ECOS Guide to the Ecology of the Northern Rockies
 
   
 

Amphibian Guide

The Amphibian Guide is an online interactive database of the nearly 15 species that are known to occur in western Montana, with detailed descriptions of all common species. To the extent possible our descriptions and photos describe the specifics of these species and their ecology in western Montana. See links below to access the amphibian guide.

Note that habitat descriptions for amphibians are slightly different than those for other groups because they generally relate to geological and hydrological features of stream or lake systems rather than specific climatic zones or forest types.

Amphibians are one of the most diverse and ancient vertebrate groups with over 6,000 species documented worldwide. While there are not many species in western Montana (15), these species are extremely important to learn about for conservation, as well as to learn about some of the amazing adaptations required for these animals to survive in our mostly dry and cold northern climate. Amphibians play many key ecological roles in aquatic food webs, especially in wetlands and riparian areas. Introduction of exotic fish species even in high altitude lakes can have a big effect on amphibians since they often compete for similar insect prey. But the main reason so much attention has been focused on amphibians in Montana as elsewhere has been because they are very sensitive and valuable indicators of environmental change. When amphibians start disappearing, as they have in many places across the world, most scientists consider this a worrisome sign of possible effects of human-caused environmental changes.

For naturalists amphibians provide a great opportunity to make a contribution to scientific knowledge and to aid conservation. Please report citings of amphibian species you see to the amphibian monitoring program using the links below.

Why are amphibians such sensitive indicators of changes in habitats and the environment, and why are they in decline?

For more information on amphibians:

Volunteer in an amphibian monitoring program.

 
The ECOS program is sponsored by the University of Montana's Division of Biological Sciences, and the College of Forestry and Conservation. Carol Brewer Program Director, Division of Biological Sciences. Paul Alaback Program Co-Director, College of Forestry and Conservation.
NSF LogoECOS is supported by the GK-12 Program of the National Science Foundation.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.