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Evaluation of Listener-Based Anuran Surveys with Automated Audio Recording Devices

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Abstract

Volunteer-based audio surveys are used to document long-term trends in anuran community composition and abundance. Current sampling protocols, however, are not region- or species-specific and may not detect relatively rare or audibly cryptic species. We used automated audio recording devices to record calling anurans during 2006–2009 at wetlands in Maine, USA. We identified species calling, chorus intensity, time of day, and environmental variables when each species was calling and developed logistic and generalized mixed models to determine the time interval and environmental variables that optimize detection of each species during peak calling periods. We detected eight of nine anurans documented in Maine. Individual recordings selected from the sampling period (0.5 h past sunset to 0100 h) described in the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP) detected fewer species than were detected in recordings from 30 min past sunset until sunrise. Time of maximum detection of presence and full chorusing for three species (green frogs, mink frogs, pickerel frogs) occurred after the NAAMP sampling end time (0100 h). The NAAMP protocol’s sampling period may result in omissions and misclassifications of chorus sizes for certain species. These potential errors should be considered when interpreting trends generated from standardized anuran audio surveys.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by funds provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the University of Maine, and the Maine Association of Wetland Scientists. We thank B. Agius, D. Bavaro, G. Dixon, L. Keener-Eck, D. Morgan, J. Noll, J. Rowe, J. Shrader, J. Torzewski, and J. White for assistance in the field and laboratory. We thank landowners in western and Downeast Maine for access to lakes and wetlands on their properties. Automated recording systems were generously constructed by K. Lesniewicz and G. Dixon (University of Maine) or loaned by L. Bailey (USGS-Patuxent Wildlife Research Center). The research was improved by guidance and recommendations from W. Halteman, K. Simon, and W. Glanz. Review comments provided by L. Bailey, L. Weir, and two anonymous reviewers improved the manuscript. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This is University of Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station Publication Number 3257.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wildlife Ecology, University of Maine Orono, 5755 Nutting Hall, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    A. F. Shearin & A. J. K. Calhoun

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 5755 Nutting Hall, Orono, ME, USA

    C. S. Loftin

Authors
  1. A. F. Shearin
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  2. A. J. K. Calhoun
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  3. C. S. Loftin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. F. Shearin.

Appendices

Appendix 1

Fig. 3
figure 3

Locations of lakes and vernal pools where we deployed ARS during 2006–2009. Lakes (n = 24) and vernal pools (n = 4) are denoted by circles. Sites in close proximity to one another may not appear as independent circles due to overlapping

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Appendix 2

Fig. 4
figure 4

Cumulative density of survey end times for NAAMP volunteers during 2006–2009

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Appendix 3

Fig. 5
figure 5

Mean Calling Index (CI) ± 1 standard error by hour after sunset for eight species: a gray treefrog, b bullfrog, c green frog, d pickerel frog, e northern leopard frog, f mink frog, g wood frog, and, h spring peeper. Individual recordings originally measured in minutes after sunset were grouped into hours after sunset to produce mean CI

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Appendix 4

Table 4 Parameter estimates for variables retained in best models fit by generalized mixed models and stepwise logistic regression for predicting detection of calling amphibians by environmental variables for all species during the full sampling season (April – August) and spring breeders (April only). Significant parameters at α = 0.05 are in bold text
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Shearin, A.F., Calhoun, A.J.K. & Loftin, C.S. Evaluation of Listener-Based Anuran Surveys with Automated Audio Recording Devices. Wetlands 32, 737–751 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-012-0307-7

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