Ribbit, Ribbit ! Who’s That Calling in the Night ?

Ten Years of Nocturnal Amphibian

Monitoring in Central Texas

Kathy McCormack

&

Sue Anderson

Texas Master Naturalist Conference

October 26, 2018

What We Will Present Today

• Worldwide Amphibian Monitoring

• Our Amphibian Monitoring Project

• Our Species of Interest

• Our Cumulative Data – Ten Years

• Adopt-a-Frog-Pond Protocol

• Some of the “Rules of Frogging”

• Fun Open Questions for Future Detailed Investigations

• References & Contacts

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WorldwideAmphibian Monitoring

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History: InternationalAmphibian Decline and Call to Action

• 1989 First World Congress of Herpetology• Offered the first worldwide comprehensive assessment of populations• Papers documented significant declines in species and ranges• Recommended more funding and more rigorous studies

• 2004 IUCN* World Conservation Union Research Report• 3 Year Global Amphibian Assessment – 32% threatened with extinction• “…. drastic declines” due in part to habitat degradation and disease• Established “Conservation Actions” to address threatened species

• Consistent Emphasis: Environmental Health Indicator Species

* International Union for Conservation of Nature

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History: USAAmphibian Decline and Call to Action

• 1997 – NAAMP (North American Amphibian Monitoring Program)• Developed by USGS*, a stratified random block monitoring of drive lines, intended

to gather consistent, scientifically valid information by trained citizens and scientists• This program designed and administered the field protocol

• 1998 – Frogwatch USA - established by USGS and in 2002 transferred to NWF (National Wildlife Federation) as a

• Citizen science volunteer initiative to conduct sustained monitoring of specific sites• To educate and motivate people to appreciate amphibians in their environment

• 2005 – ARMI (Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative) - a ten year program established by US Congress funding USGS professionals

• To assess the status of amphibians in the US• Identify factors which might be causing declines• Provide a series of analysis and results publications

* United States Geological Survey

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Our Amphibian Monitoring Project

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We Have Seen Many Changes

• Monitoring sites have changed and increased

• Number of participants has grown

• Data collection and reporting has evolved

• Program sponsorship and leadership has varied

• Species names have changed, several times!

• However, we still consider ourselves an “Adopt-a-Frog-Pond” activity

• We emphasize the importance of citizen science, outreach, and inclusion

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National Programs

Where Our Project “Lived” At First

Texas Programs

Data

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Data Collections

TXNDD

Where Our Project “Fits In” TodayTexas

Programs

Data

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Our Data Can Now Be in TXNDD

• The Texas Natural Diversity Database (TXNDD) was established in 1983 and is a member program in the NatureServe network

• The NatureServe network consists of state, provincial, and national member programs dedicated to collecting, managing, and disseminating biological information using a standardized methodology

• The mission of the TXNDD is to manage and disseminate scientific information on rare species (Species of Greatest Concern), native plant communities, and animal aggregations for defensible, effective conservation action

• Observations in TXNDD become part of the database-of-record from which data can be requested to “facilitate conservation planning, natural resources management, and the design and implementation of ecologically sound development projects”

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Our Project Is Part of Current Texas Species Monitor Programs

• Since 2015, our research grade iNaturalistobservations have been added to the Herps of Texas project

• In the last 5.5 years, TPWD Texas Nature Trackers (TNT) researchers sourced 3,800 observations from the iNaturalist Herps of Texas project to the TXNDD

• We encourage everyone to:• Submit your amphibian monitoring data to iNaturalist

• Join the iNaturalist Herps of Texas project

because observations that meet all data quality and completeness criteria and have been curated can be added to the TXNDD

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Our Amphibian Monitoring Project• Kathy McCormack and Sue Anderson attended

separate TPWD Amphibian Workshops

• Kathy started monthly nocturnal amphibian monitoring at Riata Pond (north Austin) in 2008

• Current Site Coordinators:• Berry Springs Preserve – Kathy McCormack since 2009

