Marsh Monitoring Program (MMP)

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Introduction | Marsh Definition | Survey Results | Methodology | Biology | Declining Amphibian Population Task Force | Other Research

Introduction
The MMP was established by Bird Studies Canada and Environment Canada in 1994 with support from the U.S. Great Lakes Protection Fund, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund. The program was designed to aid the conservation of marsh habitat by establishing baseline assessments of bird and amphibian populations and by monitoring population changes and habitat requirements of marsh birds and amphibians over the long term. Additional information is available at the official web page of the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program.

The data collected by volunteers from the US and Canada will be used, in part, to assess the progress and success of marsh rehabilitation efforts, especially those in the 43 Areas of Concern (AOCs) around the Great Lakes. These AOCs have been identified as being stressed by pollutants, habitat loss, and habitat degradation and are in urgent need of rehabilitation.

MMP first began in Canada in 1994

Expanded into US in 1995

CVNP has been a participant in the MMP since 1995

From 1995 through 2001 amphibians, marsh birds, or both have been surveyed on over 500 routes in the Great Lakes basin.  This work has been done by more than 1,700 volunteers, contributing over 6000 hours of their collective time. 

MMP participants in the NE Ohio area include: Cuyahoga RAP, Ohio EPA, Cuyahoga Valley National Park , Cleveland Metroparks, Mentor Marsh, Black River RAP area, Geauga County Metroparks and Mogadore Reservoir.

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What is a marsh? - a vegetated, wet area; periodically or regularly inundated up to a depth of 6 feet with water. Standing or slowly moving water; small number of trees and shrubs occur. Predominantly emergent non-woody plants (cattails, rushes, reeds, grasses, sedges). Submerged and floating plants occur in open water.

The MMP is collecting information on calling amphibians and birds in marshes across the Great Lakes basin in an effort to monitor the health of these wetlands.

Numbers of amphibians are an important indicator of marsh ecosystem health.

Amphibians are an important part of the ecological balance of many habitats and are a measure of the health of the environment.

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Basinwide Survey Results
To date 1700 volunteers have participated in the MMP throughout the Great Lakes Basin monitoring 654 routes for amphibians and/or marsh birds.

Birds
A total of 207 bird species were recorded from 1995-2001.Of the 53 species commonly recorded, 45 are marsh nesters and eight typically use the air space above the marshes for feeding (aerial foragers). Tree and Barn Swallow were the most commonly occurring aerial foragers. Red-winged Blackbird was the most commonly recorded marsh nesting species followed by Swamp Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat and Yellow Warbler.

Statistically significant declining trends were detected from American Coot, Black Tern, Blue-winged Teal, moorhen/coot, Pied-billed Grebe, and Red - winged Blackbird, Sora, Tree Swallow and Virginia Rail.

Statistically significant increases were detected for only Common Yellowthroat and Mallard.

Amphibians
13 species of calling amphibians were recorded by marsh monitoring volunteers from 1995-2001.

Although more long-term population monitoring data are needed, some apparent significant decreasing temporal trends were suggested for populations of American Toad, Bullfrog, Chorus Frog and Green Frog.

The most frequently detected frogs/toads in the Great Lakes basin (listed from most common to least common):

1. Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer

2. Green Frog Rana clamitans melanota

3. Gray Treefrog Hyla versicolor

4. American Toad Bufo americanus

5. Northern Leopard Rana pipiens (declining in Lake Erie Basin )

6. Chorus Frog Pseudacris triseriata

7. Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana (declining in Lake Erie Basin )

8. Wood Frog Rana sylvatica

9. Pickerel Frog Rana palustris

10. Blanchard's Cricket Frog Acris crepitans blanchardi

11. Cope's Grey Treefrog Hyla chrysoscelis

12 Mink Frog Rana septentrionalis

13. Fowler's Toad Bufo woodhousei fowleri

All of the above frogs, except Blanchard's Cricket Frog, Cope's Grey Treefrog, Mink Frog, and Fowler's Toad are found in CVNP.

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Methodology
Conducting the MMP Survey for Amphibians (April, May, June)
Survey is conducted on three evenings from spring to early summer. It is limited to easily detected species (frogs and toads) which call during the breeding season.

Night time temperatures for the first survey should be greater than 41F; second survey, greater that 50F; and the third, greater that 63F. Survey dates should be at least 15 days apart.

