New Report Describes Five Years of ARMI

Amphibians have undergone declines worldwide, but no definitive global answer explains why. Amphibians are thought to be environmental indicators, and research suggests potential links between amphibian, human, and ecosystem health. In a recent publication in the scientific journal Applied Herpetology, a team of USGS scientists from across the country, including FORT scientist Erin Muths, report on the five-year-old Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) program. They present the structure, methodology, and progress of ARMI, which is designed to address the issues of amphibian decline at multiple spatial scales in the U.S. They also present preliminary data from part of the program (mid-level monitoring in one of 7 regions) to demonstrate the applicability of their methods and support their novel approach. The ARMI program is currently monitoring 83 amphibian species, or 29% of those in the U.S. Increased awareness and collaboration will further strengthen the program, extending the scope and building on the initial efforts of ARMI. For more information, refer to Muths and others, 2006, Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI): A successful start to a national program in the United States. Applied Herpetology 2:355-371.

 For more information contact: Erin Muths

See Also:

 Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative: Rocky Mountain Region

 

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