| AMPHIBIANS |
Amphibians include animals like frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (legless amphibians found in the tropics). All amphibians are four legged,
cold blooded, vertebrates. Many amphibians share a unique lifestyle by which the first half of their life is spent in the water in a tadpole stage and then
eventually move onto land for a more terrestrial adult stage.
Because of their close proximity to water amphibians act as biological indicators. If you are in an pond or stream that features a large quantity and
diversity of amphibians this type of aquatic habitat is likely much safer to swim in, eat fish from, and drink out of in comparison to a water source devoid of
amphibians. Frogs, toads, and salamanders are often referred to as a sort of canary in a coal mine since their loss often signifies that something negative is
impacting the environment around them. Today the world is experiencing a worldwide decline in amphibians populations due to factors like habitat
destruction, invasive species, pollution, over exploitation for the pet trade and food industry, and infectious diseases like chytrid fungus.
Ohio is home to nearly 40 different species of amphibians. Of these approximately a dozen can be found on at least one of the Lake Erie Islands. Similar
to what has happened in other parts of the world the amphibian diversity and abundance on the islands is not what it once was several decades ago due to
human development and pollution. For more specific information on island amphibians click on one of the following links:
Frogs and Toads of the Lake Erie Islands
Salamanders of the Lake Erie Islands
cold blooded, vertebrates. Many amphibians share a unique lifestyle by which the first half of their life is spent in the water in a tadpole stage and then
eventually move onto land for a more terrestrial adult stage.
Because of their close proximity to water amphibians act as biological indicators. If you are in an pond or stream that features a large quantity and
diversity of amphibians this type of aquatic habitat is likely much safer to swim in, eat fish from, and drink out of in comparison to a water source devoid of
amphibians. Frogs, toads, and salamanders are often referred to as a sort of canary in a coal mine since their loss often signifies that something negative is
impacting the environment around them. Today the world is experiencing a worldwide decline in amphibians populations due to factors like habitat
destruction, invasive species, pollution, over exploitation for the pet trade and food industry, and infectious diseases like chytrid fungus.
Ohio is home to nearly 40 different species of amphibians. Of these approximately a dozen can be found on at least one of the Lake Erie Islands. Similar
to what has happened in other parts of the world the amphibian diversity and abundance on the islands is not what it once was several decades ago due to
human development and pollution. For more specific information on island amphibians click on one of the following links:
Frogs and Toads of the Lake Erie Islands
Salamanders of the Lake Erie Islands
AMPHIBIAN RELATED LINKS
1964 publication on the Reptiles and Amphibians of the Lake Erie Islands
OHIO DNR Amphibian website
Save the Frogs!
Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
1964 publication on the Reptiles and Amphibians of the Lake Erie Islands
OHIO DNR Amphibian website
Save the Frogs!
Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
RECOMMENDED READING
Salamanders of Ohio, edited by Ralph A. Pfingsten and Floyd L. Downs. Ohio Biological Survey Bulletin, Volume 7, Number 2, 1989. Includes color
plates of species and habitats. An excellent, thorough treatment of the life history and distribution of all Ohio salamanders.
Atlas of Ohio's Frogs and Toads by Jeffrey G. Davis and Scott A. Menze 2000. From Ohio Biological Survey.
A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, by Roger Conant. Houghton Muffin Co., 1975. Includes color plates
of species, distribution maps, and brief text about each species.
The Audubon Society Field Guide to American Reptiles & Amphibians, by J.L. Behler and F. Wayne King. Alfred A. Knopf, 1979.
Field Guide to the Life and Times of Roger Conant, by Roger Conant. Canyonland Publishing Group, 1997.
Reptiles and Amphibians of the Great Lakes Region. By James H Harding. University of Michigan Press, 1997.
Nested Species Assemblages of Amphibians and Reptiles on Islands in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Hecnar et al. 2002 pdf
Salamanders of Ohio, edited by Ralph A. Pfingsten and Floyd L. Downs. Ohio Biological Survey Bulletin, Volume 7, Number 2, 1989. Includes color
plates of species and habitats. An excellent, thorough treatment of the life history and distribution of all Ohio salamanders.
Atlas of Ohio's Frogs and Toads by Jeffrey G. Davis and Scott A. Menze 2000. From Ohio Biological Survey.
A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, by Roger Conant. Houghton Muffin Co., 1975. Includes color plates
of species, distribution maps, and brief text about each species.
The Audubon Society Field Guide to American Reptiles & Amphibians, by J.L. Behler and F. Wayne King. Alfred A. Knopf, 1979.
Field Guide to the Life and Times of Roger Conant, by Roger Conant. Canyonland Publishing Group, 1997.
Reptiles and Amphibians of the Great Lakes Region. By James H Harding. University of Michigan Press, 1997.
Nested Species Assemblages of Amphibians and Reptiles on Islands in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Hecnar et al. 2002 pdf
IF YOU BUILD IT, WILL THEY COME?
This past October the Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center added a new addition to the wildlife center - a frog pond. Over the last several
decades much of South Bass Island has been developed and this includes the filling in of sources of water where historically amphibians on the island used
to breed. The wildlife center is crossing their fingers that come next year the new save haven will start to attract frogs. The preliminary outlook is good as
before the pond was even done filling up with water several species of birds were spotted getting drinks from the pond. With luck the pond will also
provide new habitat for aquatic insects like dragonflies and aquatic plants.
This past October the Lake Erie Islands Nature and Wildlife Center added a new addition to the wildlife center - a frog pond. Over the last several
decades much of South Bass Island has been developed and this includes the filling in of sources of water where historically amphibians on the island used
to breed. The wildlife center is crossing their fingers that come next year the new save haven will start to attract frogs. The preliminary outlook is good as
before the pond was even done filling up with water several species of birds were spotted getting drinks from the pond. With luck the pond will also
provide new habitat for aquatic insects like dragonflies and aquatic plants.
It started as just a hole in the ground...
But hopefully it will soon become a home for the island frogs!
Check out this time lapse of the frog pond being built
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