Frogs and toads always require an air temperature greater than 41F to elicit calling activity

The first survey is timed to monitor species that breed very early (Chorus frog, Wood Frog and Spring Peeper). The second survey should coincide with "optimum" breeding for Spring Peeper, American Toad, Northern Leopard Frog, and Pickerel Frog. The third survey will monitor Gray Treefrog, Green Frog and Bullfrog.

Surveys should begin no earlier than one-half hour after sunset and should finish before midnight .

Each station is surveyed for 3 minutes.

Best weather conditions for surveying are when it is warm, a little wet and fairly calm. Nights that are damp, hazy, and foggy or have a light rain falling are ideal.

Record the number of individuals that you count or estimate are calling by species.

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Biology
Frogs and toads relatively sedentary; they are probably more prone to and hence more representative of localized point sources of contamination than other vertebrates. This makes them more sensitive to the loss and degradation of habitat.

Frogs spend their lives both in water and on land. Begin as eggs floating on the surface of still waters; develop into tadpoles; change into frogs. These major changes in form occur under the control of hormones.

Frogs breathe through their skin - perhaps toxic heavy metals and pesticides building up in aquatic food chains, plus air pollution may be killing some frogs.

Northern leopard frog is the most widespread species in North America (frog of choice for dissection in Biology classes); over the past 15 years, the range has dwindled. Unknown cause for decline.

Toads - dry, warty skins, execute little jumps/hops.

Frogs - moist, smooth skins, make long leaps.

Two species of toads in the Great Lakes basin. Toads are mainly terrestrial, but make their way to water to breed in the spring. Song is a long melodious trill lasting 30 seconds.

Frogs (true frogs) family Ranidae; long legged, smooth, toes jointly webbed, but fingers free. Six species: bullfrog, wood frog, leopard frog (widespread throughout the basin, but declining in recent years); pickerel frog; green frog; mink frog (northern species).

Family Hylidae; are the tree frogs; adapted to live in trees; toe ends have an adhesive disk and they have long limbs and digits to help them cling to twigs and bark. They change color to match their environment and are often only detected when they call.

Gray tree frog, cricket frog, chorus frog (sings day and night) and spring peeper.

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Declining Amphibian Population Task Force (DAPTF)
Over the last 50 years, many species of amphibians throughout the world have declined markedly in numbers. Some species have become extinct. The declines are often a direct response to the impact of human activities (such as pollution or habitat destruction).

However, towards the late 1980's biologists from many parts of the world reported declines in amphibian populations in apparently pristine habitats, such as national parks and nature reserves, where local effects could not be implicated. This led to the suggestion that there may be one or more global factors that are adversely affecting amphibians.

Possible causes for declines are climatic and atmospheric changes, such as increased UV-B radiation, widespread pollution, such as acid rain, and disease.

Frogs breathe through their skin - perhaps toxic heavy metals and pesticides building up in aquatic food chains, plus air pollution may be killing some frogs

Frogs with severe birth defects have been discovered in the past two years in 54 of Minnesota 's 87 counties, across Wisconsin , and into the St. Lawrence River Valley in Quebec . These frogs have missing legs, extra legs, and missing eyes.

Deformities are caused by something that affects the frogs in early life (when they are eggs or tadpoles)

For more information on declining amphibian populations visit www.open.ac.uk/daptf/index.htm.

Conducting the MMP Survey for Marsh Birds (May, June, July)
Survey visits for birds are conducted twice each year, with at least 10 days between survey visits from May 20 to July 5.

Visits must begin after 6pm and are to be conducted when the weather is warm, dry and there is little wind.

A five minute broadcast tape is played at each station during the first half of each 10 minute survey visit. This tape helps elicit calls from several secretive marsh bird species and contains calls of Virginia Rail, Sora, Least Bittern, Common Moorhen, American Coot and Pied-billed Grebe.

During the count period, observers record all birds heard and/or observed within the survey station area and record all observations onto a field map and form. Aerial foragers are also counted. Bird species flying through or detected outside the station are tallied separately.

For more information on the MMP contact Kathy Jones, Aquatics Survey Officer, at (519) 586-3531 or email aqsurvey@bsc-eoc.org.

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For other research
http://science.nature.nps.gov/research.

Cleveland State University

The Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences is conducting a study to evaluate the effects of urban land use change on amphibian diversity and ecology, with emphasis on terrestrial salamanders and pond breeding anurans. Their goal is to develop a long term amphibian population monitoring program within the park.

Dr. Michael Walton, principal investigator

University of Akron

In cooperation with the NPS, University staff is developing indicators for the assessment of wetland health in CVNP.

Dr. Frank Landis and Dr. Lauchlan Fraser, principal investigators

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