AY Honors/Amphibians - Advanced/Answer Key

2. Design and carry out a study project based on natural or captive observation of a selected amphibian(s) and write a paper on the conclusions arrived at during the study. The parameters of the study should involve a minimum of 25 hours of actual observation time and no more than a maximum total duration of one season. Intentional harm/death of the study target is not permitted.

Note: Most amphibian species have had very little research carried out on them. It is a field wide open for study of even some of the simplest elements. For example,very little data exists on the seasonal activities of frogs and the climatic factors that influence them. When does chorusing begin and stop, when does it reach its highest volume, what are the atmospheric conditions and variations associated with these? What are the dates for egg laying, hatching, transformation? What are the growth rates, age of sexual maturity, average and maximum longevity, duration of breeding behavior, courtship behavior, rate of dispersal, location of brumation or estivation sites? Little is known about homing ability, territorial maintenance, interaction during breeding and non-breeding times, and many other issues. It is indeed a field wide open to the curious and fascinated.

There are a number of amphibian monitoring programs in the United States at both the federal and state levels. These programs rely on volunteer help to conduct their research. Plug "amphibian monitoring program" into the search engine of your choice to find one near you. You can also check with your state or province's Department of Fish and Game - they are often responsible for non-game wildlife as well. Even if you do not work on one of these projects, it would be good to check with your Fish and Game Department anyway - in some localities it is illegal to collect or harass amphibians (see the notes under requirement 11 of the Amphibians honor for more information.

Here is a list of known programs:

United States

• USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI)
• Arkansas Amphibian Monitoring Program (AAMP)
• Indiana's North American Amphibian Monitoring Program
• Southwest Florida Amphibian Monitoring Network
• Kansas Anuran Monitoring Program (KAMP)
• Maine Amphibian Monitoring Program (MAMP)
• New Hampshire Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program (RAARP)
• Oregon - Amphibian monitoring program
• Tennessee Amphibian Monitoring Program (TAMP)

Canada

• Alberta Amphibian Monitoring Program (AAMP)