Aquatic Herpetofauna Long-Term Monitoring
A California Newt (Taricha torosa) found along a long-term monitoring transect.
Researchers are monitoring 46 sites in the recreation area to determine the status and long-term trends in the distribution and relative abundance of aquatic amphibians. They also want to determine environmental and physical features that may influence amphibian populations in the Santa Monica Mountains.
The permeability of amphibians' skin and long life (more than 10 years in some species) makes them especially vulnerable to cumulative changes in airborne and waterborne ecosystem stressors.
Monitoring the status of native amphibians helps us detect changes over a broad landscape involving multiple watersheds subjected to various levels of urbanization, pollution, and non-native species, which can help to inform resource management decisions and actions. Original public domain image from Flickr