Frogs celebrated in Leap Day events

Year of the Frog to raise awareness of declining frog populations

By SANDY LONG

UPPER DELAWARE REGION — In coming months, the sweet songs of wood frogs and spring peepers will sound from swampy thickets and vernal pools throughout the region. But while local frog populations have not experienced the dramatic declines seen in some parts of the world, frog species are increasingly imperiled, leading world environmental organizations to proclaim 2008 as the Year of the Frog to address the “amphibian extinction crisis.”

With scientific estimates that one-third of amphibian species are facing extinction, speculation has arisen that these amphibious “canaries in the coal mine” are singing their swan song. Since most frogs spend parts of their lives on both land and water, they are affected by contaminants in both and are considered to be indicators of potential impacts to humans.

The frog decline has been attributed to variables such as habitat loss, climate change and pollution, as well as a disease known as chytridiomycosis, an infectious fungus that affects a frog’s respiration and osmoregulation and ultimately causes its death.

To raise awareness of these threats and the roles that humans play in relation to frog welfare, many zoos and aquariums across the country have scheduled special events on February 29th, or Leap Day.Part of the objective is to increase understanding of the important roles played by frogs and other amphibians, such as consuming insects, providing food for other predators and revealing links to medical research that benefits human health.

Visit the Association of Zoos and Aquariums website at www.yearofthefrog.org for more information or www.aza.org/Promotions/LeapDay/ to find the nearest Leap Day celebration.

The National Wildlife Federation sponsors Frogwatch USA, a nationwide frog and toad monitoring program that assists scientists in conserving amphibians. The states of New York and Pennsylvania both appear in the top 10 list of frogwatchers in the country. See www.nwf.org/frogwatchusa/ to learn more.