• Riata Pond and Lake Creek Dam – Sue Anderson since 2009

• Bauerle Ranch Park – Jerry Mayfield since 2010

• Mary Moore Searight Park – Jerry Mayfield since 2010

• Devine Lake – Beth Duncan since 2014

• Hundreds of people have participated in monitoring at these six sites

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Sites with Monitoring Data

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CAMN* “Weekly Reader” Emailand

GWMN* Online Volunteer Events Calendar

• How we announce locally

• Project qualifies for Master Naturalist volunteer hours

• Announcement includes:

• Link to full description of the project

• VMS Code

• Date, location, and start time

EXAMPLE:

Texas Amphibian Watch - Nocturnal Monitoring

Click this link (http://bit.ly/1nD8ivz) for a story map with contact information and directions to all five CAMN locations.

VMS Category: FR: Amphibian Watch: monthly amphibian survey

April7 – Devine Lake – 7:55 PM

14 – Lake Creek Dam – 7:55 PM21 – Berry Springs Preserve – 8:00 PM21 – Bauerle Ranch Park – 8:00 PM28 – Mary Moore Searight Park– 8:05 PM

May5 – Devine Lake – 8:10 PM

12 – Lake Creek Dam – 8:15 PM19 – Berry Springs Preserve – 8:20 PM19 – Bauerle Ranch Park – 8:20 PM26 – Mary Moore Searight Park– 8:25 PM

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* Capital Area Master Naturalist,Good Water Master Naturalist

Website Intro Page

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Schedule & Contact Info for Each Site

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Directions for Each Site

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Our Speciesof Interest

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Who Do We Detect the Most?• Our “Big Twelve”

• Gulf Coast Toad• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog• Gray and Cope’s Gray Tree Frogs• Green Tree Frog• Cajun Chorus Frog• Strecker’s Chorus Frog• Cliff and Rio Grande Chirping Frogs• Western Narrow-mouthed Toad• Rio Grande Leopard Frog• American Bullfrog

• The following species description slides are courtesy of our mentors, Lee Ann Linam and Marsha May, both now retired from TPWD

Thank you, ladies !!!

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Gulf Coast ToadIncilius nebulifer (was Bufo valliceps)

Page 19

Size: 2 – 5 in.

Breeding season: March - Sept. w / rain

Breeding habitat: temporary & permanent wetlands in many habitats

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Blanchard’s Cricket FrogAcris blanchardi

Size: 5/8 – 1 3/8 in.

Breeding season: March -August

Breeding habitat: ponds and streams with sparsely-vegetated edges

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Gray Tree Frog

Hyla chrysoscelisHyla versicolor

Cope’s Gray Tree Frog

Linda Lowenthal

Size: 2 – 3 ¼ in.

Breeding season: April- Sept. w / rain

Breeding habitat: temporary wetlands in sandy soil habitats

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Green Tree FrogHyla cinerea

Size: 1 ¼ - 2 ¼ in.

Breeding season: March – Oct.

Breeding habitat: permanent wetlands, especially emergent wetlands and swamps

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Cajun Chorus FrogPseudacris fouquettei

© Terry Hibbitts

Size: ¾ - 1 3/8 in.

Breeding season: Nov. - May

Breeding habitat: woodland wetlands

This frog in Texas was formerly called the striped, western, and/or upland chorus frog. It was previously classified as P. triseriata and P. feriarum.

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Strecker’s Chorus FrogPseudacris streckeri

Size: 1 – 1 5/8 in.

Breeding season: Nov. -April

Breeding habitat: small wetlands in woods, ravines & fields

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Cliff Chirping FrogEleutherodactylus marnockii

Size: ¾ - 1 ½ in.

Breeding season: Feb.-Dec., with peaks in April & May

Breeding habitat: lay eggs in moist cracks and crevices in limestone hills and canyons

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Rio Grande Chirping FrogEleutherodactylus cystignathoides

© Terry Hibbitts

Size: 5/8 - 1 in.

