Amphibian Research and Monitoring in the Appalachian Region

Jung, R.E., Rice, K.C., Dodd, Kenneth, Jr., and Hughes, W.B.

The greatest biological diversity of amphibians north of Mexico occurs in the eastern United States, but amphibian populations in this area are subject to serious threats. Such threats include habitat degradation, fragmentation, and loss, as well as point and nonpoint source pollutants. In response to global concerns for amphibian health and survival, the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) was organized to monitor the status and trends of amphibians within the United States. Although ARMI is national in scope, two of its regions (Northeast and Southeast) encompass the Appalachian Region. Biologists and hydrologists are working together in the program to understand the biological and hydrological factors that affect amphibians and their habitats. The multidisciplinary effort links field research on amphibian life history and population status with water-quality and hydrological data collected at study sites. This poster describes ARMI research in progress in the Appalachian Region, primarily focusing on the Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks.

Jung, R.E., Rice, K.C., Dodd, Kenneth, Jr., and Hughes, W.B., Amphibian Research and Monitoring in the Appalachian Region

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