policy makers to develop management plans to prepare for and adapt to climate change in the prairie pothole region.

The article, Prairie wetland complexes as landscape functional units in a changing climate, was published in BioScience (60[2]:128-140) and authored by researchers with South Dakota State University, the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Montana, St. Olaf College, The Desert Research Institute-University of Nevada, and the University of Idaho.

[Access images for this release at: &amp;lt;a href="http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2010_02_01" mce_href="http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2010_02_01"&amp;gt;http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2010_02_01&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;]

Observatory: No Place Like Foam for Tropical Frogs [Tue Feb 02 00:19:52 EST 2010]
There are hundreds of species of frogs that build their nest out of foam, as a home for eggs or larvae.

Saving Tiny Toads Without a Home [Thu Feb 04 22:27:23 EST 2010]
Conservationists who have worked for years to sustain the Kihansi spray toad are unsure it can survive if it is returned to the wild.

World Wetlands Day too late for spray toad? - Natural History Museum [Tue Feb 02 07:15:18 EST 2010]

Natural History Museum

World Wetlands Day too late for spray toad?
Natural History Museum
... toad's numbers have gone from an estimated 20000 to a probable 0 due to human activities (power generation and pesticides) and disease (chytrid fungus). ...

and more »