Amphibians as Indicators
Mick Micacchion (mick.micacchion[at]epa.state.oh.us)
Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, Wetland Ecology Group, 4675 Homer Lane, Groveport, Ohio, 43215

Ohio EPA has found that amphibians can be used as meaningful indicators of wetland condition. During the past 12 years Ohio EPA has monitored the amphibian communities of approximately 200 natural wetlands and 70 wetland mitigation projects. Data from the natural wetlands has been used to develop the Amphibian Index of Biotic Integrity that is applied in Ohio's wetland protection program. At the heart of the index is a system of assigning a score of from 1 to 10, known as a coefficient of conservatism, to each amphibian species monitored. This process requiring a thorough understanding of the population ecology of each species from a statewide prospective is explained. Recently, in an effort to improve their application, several Ohio amphibian experts met and developed coefficients of conservatism for Ohio's entire amphibian taxa list. The results and applications of that collaboration are discussed. Using this new information and existing data comparisons are made between the amphibian communities of natural wetlands and mitigation wetlands constructed in an effort to compensate for wetlands lost to development. Special attention is focused on the challenges faced by wetland amphibian populations in urban settings. The data shows that we are not even close to getting back what we are losing by constructing mitigation wetlands and that common urban development patterns are extirpating amphibian populations to an alarming degree.