Brenda and Rick Solveson, Stephanie Timperley, Rick Tully, Katie Wainke, Dana White, Jenny White, Robbie Wooster

CONTENTS

The worldwide decline in amphibians is a phenomena that is poorly understood and may have significant implications for entire ecosystems. Amphibians have been identified as important indicators of ecosystem health due to their physiology and diversity of ecological requirements. The planetary decline in many species of amphibians has resulted in an increased level of research into their life histories. Scientists and conservation organizations all over the world have initiated monitoring projects to document the status of amphibian populations, to gain insight into why some species are declining and to determine the effects on a larger scale.

In 2000 the Southwest Florida Amphibian Monitoring Network commonly referred to as Frog Watch was established to better understand the status of amphibian populations and to determine the effects of land change on frog populations in Charlotte, Lee and Collier Counties. The program trains volunteers from varied backgrounds to monitor calling frogs during the summer months (one evening during each of June - September). The monitoring season begins with a general orientation and training workshop in April or May. At this workshop new volunteers are provided CD=s for identifying frog calls, standard monitoring forms and general information about frog ecology. Monitoring routes, either new or previously established have ARoute Leaders@ that coordinate the completion of the monitoring forms and provide the information for the comprehensive database of all routes monitored in the region. The ARoute Leaders@ also coordinate their team of volunteers for when and where the monitoring will occur for that route. Having multiple volunteers in addition to the ARoute Leader@ helps to prevent conflicts on monitoring dates and a smooth transition between years if the ARoute Leader@ is unable to continue.

PRECIPITATION SUMMARY

Rainfall in the area is very sporadic where some areas can receive significant precipitation from a specific storm event while other locations in the same general area may receive no rainfall.

FROGWATCH WEB SITE

In an effort to improve communication among volunteers, a web site was set up to help facilitate the network. The site www.frogwatch.net has information about the program, related links on other monitoring efforts, articles on amphibian decline, downloadable monitoring forms, contact information for route leaders among other features. The annual report will also be available as a downloadable product.

General description: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary area, Collier County

Route leader: Maureen Bonness

Route participants: Jean McCollom, Mike Duever, Robbie Wooster, Dick Brewer

Dates monitored in 2001: 6/21, 7/19, 8/16, 9/19

Dates monitored in 2002: 6/19, 7/17, 8/21, 9/19

C-1 Route Summary: This route was monitored for the first time in 2001 and represents an area with high quality wetlands near Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. However, a variety of habitats including uplands and residential areas were monitored. Stop locations were modified slightly in July of 2001 and represent permanent locations thereafter. This route had a relatively high diversity of frogs calling with 13 species detected (Table 1). A notable exception is the Barking Treefrog.

1 Large retention pond between Tippeconoe and Ranger Stadium, 2300 El Jobean, STR 14-40-21

4 North end of S. Rotonda Blvd (NE Corner of West Branch Coral Creek) N26°53.04' W082°16.34'

6 East end of Ann Underwood Dr., West Branch Coral Creek at the weir, N26°51.73' W082°17.06'

10 Corner of Sargassum Rd. and Blue Marlin Circle, N26°50.08' W082°12.57'

12 North end of Chimera Place, adjacent to sand mine, N26°51.60' W082°12.40'

CH-3 Route Summary: CH-3 encorporates a variety of habitats including high marsh, mangrove creeks, brackish marsh, pine flatwoods and freshwater lakes. This route had a relatively high diversity of frog species calling. There were no "non-detects" at this route (Table 4). Data for only one sampling date in June were available for this route in 2002.

Dates monitored in 2002: 6/19, 7/17, 8/21, 9/18

Route L-1 Summary: The detection of calling Cope’s Gray Treefrogs represents a significant departure from its published distribution of the northern third of peninsular Florida where it is a common to abundant species. Chorus Frogs were not detected in 2001or 2002. The Florida Gopher Frog was reported from this site in 2002 and represents the only time this species was heard calling at any route since the project began in 2000. Gopher Frogs are normally expected to be heard calling much earlier in the season.

General description: Pine Island, Matlacha area.

