One-year old boreal toad in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by Erin Muths (USGS).
What is the United States doing about amphibian deformity and decline issues?
In response to indications of worldwide declines in amphibian populations, Interior Department agencies were directed to initiate a national program of amphibian monitoring, research, and conservation. There is an urgent need to determine the scope and severity of the problem and to investigate causes. As a result, the USGS formed the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI). The main goals and objectives of ARMI are to:
- Provide information to natural resource managers on the status and trends of amphibians.
- Relate status and trends to management options at the scale of management units.
- Identify causes of declines.
- Provide essential scientific information to support effective management actions to arrest or reverse declines
Related
What causes deformities in frogs, toads, and other amphibians?
Malformed frogs first came to national attention in 1995. Since that time, reports of malformed frogs and other amphibians have increased dramatically. Malformations have been reported in at least 44 states and in more than 50 species of frogs and toads. Multiple limbs, missing limbs, and facial abnormalities are the main malformations seen. Frog malformations are the result of environmental...
Why are amphibian populations declining?
Research suggests that even though amphibians are severely declining worldwide, there is no smoking gun—and thus no simple solution—to halting or reversing these declines. Though every region in the United States has suffered amphibian declines, threats differ among regions. They include: Human influence from the Mississippi River east, including the metropolitan areas of the Northeast and the...
How many amphibian species are there in the United States?
More than 6,000 amphibian species exist worldwide, with approximately 300 of them found in the United States. The USGS is the lead agency for the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), a program of amphibian monitoring, research, and conservation that was established in response to the worldwide decline of amphibian species.
Young boreal toad in Rocky Mountain National Park
One-year old boreal toad in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by Erin Muths (USGS).
USGS Scientist Conducting Amphibian Research
Dr. Erin Muths (ARMI scientist, USGS) sampling frogs at a field site on Mt. Evans, Colorado.
Dr. Erin Muths (ARMI scientist, USGS) sampling frogs at a field site on Mt. Evans, Colorado.
Measuring a Frog in the Cascades
USGS researchers Brome McCreary (orange vest) and Chris Pearl take measurements on Cascades frog at a mountain lake in Oregon.
USGS researchers Brome McCreary (orange vest) and Chris Pearl take measurements on Cascades frog at a mountain lake in Oregon.
Salamander
An unknown hybrid species of salamander captured in Olympic National Park, Washington.
An unknown hybrid species of salamander captured in Olympic National Park, Washington.
Salamander
An unknown hybrid species of salamander captured in Olympic National Park, Washington.
An unknown hybrid species of salamander captured in Olympic National Park, Washington.
Amphibian in the Southeast, WARC
Amphibian in the Southeast, ARMI, WARC
Amphibian in the Southeast, ARMI, WARC
Surveying Bullfrogs
USGS biologists surveying for bullfrogs at Two Moon Park, Billings, MT.
USGS biologists surveying for bullfrogs at Two Moon Park, Billings, MT.
An invasive American bullfrog with tracking device.
An invasive American bullfrog with tracking device.
An invasive American bullfrog with tracking device.
Weighing a Toad
USGS technician weighing a Yosemite toad in the field.
USGS technician weighing a Yosemite toad in the field.
Advancing ARMI: In Search for Chytrid Fungus
In this episode, we follow a group of students from the Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School on a class trip to Pintail Marsh at the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. There they join USGS ecologist Tara Chestnut to investigate and sample for the amphibian chytrid fungus.
In this episode, we follow a group of students from the Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School on a class trip to Pintail Marsh at the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. There they join USGS ecologist Tara Chestnut to investigate and sample for the amphibian chytrid fungus.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls. Coolecting frog calls allows scientists to determine distribution of species.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls. Coolecting frog calls allows scientists to determine distribution of species.
Black-Bellied Salamander
This black-bellied salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) was found in the Citico Creek Wilderness, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee.
This black-bellied salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) was found in the Citico Creek Wilderness, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee.
Related
What causes deformities in frogs, toads, and other amphibians?
Malformed frogs first came to national attention in 1995. Since that time, reports of malformed frogs and other amphibians have increased dramatically. Malformations have been reported in at least 44 states and in more than 50 species of frogs and toads. Multiple limbs, missing limbs, and facial abnormalities are the main malformations seen. Frog malformations are the result of environmental...
Why are amphibian populations declining?
Research suggests that even though amphibians are severely declining worldwide, there is no smoking gun—and thus no simple solution—to halting or reversing these declines. Though every region in the United States has suffered amphibian declines, threats differ among regions. They include: Human influence from the Mississippi River east, including the metropolitan areas of the Northeast and the...
How many amphibian species are there in the United States?
More than 6,000 amphibian species exist worldwide, with approximately 300 of them found in the United States. The USGS is the lead agency for the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), a program of amphibian monitoring, research, and conservation that was established in response to the worldwide decline of amphibian species.
Young boreal toad in Rocky Mountain National Park
One-year old boreal toad in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by Erin Muths (USGS).
One-year old boreal toad in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by Erin Muths (USGS).
USGS Scientist Conducting Amphibian Research
Dr. Erin Muths (ARMI scientist, USGS) sampling frogs at a field site on Mt. Evans, Colorado.
Dr. Erin Muths (ARMI scientist, USGS) sampling frogs at a field site on Mt. Evans, Colorado.
Measuring a Frog in the Cascades
USGS researchers Brome McCreary (orange vest) and Chris Pearl take measurements on Cascades frog at a mountain lake in Oregon.
USGS researchers Brome McCreary (orange vest) and Chris Pearl take measurements on Cascades frog at a mountain lake in Oregon.
Salamander
An unknown hybrid species of salamander captured in Olympic National Park, Washington.
An unknown hybrid species of salamander captured in Olympic National Park, Washington.
Salamander
An unknown hybrid species of salamander captured in Olympic National Park, Washington.
An unknown hybrid species of salamander captured in Olympic National Park, Washington.
Amphibian in the Southeast, WARC
Amphibian in the Southeast, ARMI, WARC
Amphibian in the Southeast, ARMI, WARC
Surveying Bullfrogs
USGS biologists surveying for bullfrogs at Two Moon Park, Billings, MT.
USGS biologists surveying for bullfrogs at Two Moon Park, Billings, MT.
An invasive American bullfrog with tracking device.
An invasive American bullfrog with tracking device.
An invasive American bullfrog with tracking device.
Weighing a Toad
USGS technician weighing a Yosemite toad in the field.
USGS technician weighing a Yosemite toad in the field.
Advancing ARMI: In Search for Chytrid Fungus
In this episode, we follow a group of students from the Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School on a class trip to Pintail Marsh at the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. There they join USGS ecologist Tara Chestnut to investigate and sample for the amphibian chytrid fungus.
In this episode, we follow a group of students from the Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School on a class trip to Pintail Marsh at the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. There they join USGS ecologist Tara Chestnut to investigate and sample for the amphibian chytrid fungus.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls. Coolecting frog calls allows scientists to determine distribution of species.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls. Coolecting frog calls allows scientists to determine distribution of species.
Black-Bellied Salamander
This black-bellied salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) was found in the Citico Creek Wilderness, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee.
This black-bellied salamander (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) was found in the Citico Creek Wilderness, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee.
Updated Date: March 24, 2025