Amphibian Monitoring Program
Last Review/Updated: May 1, 2008
Hop Into Alberta's Amphibian Monitoring Program!
The Alberta Volunteer Amphibian Monitoring Program (AVAMP) is a long-term community survey of amphibians that was implemented in 1992 under the auspices of
the Declining Amphibian Population Task Force established by the Species Survival Commission of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The goal of the program
is to increase awareness of the conservation issues facing amphibians as well as to provide a better understanding of the distribution and general status of
amphibians in Alberta, Canada. The program is lead by the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), and carried out in partnership with Alberta Sustainable
Resource Development (ASRD), and other agencies.
Through the program, volunteers are encouraged to submit location information on amphibian observations as well as incidental reptile observations. Volunteers are supplied a peer-reviewed monitoring manual and a CD featuring the calls of the anurans found in Alberta. These materials allow program participants to become familiar with the identification and life history of Alberta’s amphibian species. Included in the manual are detailed instructions on how to monitor amphibians, and record and submit observations. The time and energy volunteers put into the AVAMP is entirely up to them.
To maintain communication with volunteers, they are sent a biannual program newsletter each spring and fall, called “Croaks and Trills”. A dedicated toll-free phone number is also available to volunteers to contact the program coordinator if they have questions about the program, species identification, or conservation issues relating to amphibians (and reptiles) in Alberta.
Hundreds of herptile observations are submitted annually to program coordinator, where they are verified for accuracy, entered into a spreadsheet and forwarded to ASRD for uploading into the Fisheries and Wildlife Management Information System.
For more information on:
- the Alberta Volunteer Amphibian Monitoring Program (AVAMP)
- amphibians and reptiles of Alberta
- how to submit monitoring data, or other amphibian and reptile observations
Please contact Kris Kendell (Biologist / Alberta Volunteer Amphibian Monitoring Program coordinator), email: kris.kendell@ab-conservation.com; telephone: 780-410-1978 / 1-877-777-FROG (toll-free).
| Kris Kendell (Biologist / Alberta Volunteer Amphibian Monitoring Program coordinator) Alberta Conservation Association 101, 9 Chippewa Road Sherwood Park, AB T8A 6J7 ph: 780-410-1978 / 1-877-777-FROG (toll-free) fax: 780-464-0141 e-mail: kris.kendell@ab-conservation.com web: www.ab-conservation.com |
Introduction | Identifying
Amphibians | Biology of Amphibians | Global
Decline
Amphibian Monitoring Project | RANA
Project
