Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI): A successful start to a national program in the United States

Authors: Muths, Erin; Jung, Robin E.; Bailey, Larissa L.; Adams, Michael J.; Corn, P. Stephen; Dodd, C. Kenneth; Fellers, Gary M.; Sadinski, Walter J.; Schwalbe, Cecil R.; Walls, Susan C.; Fisher, Robert N.; Gallant, Alisa L.; Battaglin, William A.; Green, D. Earl

Source: Applied Herpetology, Volume 2, Number 4, 2005 , pp. 355-371(17)

Publisher: BRILL

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Abstract:

Most research to assess amphibian declines has focused on local-scale projects on one or a few species. The Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) is a national program in the United States mandated by congressional directive and implemented by the U.S. Department of the Interior (specifically the U.S. Geological Survey, USGS). Program goals are to monitor changes in populations of amphibians across U.S. Department of the Interior lands and to address research questions related to amphibian declines using a hierarchical framework of base-, mid- and apex-level monitoring sites. ARMI is currently monitoring 83 amphibian species (29% of species in the U.S.) at mid- and apex-level areas. We chart the progress of this 5-year-old program and provide an example of mid-level monitoring from 1 of the 7 ARMI regions.

Keywords: AMPHIBIAN DECLINE; AMPHIBIAN RESEARCH AND MONITORING INITIATIVE; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR; ARMI; MONITORING; OCCUPANCY; PROPORTION OF AREA OCCUPIED

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157075405774483139

Publication date: 2005-10-01