Long-term Amphibian Studies, DAPTF, and PARC: A Natural Alliance

Whit Gibbons

Professor of Ecology

University of Georgia

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ABSTRACT

GIBBONS, WHIT
University of Georgia,Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC
gibbons@srel.edu

Long-term Amphibian Studies, DAPTF, and PARC: A Natural Alliance

Research opportunities at the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) from 1951-2006 have provided an almost unprecedented situation for developing long-term ecological studies on amphibians. More than a half a century of data collection has led to findings and interpretations about disruption and abundance patterns that would not have been possible with shorter-term projects. The findings have implications to ecology and behavior of herptofauna that are directly related to conservation issues of interest to both DAPTF and PARC and that are necessary to address questions related to proper environmental management of wetland systems and their imprtance to regional amphibian biodiversity. Data from more than one million amphibians of more than 40 species reveal the importance of research continuity and funding in determining patterns and processes critical for making accurate scientific predictions and judicious land management decisions. Ecological interpretations based on short-term studies and short-sighted economic goals can lead to erroneous and costly conclusions that result in imprudent management decisions that could have been avoided if consistent study and longer-term information had been available.