Breeding season: April & May

Breeding habitat: lay eggs in moist soil and tropical plants

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Western Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne olivacea

Size: 7/8 – 1 ½ in.

Breeding season: April- Sept. after good rain

Breeding habitat: temporary rain-filled wetlands

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Lithobates (Rana) berlandieriRio Grande Leopard Frog

Size: 2-4 in.

Breeding season: year-round

Breeding habitat: permanent wetlands

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American BullfrogLithobates (Rana) catesbeianus

Size: 3 ½ - 6 in.

Breeding season: Feb. – Oct.

Breeding habitat: large, permanent water bodies

© Terry Hibbitts

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Quiz Time !!!

• We will replay calls of eight of the previous amphibians

• How Many Can You Recognize??

• There will be a ‘Bonus Points Recording’ at the end

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Quiz Time !!!

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

• Green Tree Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

• Green Tree Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

• Green Tree Frog

• Rio Grande Chirping Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

• Green Tree Frog

• Rio Grande Chirping Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

• Green Tree Frog

• Rio Grande Chirping Frog

• Western Narrow-mouthed Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

• Green Tree Frog

• Rio Grande Chirping Frog

• Western Narrow-mouthed Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

• Green Tree Frog

• Rio Grande Chirping Frog

• Western Narrow-mouthed Frog

• Rio Grande Leopard Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

• Green Tree Frog

• Rio Grande Chirping Frog

• Western Narrow-mouthed Frog

• Rio Grande Leopard Frog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Gulf Coast Toad

• Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

• Gray Tree Frog

• Green Tree Frog

• Rio Grande Chirping Frog

• Western Narrow-mouthed Frog

• Rio Grande Leopard Frog

• American Bullfrog

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Quiz Time !!!

• Bonus – there are FIVE species calling in this one-minute recording from a storm water pond in Leander, TX on March 30, 2018 – can you identify them ?

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Quiz Time !!!

• Bonus – there are FIVE species calling in this one-minute recording from a storm water pond in Leander, TX on March 30, 2018 – can you identify them ?

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Quiz Time !!!

• Bonus – there are FIVE species calling in this one-minute recording from a storm water pond in Leander, TX on March 30, 2018 – can you identify them ?

• Rio Grande Leopard Frog, Blanchard’s Cricket Frog, and Cope’s Gray Tree Frog are calling throughout; Green Tree Frog can be heard at 0:29 - 1:00, and Western Narrow-mouthed Toad can be heard at 0:38 - 0:56

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Our Cumulative Data –Ten Years

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Call Index (aka, Call Intensity, or CI)

0*– Amphibians seen, but no individuals calling

1 – Individuals can be counted; there is space between individual calls

2 – Calls of individuals can still be distinguished, but there is some overlapping of calls between individuals

3 – Full chorus; calls are constant, continuous, and overlapping; cannot distinguish between individuals

See References 1 and 2 for more information

A measure of relative abundance

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All Sites, All Years, Max Call Index

# Sites Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Frog/Toad SpeciesGulf Coast Toad (Incilius nebulifer) 5 0* 0* 3 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 0*

Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi ) 5 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 0* 0*

Cope's Gray Tree Frog (Hyla chrysocelis) 3 2 3 2 2

Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor) 2 1 1

Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinerea) 5 3 3 3 3 3 2

Cajun Chorus Frog (Pseudacris fouquettei ) 1 1

Strecker's Chorus Frog (Pseudacris streckeri) 1 3 3

Cliff Chirping Frog (Eleutherodactylus marnockii) 3 0* 0* 1 1 2 2 3 1 2 1

W. Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne olivacea) 3 3 2 2 2 3 1 1

Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri) 5 1 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 2 2

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) 5 0* 2 2 1 3 2 2 1 1 1 0* 0*

Number of Species / Month 5 6 5 10 9 8 8 7 7 7 5 4

Peak Call Index Values in Listening Hour of Any Site [2008 - 2017]

