Follow Our Research
One of our primary objectives in starting this webpage is to get information on how to improve our local native toad population and also to find more scientific ways that we can monitor the population. This summer we plan on doing more extensive research into the numbers of toads in our backyard in addition to what effects weather has on their activity level. After observing the toads for some time, we are interested in learning more about them. If you have information to share, we would love you to email us!
| I’m still working on developing a method for my research this summer. I’m definitely open to suggestions. Last summer (2009), though Steve and I found a toad with a weird lesion. Anyone have any ideas what could be causing this?
Also, I’ve finally posted a whole photo album of our photos from September of 2008 when the idea for this project was really born. I kept thinking that there had to be a way for me to systematically collect information on our Toad population. I’m still looking for ideas on the “best” way to do that. UPDATES! So, I’ve been actively searching online for American Toad population surveys and research. I’ve found some interesting information and I’ve included that to the right under Resources. I found the Wikipedia article to be really lacking in information and citations. The info on American Toad on Animal Diversity Web is far superior, but of course this is complied by the University of Michigan college students for the most part. They’ve done a good job, you can view some great photos and also hear calls. I also liked the Printable Poster on the Nature North site for Manitoba. Nature North has another interesting project in the works, “Save our Skinks”. They are going to be posting their Citizen Science research protocol soon and I can’t wait to see what they come up with. It is a similar problem to the one that I am having. I need a systematic way to gather data on the toad population in my backyard. I did find that the State of Georgia conducted a population study on Bufo Americanus in 1994. I also found the map of occurrences of Bufo Americanus that is linked on the right. This is obviously not being conducted as citizen science and so the research available is very limited. I received my copy of “Birdscope” the magazine issued to participants in Project Feederwatch, a citizen science project monitoring bird populations and migration across the US and Canada. One thing that I found striking in this issue was the focus on the need to maintain data over a large period of time and the importance of “no data” and the tracking of “mundane” species that are not rare or endangered. I think about how this relates to toads. The folks on Animal Diversity Web admit that the populations of toads may be in decline due to pollution, but they don’t seem to have the data to make any stronger claim. Now, I don’t think that American toad populations are in trouble, TODAY, but I am interested in observing and reporting on what the population is and if it is in decline or increase and what effect my actions in my own backyard have on the population. For instance, if we were to use a “Weed & Feed” type product on our lawn, does it affect our local toad population? If I build a raised flower bed in the area that the toads frequent will that cause their population to move? It is my hypothesis that the toads in my area are using our side porch area as a hunting ground because of our overhead light that comes on at dark. We can watch them eating bugs and generally hanging out in the light area. When we search nearby dark areas, we rarely find toads. Also, for an animal that the research suggests do not congregate, it seems like we have a large population in a fairly small area. I like the toads being around for a variety of reasons. I don’t want to see them disappear. I’m going to keep trying to find ways to measure my population before the real scientists come up with a plan to try and get citizens involved. Follow my research and findings on my blog for the time being. I’m going to try and develop a spreadsheet of some sort to post here. Good Luck! Happy Toading! |
Resources
American Toad on Animal Diversity Web Map of Occurrences of Bufo Americanus on Global BioDiversity Information Facility |