THE COLUMBIAN (Columbia, Washinton) 11 December 07 Amphibians target of census (Erik Robinson)
Peter Ritson is planning to count amphibians in Clark County while there are still plenty left to count.
Ritson, who teaches environmental sciences at Washington State University Vancouver, will train and lead volunteers in a search of five species of salamanders, toads and frogs native to Southwest Washington.
Ritson said amphibians can be a good indicator that wetlands are functioning well. Wetlands provide wildlife habitat, filter pollutants, recharge groundwater and help corral floodwaters.
"If you do find (amphibians), it says something about the function of the habitat," Ritson said. "It means the wetland is big enough, it's connected to other places, not polluted and has a variety of habitat."
The project, backed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, will establish a county database for native amphibians as volunteers fan out across the county in search for pea-size eggs in softball-size masses. Target species include western toad, northern red-legged frog, northwestern salamanders, long-toed salamanders and Pacific chorus frog.
"Higher emphasis will be placed on Western toad populations due to their unexplained declines and disappearances from lowland areas," according to a written project description.
Data from the project will be made available to the public as a report for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Clark County's Endangered Species Act program, and the University of Washington's NatureMapping database.
For further information, or to volunteer, contact Ritson at ritson@vancouver.wsu.edu or 360-992-9276.
Amphibians target of census