Abstract
Amphibians are experiencing global declines, stemming from habitat loss, disease, and pollution. Due to their bi-phasic lifestyle, amphibians require both aquatic and terrestrial environments to complete their life cycle. Urbanization may disconnect or eliminate essential habitats, resulting in further amphibian decline. The researcher's two-year project is investigating how local stormwater retention ponds and surroundings affect their ability to support calling amphibian communities. By examining the ponds, their connectivity to adjacent woodlots, and the diversity of frogs and toads, the researcher will determine whether ponds provide suitable habitat, or function as population sinks. The findings can be used to construct ponds that can support amphibians when their natural habitat has been mitigated, or deter amphibians when their local pools are intact.
