Environment’s health revealed by counting frogs, toads

Tom and Beth Aitken, of Vicksburg, say they’ve always been interested in the interconnections between wildlife and the environment. So when the retired couple saw a notice that the state was seeking volunteers to measure environmental health and habitats by tracking amphibians in an annual statewide survey they signed on for training to learn to identify the calls of nine Michigan species of frogs and toads, reports the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Male frogs call to attract mates and establish territory, like birds, they’re easy to identify by their calls, said Lori Sargent, who coordinates the survey for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment.

Excerpt:

Frogs and toads are especially vulnerable to toxins in the water and in their environment because they breathe through their skin, Sargent said.

“They can act like a ‘canary in the coal mine’ and be the first ones to react to serious problems with water quality,” Sargent said.

“Amphibians have been around for millions of years.  If they start disappearing, I think we can assume something catastrophic may be happening to our ecosystems.”

To find out how frogs and toads are doing in Michigan, read the rest of the story.

Source: Kalamazoo Gazette