Analysis: Summarized by Sue Anderson (CAMN)

(likely + Rio Grande Chirping Frog, E. cystignathoides )

Call Note: 0* = clearly seen or in-hand

Counties: Travis & Williamson / Sites: Bauerle Ranch Pk; Berry Springs Pk; Devine Lake Pk; Riata Pond/Lake Creek Dam; Mary More Searight Pk

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Species Detail for One Site

[YEAR] /

MonthJan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

[2009] 2 2 2 1 0* 0* 2 3 2 2

[2010] 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 1 1 1 2

[2011] 1 2 2 1 1

[2012] 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 3 3 0* 1

[2013] 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 3 2

[2014] 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1

[2015] 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

[2016] 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1

[2017] 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 0*

Berry Springs Max CI Values Rio Grande Leopard Frog

Call Note: 0* = clearly seen or in-hand

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Considering the Data

• What Are We Learning from Ten Years of Data?• Just starting to analyze for

• comparisons such as between-site differences and

• possible trends such as same site changes over time

• Monitoring only once a month can make ‘trending’ suspect due to chance variability in environmental conditions

• Impressions:• Detecting more Chirping Frogs every year

• Many frogs/toads call most of the year in Central Texas

• Have some species differences even in our small region

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Adopt-a-Frog-Pond Protocol

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Amphibian Monitoring

Teams Are Good !• Safety in numbers

• Not everyone has to be there every month

• More eyes and ears to see and hear more things

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Amphibian MonitoringSite Coordinators Are Key

• Sends out reminder email a few days before monitoring

• Brings the monitoring “kit” that night

• Enters the data into iNaturalist (iNat)

• Sends out a summary report email afterwards With a link to the iNaturalist Journal post

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Amphibian Monitoring “Kit”

• Smart phone with installed camera, recorder, iNat apps• An external microphone on a

cable is a nice plus

• A digital camera and/or digital recorder could also be used

• One or two thermometers (armored, meter, or infrared)

• Rag (to dry off the one thermometer between water/air readings, if needed)

• Flashlight and/or headlamp• A red filter is a nice plus

• Optional• Watch

• Clipboard and datasheet

• White bucket, net, ruler

• Amphibian field guide

• Amphibian calls on smart phone or CD player

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (for after monitoring)

• Rubber boots, bug shirt, hat

• A bat detector and black light provide additional fun

• Sunscreen is NOT needed

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Smart Phone Recording Apps

• Any app you like that records in .mp3, .mp4, or .wav

• iPhone examples:• AudioCopy from Retronyms

• RØDE Rec from RØDE Microphones

• Voice Record Pro from Dayana Networks Ltd

• Android Phone examples:• RecForge II from Dje073

• Hi-Res Audio Recorder from StereoMatch

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Amphibian Monitoring Process

The “Olden Days”: Currently:

Determined abundance by listening (Call Index)

Still listen and note relative abundance (Call Index)

Maintained our own spreadsheets of data

Still maintain our own spreadsheets of data

Documented observations on paper

Document observations (photos/recordings) with smart phone apps

Reported listening data to TPWD annually and TPWD published an annual report

Submit observations monthly to iNaturalist and publish iNaturalist Journal posts

We have modified our process over the years

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Our Monitoring Data Fields

• Session “Environmental” Readings:• Number of observers (participants)

• Monitoring duration (hours and minutes)

• Air temperature (F or C)

• Water temperature (F or C)

• Sky (e.g., clear, cloudy, showers)

• Water level (e.g., below avg, avg, above avg)

• Relative humidity at sunset (%)

• Per Species Observed:• Call Intensity (0 – 3)

• Count of individuals observed (if appropriate)

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iNaturalist Herps of Texas Project and TXNDD Observations

• To have a Research Grade observation added to the Herps of Texas project you must:• Identify the animal to species level• Provide a verifiable photo or sound file• Gain project curator approval

