Understanding the abundance
and distribution of species within an ecosystem is critical to implementing and
managing conservation plans.
Heavy metals, oil, sediment, fertilizers, and
pesticides are transported by water into wood frogs' habitat. These chemicals destroy the water quality and are toxic to wood frogs. Even road salt (NaCl), which is used
in northern states to de-ice roads, decreases wood frog survival and has also been found to slow development in tadpoles. Water that runs off farm fields after watering or storms contains soil (sediment) that reduces the depth of wood frogs' ponds
and fills in small holes and hiding places that wood frogs need. Even worse, the collective effect of pollutants and pesticides is more harmful to wood frogs than each factor’s individual
effect. These wetlands are not just out of sight, out of mind. The wetlands are usually linked to a larger watershed. For example, here in Columbus, Ohio, we get our drinking water from reservoirs, which are part of this watershed. Some of these chemicals could make their way into our drinking water. Is there a creek near your house? These chemicals could be there. Do you like to boat, fish, or swim in the lakes and rivers? It is likely that contaminants that harm wood frogs are also there. Since wood frogs are sensitive to low concentrations of these chemicals, knowing more about the wood frogs' health can provide foresight into our own community health. Lets keep the wood frogs healthy and in return, keep ourselves healthy.
