Conserving regional amphibian populations: Assessing how water quality and land use may affect frog populations in Lehigh Valley, PA

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Janniry Cabrera Belen, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA and Sara J. McClelland, Biological Sciences, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA

Background/Question/Methods
Amphibians are one of the most endangered classes of the Animal Kingdom. A myriad of environmental threats have been found contributing to their decline including chemical pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction. The Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania has had a steady development, population, and economic growth that is expected to continue through 2040, potentially threatening important amphibian habitats in the region. This is the start of an ongoing research project that aims to survey frog habitats in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania to determine how water quality and habitat use are impacting frog populations. Local frog habitats were found through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wetlands Mapper, and site visits were conducted to choose accessible sites. At each site, we measured frog abundance and diversity during calling surveys that occurred on nights with low levels of wind and calm weather. We also measured water quality, contamination, and land use around each habitat.
Results/Conclusions
Between 25 March and 21 April 2021, we located 7 accessible ponds and conducted 3 nights of calling surveys at each pond; we identified 4 frog species (Wood Frogs, American Toads, Spring Peepers, and Pickerel Frogs) that were found at 5 sites; no frogs were found at 2 of the sites. While preliminary analysis shows a weak correlation between frog abundance and road noise, this is an ongoing research project that will require more surveys and sampling to properly determine the impacts of water quality and land use on regional frog populations. As we continue with this project, we are hoping to gain feedback on our design and would be interested in potential collaborations. With increased population growth, knowing how different variables associated with human habitation affect amphibians will be key to being able to conserve amphibian populations throughout the Lehigh Valley and the world.