• Critical Herps of Texas project and TXNDD observation data fields include:• Location accuracy (< 500 m)• Air Temperature (F or C)• Call Intensity (0 – 3)• Count of Individuals Observed (if appropriate)• Distance Between all Individuals (m, if appropriate)

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iNaturalist App In a NutshellAn Observation: records an encounter with an individual organism at a particular time and location

From: iNaturalist.org / “Getting Started”65

iNaturalist Webpage

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Making Our Field Observations

• Must have photo and/or sound recording to be considered Research Grade by iNaturalist curators

• In the field, we collect our data using:o Smart phone camera appo Smart phone recording appo Paper datasheet

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Reporting Our Observations• At home, we

• Transfer photo files to desktop or edit on phone

• Transfer sound files to desktop via Dropbox or Google Drive

• Enter observations, with photos and/or sound files, into iNaturalist website• From desktop (photos and sound files)

• From iNaturalist smart phone app (photos only)

• Write an iNat Journal post to report the monitoring event

• Associate observations with the Journal post

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Maintaining Our Observations• At home, we

• Transfer paper field data to our Excel site spreadsheets

• Update participant data in our Excel site spreadsheets

• Write and Email a short ‘report’ to our site contact list with a link to the detailed iNaturalist Journal post

• The ONLY complete and continuous record of our 10 years of Adopt-a-Frog-Pond activity is our own spreadsheet data

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Considering Our Process

• Compiling this presentation provided an opportunity to ‘collect and reflect’

• What does evolution in protocol / process imply?• Continue field monitoring the same way?

• Find time to add new approaches as well?

• Change our reporting process?

• Join an additional national program?

• Our annual end-of-year group planning meeting will address these questions

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Someof the “Rules of Frogging”

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Some of the “Rules of Frogging”

• Courtesy – ask permission to monitor on private property

• Licensing – hunting license, scientific permit, or educational display permit

• Keeping the frogs and toads safe – don’t touch them if you have bug spray on your hands

• Keeping you safe – wash your hands after you’re done holding the frogs and toads

See Reference 3 for more information72

Fun Open Questionsfor Future Detailed Investigations

AKA, Our Challenges …..

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Species Identification

• Closely-related and/or Hybrid Species• Cliff Chirping Frog vs. Rio Grande Chirping Frog

• Rio Grande / Southern / Plains Leopard Frogs

• Western vs. Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toads

• Changes in Range Maps for “Expected” Species• Are species moving from historic range to new habitat?

• What can we see in the literature over time?

• What do current iNaturalist observations imply?

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Species IdentificationPerform Long-Term Intensive Studies

• Cliff / Rio Grande Chirping Frogs:• Nightly recordings

• Detailed per-observation records of environmental conditions

• Analyze sound spectrographs of calls

• Interview, share data with species specialists

• Rio Grande / Southern / Plains Leopard Frogs and

Western / Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toads:• Literature reviews

• Intensive study of iNaturalist observations

• “Bioblitzes” for target species by site location (N<>S) (E<>W)

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Notably Missing Species

• Red-spotted Toad

• Woodhouse’s Toad

• Green Toad

• Why ?• Drought ?

• Habitat loss ?

• Climate change ?

• Competition from species with expanding ranges ?

• Not looking in the right habitat at the right time ?

?

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Notably Missing Species

• Use iNaturalist Resources• Have others observed these species locally?

• Talk to Herps of Texas curators about habitats

• Perform “Species of Interest” Bioblitzes• Concentrate on detecting missing species only

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References

1. TPWD Texas Nature Trackers – Texas Amphibian Watch, https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/amphibian_watch/

2. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP) Protocol Description, https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.protocol

3. TPWD Texas Amphibian Watch – Rules of Frogging, https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/amphibian_watch/frogging_rules/

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Contacts

Kathy McCormack, vefl21@yahoo.com,

512-698-9880

Sue Anderson, weathergal@sbcglobal.net,

512-577-8015

Tania Homayoun,Tania.Homayoun@tpwd.texas.gov

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Comments and Questions

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