What's Hoppin' at Vago?
With the goal to increase the frog and toad diversity in the St. Louis region, Maryland Heights Parks & Recreation partnered with the Saint Louis Zoo this past spring to begin the FrogWatch program at Vago Park.
Beginning in the 1990s, there has been an estimated 2-3 percent decline in the frog and toad populations across the Midwest, according to a national study by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative. Additionally, observations from local frog and toad survey projects around the metro area indicate a possible decrease or even absence of three members of the Hylidae family of frogs and toads. This trend has been noticed in the watersheds located within the I-270 beltway.
“This issue has far reaching effects outside of just Maryland Heights,” said Superintendent of Parks Charlie Milligan. “It’s important for us to be a part of the larger regional community and share in the effort to be sustainable.”
Funded through grants obtained by the Saint Louis Zoo, the first step of this three-year-long program included surveying for the three focus species; spring peepers, Boreal chorus frogs and cricket frogs. These species play an important role in the local ecology as part of aquatic food webs (who eats whom in an ecological community) and are considered indicators of overall environmental health.
Listening and recording equipment were set up at the park in an attempt to record activity from these various species. Also, trained staff made field visits to the park to monitor for the frogs and toads.
While early indications point to the three target species not inhabiting Vago, researches are encouraged by the results they’ve found, hearing other frogs suggesting a healthy habitat.
Following the survey stage, the program will look at a habitat viability study and then habitat mitigation and the creation of green corridors suitable for spring peepers and other frog and toad species.
You too can play an integral part in the FrogWatch program!
Three steps you can take today include:
Beginning in the 1990s, there has been an estimated 2-3 percent decline in the frog and toad populations across the Midwest, according to a national study by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative. Additionally, observations from local frog and toad survey projects around the metro area indicate a possible decrease or even absence of three members of the Hylidae family of frogs and toads. This trend has been noticed in the watersheds located within the I-270 beltway.
“This issue has far reaching effects outside of just Maryland Heights,” said Superintendent of Parks Charlie Milligan. “It’s important for us to be a part of the larger regional community and share in the effort to be sustainable.”
Funded through grants obtained by the Saint Louis Zoo, the first step of this three-year-long program included surveying for the three focus species; spring peepers, Boreal chorus frogs and cricket frogs. These species play an important role in the local ecology as part of aquatic food webs (who eats whom in an ecological community) and are considered indicators of overall environmental health.
Listening and recording equipment were set up at the park in an attempt to record activity from these various species. Also, trained staff made field visits to the park to monitor for the frogs and toads.
While early indications point to the three target species not inhabiting Vago, researches are encouraged by the results they’ve found, hearing other frogs suggesting a healthy habitat.
Following the survey stage, the program will look at a habitat viability study and then habitat mitigation and the creation of green corridors suitable for spring peepers and other frog and toad species.
You too can play an integral part in the FrogWatch program!
Three steps you can take today include:
- Collect frog and toad data with your smartphone by visiting frogwatchstl.com.
- Become a volunteer at stlzoo.org/education/frogwatchusa.
- Tell your friends and family about the Spring Peepers Project.