Southwest Florida Frog Monitoring Network 10 years of change in the frog community of the Estero Bay Watershed Win Everham and John Cassani Florida Gulf Coast University and Lee County Water Hyacinth Control District Frogs – canaries in the coal mine www.lostlaowai.com/.../02/seven-legged-frog1.png www.chemistryexplained.com/images/chfa_03_img http://images.smh.com.au/2009/07/23/646328/frog11%20copy-600x400.jpg Frog Watch – Southwest Florida Amphibian Monitoring Network • started in 2000 • John Cassani and Ellen Lindblad • over 100 volunteers • supported by Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program • Frog Watch http://frogwatch.net/ • North American Amphibian Monitoring Program http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp/ Protocol • sampling • route • environmental factors • calls -150 -100 100 150 200 250 300 350 -50 50 0 Pig Frog Leopard Frog Florida Gopher Frog Percent change change Percent in average call intensity Green Treefrog Routes CH Barking Treefrog Squirrel Treefrog Pinewoods Treefrog - 2000 and 2004 Little Grass Frog 1, L Chorus Frog (FL) -2, L- Cricket Frog (Florida) Southern Toad 4, L Oak Toad E. Spadefoot Toad -5, L- Narrow-mouthed Toad Bull Frog 6, L Giant Toad -7 Cuban Treefrog Greenhouse Frog All native species All exotic species Polar Ordination of 2000 and 2004 data 60 50 L-4 40 L-5 2000 data 30 2004 data L-2 20 10 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 Squirrel TF Relative Abuncance 8 routes Pinewoods TF Relative Abundance at 8 routes 2 1.8 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.2 1 1 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Barking TF Relative Abundance at 8 routes Green TF Relative Abundance 8 Routes 1.2 7 1 6 0.8 5 0.6 4 0.4 3 2 0.2 1 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Cuban TF Relative Abundance 8 routes 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Percent of total relative abundance due to exotics 25 20 15 10 5 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Relative Abundance of Exotics 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 Percent of Total Abundance of Total Percent 6 4 2 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Route 7 2000 - 2009 Cricket Frog Oak Toad 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Barking Treefrog Cuban Treefrog 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Summary • Frog populations fluctuate • Overall frog populations are doing OK • BUT we are documenting loss of species from some place on the lndscape • Developing a site decreases the frog community • Increase in exotic frogs • Need for on-going monitoring • Need for volunteer help Frog Call Quiz.