The North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP) is a collaborative effort among regional partners, such as state natural resource agencies and nonprofit organizations, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to monitor populations of vocal amphibians. The USGS provides central coordination and database management. The regional partners recruit and train volunteer observers, like you, to collect amphibian population data, following the protocol of NAAMP.
The mission of NAAMP is to monitor calling amphibians to assess population changes over time. Data from your route contributes to looking at the big picture of amphibian populations. NAAMP data can also be used to update distribution maps for amphibian species and increase our understanding of breeding chronology. In Colorado, NAAMP is coordinated by a State Coordinator and is supported by Colorado Partners for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation.
The mission of NAAMP is to monitor calling amphibians to assess population changes over time. Data from your route contributes to looking at the big picture of amphibian populations. NAAMP data can also be used to update distribution maps for amphibian species and increase our understanding of breeding chronology. In Colorado, NAAMP is coordinated by a State Coordinator and is supported by Colorado Partners for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation.
CONTACTS:
- James Erdmann (volunteer coordination for existing sites)
- Danny Martin (signup for ground-truthing new routes)
Volunteers Needed to Ground-Truth & Survey Routes for 2014!
NEED: CO PARC needs volunteers to ground truth anuran survey routes! This is a great opportunity to contribute to an important conservation need in Colorado: documenting trends of anuran abundance and distribution using a scientifically defensible methodology (Occupancy Modeling). Currently, there is no other large-scale program to track multiple species of frogs and toads in Colorado.
BACKGROUND: USGS NAAMP computer-generated 80, 15-mile-long driving routes that have been randomly placed throughout the Front Range and eastern plains. It is the random placement of routes that allows valid inferences on decreases or increases in anuran populations on a regional scale. We will be conducting actual anuran surveys this year, but only on routes that have been ground truthed first. Ground truthing is needed to determine whether there are enough potential anuran breeding sites on a route to be able to include that route in the program.
How do I ground truth a route?
- Volunteers drive a route during the day
- Determine whether all parts of the route are on passable roads
- Establish a total of 10 Stopping Points on the route
- Volunteers drive a route during the day
- Determine whether all parts of the route are on passable roads
- Establish a total of 10 Stopping Points on the route
What do I need to volunteer?
- Car with working odometer; all routes are along roadways, but realize some roads may be dirt, and in a few cases prove impassable
- GPS unit to record Stopping Points or use a printed map that we will provide
- Car with working odometer; all routes are along roadways, but realize some roads may be dirt, and in a few cases prove impassable
- GPS unit to record Stopping Points or use a printed map that we will provide
How do I get started?
1) The map at bottom of this page show locations of currently-available routes.
2) Pick routes that you think you will be able to ground truth or survey this year. Also provide a few alternative routes in case your routes are unavailable.
3) Register as a Volunteer with NAAMP Colorado by completing the registration form below! The coordinators will confirm route availability and e-mail you a package containing detailed maps for each route, GPS coordinates for start points of each route, and data forms for routes. We will be conducting actual anuran surveys as soon as routes have been ground-truthed, and if you are interested in participating please designate how on the registration form. By ground-truthing a route, you are first in line to conduct actual anuran surveys on that route.
4) Start learning your Colorado anuran calls! Take the Colorado NAAMP Public Quiz. You'll need to select Colorado from the drop-down list once you select the link above.
1) The map at bottom of this page show locations of currently-available routes.
2) Pick routes that you think you will be able to ground truth or survey this year. Also provide a few alternative routes in case your routes are unavailable.
3) Register as a Volunteer with NAAMP Colorado by completing the registration form below! The coordinators will confirm route availability and e-mail you a package containing detailed maps for each route, GPS coordinates for start points of each route, and data forms for routes. We will be conducting actual anuran surveys as soon as routes have been ground-truthed, and if you are interested in participating please designate how on the registration form. By ground-truthing a route, you are first in line to conduct actual anuran surveys on that route.
4) Start learning your Colorado anuran calls! Take the Colorado NAAMP Public Quiz. You'll need to select Colorado from the drop-down list once you select the link above.
Availability of Colorado NAAMP Routes for Ground-truthing & Surveys:
