Toad-ily Frogs

May 9 through September 28, 2008

Location: Corning Gallery
Get to know our amphibian friends by visiting our new exhibition, Toad-ily Frogs. This exhibit  takes a closer look at these animals, the threat of extinction they face and the role of humans in both their decline and survival.

The news regarding the world’s amphibians hasn’t been good for a while. But the situation is reaching crisis proportions — presently one-half to one-third of all amphibian species worldwide could become extinct within a human lifetime if present conditions continue.

To encourage positive change, the global conservation community has dubbed 2008 the “Year of the Frog.” Locally, the Museum, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and more than two dozen other area conservation and science-oriented organizations have partnered on “Leap into Action,” a regional initiative led by Cleveland Metroparks to highlight amphibians and their habitats through special events, activities, displays and programs.
 
As part of this effort, the Museum has produced the new exhibition Toad-ily Frogs, which goes on display in Corning Gallery on May 9. Several Museum staff members collaborated on content and presentation, including educators Beth Gatchell, Kate Iverson and Stacey Heffernan, Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Dr. Tim Matson, Center for Conservation & Biodiversity Associate Director Renee Boronka and Biodiversity Alliance Coordinator Dr. Cathi Lehn.
 
“This exhibition will help visitors understand the global problems that face amphibians and show them how to take action to preserve amphibian habitat,” Gatchell explains.
 
The Exhibit
The exhibition has four areas of focus. The first of these provides a general overview of amphibian biology, the habitats in which they can be found and the roles they play within natural systems. High-speed videos of amphibians feeding, taken by Dr. Stephen Deban of the University of South Florida, provide an entertaining look at the impressive insect-eating abilities of these creatures. A tank of bullfrog and green frog tadpoles will help illustrate the amphibian life cycle.
 
The next area will examine threats to amphibians, both on a worldwide scale and locally. These include habitat loss, climate change, pollution and pesticides, introduced species, over-collection for the pet trade and amphibian chytrid, a deadly disease caused by a fungus that is rapidly spreading throughout the world.
 
The third area will offer a window into the process of biological research by focusing on long-term Museum amphibian studies. Dr. Tim Matson has been studying the secondary effects of the chemical TFM on the mudpuppy, a large, native Ohio salamander. TFM has been applied to certain rivers and streams in Northeast Ohio to stop the spread of the sea lamprey, a parasitic fish species. He is also researching a parasitic fluke that could present a new threat to salamanders. 
 
The final area will focus on conservation, emphasizing the importance of habitat preservation and what visitors can do in their own backyards. It will highlight the Museum’s Natural Areas Program, which has protected more than 4,600 acres of property, much of it containing high-quality amphibian habitat. It also will touch on Project Golden Frog, an international effort to save the Panamanian Golden Frog from extinction, and highlight a local volunteer effort to monitor chytrid fungus in Northeast Ohio.
 
Leap into Action
The exhibition, which runs through September 28, is a stop on the Leap into Action passport, which is available for $1 (plus tax) in the Museum Store. That dollar will be matched by the Cleveland Zoological Society and go toward creating and maintaining vernal ponds for amphibians in Cleveland Metroparks. Complete a scavenger hunt that uses the exhibition and other displays throughout the Museum and earn a sticker for your passport. Other events and locations at which you can earn stickers, plus detailed information about amphibian conservation, are listed at www.forfrogs.org.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

Related Information:

You can help your amphibian friends! These programs around Northeast Ohio provide volunteers the opportunity to help scientists in the collection of data that will help them learn more about our local amphibians. 

FrogWatch USA

http://www.nwf.org/frogwatchUSA
This long term frog and toad monitoring program relies on volunteers to collect information regarding amphibian populations by listening to frog calls for just 20 minutes a week.  The program is managed by the National Wildlife Federation in partnership with the United States Geological Survey.

Ohio Salamander Monitoring Program

http://www.ohiosalamanders.com/Monitoring.html
Salamanders are pond-breeding, stream-dwelling, or terrestrial. The Ohio Salamander Monitoring Program, sponsored by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, has developed a monitoring protocol for each of these groups.  Learn how you can help monitor for the occurrence and abundance of salamanders in your area by contacting your local coordinator.

Ohio Vernal Pool Partnership

http://www.ovpp.org
A vernal pool is a seasonal or temporary pool separated from other bodies of water.  These pools do not contain fish and usually dry up over the summer.  Vernal pools are important for Ohio's amphibians because they provide a safe place for egg-laying and for the development of their larvae. By documenting the plants and animals in these pools you can determine the health of your pool and its value as wildlife habitat. 

Marsh Monitoring Program

http://www.nps.gov/archive/cuva/management/rmprojects/marsh.htm
This monitoring program was designed to provide information on marsh bird and amphibian populations and to contribute to our understanding of their habitat needs.  Your involvement with the Marsh Monitoring Program contributes to the conservation of wetlands and wetland dependent wildlife in the Great Lakes region.

Chytrid Monitoring

http://www.clemetzoo.com/forfrogs/act/citizen_steward.asp
Learn about how the amphibian chytrid fungus is affecting our amphibian populations here in Ohio and work alongside local scientists from Cleveland Metroparks and Mount Union College as they collect samples from amphibians Northeast Ohio.

Backyard Conservation: Ideas for what you can do in your own backyard to help Ohio amphibians

Make a Toad Abode

Create a special shelter for toads in your garden by turning a terra cot