Route L-3 Summary: The detection of bronze and river frog species at this route are dubious and would represent significant range extensions for both species. Pine Island is relatively undisturbed yet this route had the highest frequency of "none detected" which may be related to its being a barrier island.

General description: SR 82 Corridor, Lee County

Route L-4 Summary: The Oak Toad remained the most frequently detected species at this route again in 2002. Pig frog detections increased significantly at this route in 2002.

General description: North River Rd. area west of Alva

Dates monitored in 2001: 6/20, 7/18, 8/15, 9/19

Route L-5 Summary: This route has relatively high frog species diversity with no "non-detects" for any year. A variety of upland and wetland habitats occur along this route with minimal residential or commercial development. The Cuban Treefrog remains the most frequently heard species again in 2002 (Table 9).

Route L-6 Summary: This route could be characterized as urban or outlying suburban. Wetland habitats are probably more ephemeral in this area due to substantial drainage associated with an urban land use. The "none detected" category remains relatively high at this route in 2002.

Route L-7 Summary: The stop locations west of I-75 could be characterized as outlying suburban and those east of I-75 have experienced considerable change in land cover due to residential and university development. The Barking Treefrog, Leopard Frog and Pig Frog were heard during the first two years at this site but not in 2002. The number of species detected has declined each year at this route.

Route L-8 Summary: This route has the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve located to the east of most stops and represents a relatively undisturbed wetland habitat. Ten species were detected with the Pig Frog as the most frequently encountered species in 2001 but declined somewhat in 2002 (Table 11). Larval pig frogs require an extended period of development supported by wetlands having relatively long hydroperiods.

Route L-9 Summary: This route had a mixture of land use types and habitats including pasture, hardwood swamp and residential communities on the East side of Ft. Myers. The diversity of frog species detected was relatively high with 13 species reported (Table 12). The frequency of Narrow-mouthed toads calling increased dramatically at this route in 2002. Spring peepers were heard at this site for the first time and coincide with the first occurrence of this species in Cape Coral at Route L-12. Cuban treefrogs and narrow-mouthed toads increased significantly during 2002.

Route L-10 Summary: This route could be characterized as predominantly residential and commercial development in the urban core area of SW Ft. Myers. No frog species were detected nearly 60% of the time and overall diversity was relatively low.

Route L-11 Summary: Route L-11 encompasses a variety of habitats in a rural area east of Ft.. Myers know as Buckingham. The diversity of frog species calling was relatively high at this site with 12 species detected. Notable exceptions were the Cuban Treefrog and Pinewoods Treefrog.

General description: Central Cape Coral

Route L-12 Summary: Detections of Bird-voiced Treefrog and Ornate Chorus Frog are potentially mistaken call identifications since the reported range for both species does not include south Florida. It is of note that no "non detects" were reported (Table 16). The relative abundance of Spring Peepers is unusual in that this is the only route reporting this species as a dominant species.

Route L-13 Summary: This route includes the south end of the Six Mile Cypress Preserve. The Preserve is dominated by a cypress slough swamp type habitat. Only five stops were monitored.

Assumptions when evaluating the data: Between-year comparisons for the species in Table 18 are potentially misleading and should be assessed with caution. There are several reasons for this. The information (number of routes, and habitat and associated hydrology differences) that the percent frequency of occurrence is determined from in Table 18 is not the same for each year. Additional routes were added to the network in each succeeding year and these new routes may have represented habitat that was favorable or unfavorable for the various frog species therefore creating a "bias". A more valid comparison for evaluating changes in frog diversity and abundance over time should be made at the "route" level comparing changes within a specific route between years. Where routes span relatively large geographic areas (ie.linear routes covering 8 or 10 miles) a more accurate comparison would be between the same "stop" locations over time where habitat homogeneity is more probable and frog species trends in diversity and abundance would be more realistically represented.

Because the database has grown so large, it is not practical to list all of the information in this summary. All of the field data are entered into a Microsoft Access Database. This enables summarizing very specific information gathered from the surveys. For example the database could be queried for species of frogs calling according to date, wind, cloud cover characteristics and other variables listed on the field monitoring forms. Requests for specific queries of the database should be directed to John Cassani (239-694-5844).

Acknowledgment