The Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) is a multi-agency, Department of the Interior (DOI) initiative with the objectives of (1) starting long-term monitoring to determine trends in amphibian populations, (2) conducting research into causes of amphibian declines and malformations, and (3) making information on amphibians such as the National Atlas for Amphibian Distributions available to land managers and the public. Highlights and results from the first five years of ARMI were recently summarized in a U. S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report

Amphibians evolved more than 300 million years ago and have survived at least 3 mass extinction events in their long history on earth. Increasing evidence for the decline of amphibian populations worldwide has prompted international efforts to monitor amphibian populations, and determine the causes of their decline. There is a need to link amphibian decline studies with hydrologic investigations that help characterize the quality of amphibian habitat and the vulnerability of that habitat to climate variability, chemical stressors, disease agents, and other human influences.

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program (Toxics) and the National Research Program (NRP) are participating in ARMI. Currently, Toxics and NRP scientists from across the Nation are participating in monitoring and research studies and program coordination with their Biological Resources Division (BRD) counterparts.

Information on the current status of water related ARMI project work and accomplishment is available here.