Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative: Midwest Region Active

Populations of amphibians have been declining around the world (Stokstad 2004). The US Geological Survey is working to understand the extent and causes of such declines via the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI). We are conducting research in support of this program in the Midwest Region of ARMI. Our offices and laboratories are at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Creation and Development of ARMI at the National Level

• The Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) was created in 2000 to study the status of populations of amphibians and the causes of declines. The US Geological Survey (USGS) was given primary responsibility for executing this initiative.

• This effort is focused primarily on lands managed by the Department of the Interior (DOI) (Figure 1).

• USGS developed a conceptual working model of how best to accomplish the goals of ARMI (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Lands managed by the Department
of the Interior

Figure 2: ARMI conceptual pyramid
developed by the US Geological Survey
 

• Information obtained from the different levels of the ARMI pyramid will be integrated to evaluate the statuses of populations.

• This integrated approach enables ARMI scientists to characterize and monitor the statuses of populations, formulate hypotheses about causes of any declines observed, test these hypotheses through specific studies, and draw conclusions about causes of declines. 
   
• Surveying and monitoring are expected to provide sound scientific data that will enable ARMI scientists to characterize and monitor the statuses of populations, formulate hypotheses about causes of any declines observed, test these hypotheses through specific studies, and draw conclusions about causes of declines and the persistence of populations. 
   
• Partnerships are an integral component of ARMI. Researchers from a variety of organizations (e.g., the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program, the US Forest Service, State Heritage Programs, State Departments of Natural Resources, and nongovernmental organizations) will contribute data, especially to the lower levels of the pyramid, largely from surveys and monitoring conducted on lands that are not federally owned.
   
• Results from ARMI add considerably to our knowledge of populations of amphibians and the environmental factors that affect them.
   
• Such knowledge enables people who establish public policy and manage natural resources to make more informed decisions.

   Figure 3: Seven regions of ARMI

Midwest Region of ARMI

• The conterminous United States are divided into seven regions of study under ARMI
  (Figure 3).

• Scientists from USGS Science Centers coordinate and conduct work under ARMI in each region.
   

• Staff at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) in La Crosse, Wisconsin, are responsible for executing ARMI in the 13 states of the Midwest Region (UMR of ARMI, also known as the North Central Region).
   

• Approximately 89 species and subspecies of amphibians live in the UMR of ARMI (Table 1; Figure 4) (Conant and Collins 1998; Lannoo 1998; Fischer et al. 1999; Potts et al. 1999; Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks 2003; Kentucky State Nature Preserve Commission 2003; NatureServe 2004; University of Nebraska 2004).

Figure 4: Distribution of species in the Midwest Region of ARMI

Figure 5: Lands managed by the Department
of the Interior in the Midwest Region

• Most populations of these species do not live on federal lands; fewer still live on the subset of federal lands managed by the DOI. (Figure 5 )

Overarching Goal of ARMI in the Upper Mississippi River

• Continue to develop the infrastructure, studies, and partnerships necessary to address ARMI’s core goals and objectives.

Approach

• Address the goals of ARMI by approaches described in the ARMI pyramid.
   
• Address the core elements of ARMI by surveying and monitoring populations of various species.
   
• Work with other organizations to obtain relevant data to allow a broader assessment of populations across the UMR of ARMI.
   
• Complement data from surveys and monitoring by assessing potential causes of previous and future declines.
   
• Conduct our work in locations and by methods that maximize our ability to gather high-quality data and provide direct benefits to resource managers and decision makers.

Literature Cited

Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. Reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., New York. 616 pp.

Fischer, T. D., D. C. Backlund, K. F. Higgins, and D. E. Naugle. 1999. A field guide to South Dakota Amphibians. Bulletin 733. South Dakota State University. 52 pp.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. 2003. Species at risk. Available online at http://www.gpnc.org/threaten.htm.

Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. 2003. Endangered, threatened, and special concern list search. http://nrepcapps.ky.gov/ksnpc/etsquery.asp.

Lannoo, M. J. 1998. Status and conservation of midwestern amphibians. University of Iowa Press, Iowa City. 507 pp.

NatureServe. 2004. NatureServe Explorer, an online encyclopedia of life. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/.

Potts, G., J. T. Collins, and K. Shaw. 1999. A checklist of the vertebrate animals of Kansas. 2nd edition. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Lawrence. 50 pp.

University of Nebraska. 2004. Reptiles and amphibians of Nebraska. http://snrs.unl.edu/herpneb/.