MA2 Amphibian Research and Monitoring
Ballroom F, Level 4
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Monday, 10 November 2003
Chair: Rostad, Colleen ,
Co-chair: Battaglin, William ,
(011) History, Organization, and Key Elements of the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative.
Corn, P1, Battaglin, W2, Bury, R3, Dodd, Jr, C4, Fellers, G5, Gallant, A6, 1 US Geological Survey, Missoula, MT2 US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO3 US Geological Survey, Corvallis, OR4 US Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL5 US Geological Survey, Point Reyes, CA6 US Geological Survey, Sioux Falls, SD
ABSTRACT- In 2000, in response to a request from the Secretary of the Interior, The US Geological Survey (USGS) began to develop the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI). The primary goals of ARMI are to monitor trends in amphibian populations and to determine the causes of declines. Monitoring is conducted by USGS herpetologists in collaboration with USGS hydrologists, geographers, and statisticians in seven regions across the country. Key elements of monitoring include defining the scope of inference with probability-based study designs, assessment of detectability of each species studied, collaboration with other agencies and groups to extend surveys beyond Department of the Interior lands, and intensive data collection at a few selected study sites. Data collected by ARMI are stored in a national database linked to a web-based mapping tool. Research studies sponsored by ARMI generally address causes of amphibian decline and are either targeted projects or awarded through a competitive process within USGS. One major research emphasis involves application of landscape and habitat modeling. ARMI scientists cooperate with many units of the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management, and other groups, including the Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force.
Key words: monitoring, amphibian