Habitat Loss and Climate Change Hinder Amphibian Survival: How Some Are Making a Difference

HONEYE, N.Y. (AP) — On a wet March evening, John Bateman dons his boots and headlamps to traverse the marshes beside busy roads. As he walks, he checks for spring peepers, toads, salamanders, and newts, gradually forming pathways into new habitats each spring, occasionally pausing to assist one across the road.

This small gesture greatly impacts these amphibians, who need various habitats throughout different life stages—sometimes wetlands, other times dry highlands. Roads frequently divide these environments, leading to perilous migrations for amphibians.

These creatures already confront challenges due to habitat loss caused by development. This is particularly true for spring pools, small bodies of water that form in forest ecosystems each spring when snow melts and rain collects in low areas. These pools linger into July, providing crucial breeding grounds for amphibians like salamanders and frogs.

Large wetlands receive federal protection, but smaller spring pools do not.

“Urban development has destroyed many forests for new housing projects, forcing people out of cities into the suburbs,” says Bateman, a professor of environmental protection and horticulture at Finger Lakes Community College. “When forests are cleared, spring pools disappear, replaced by homes and neighborhoods.”

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Editor’s Note: This story is a collaboration between the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Associated Press.

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U.S. geological surveys indicate that amphibians are experiencing a “global phenomenon,” with populations declining nearly 4% annually since the 1960s.

Development isn’t the only threat. Climate change also impacts amphibians. The Appalachian region, rich in salamander species, is witnessing a northward shift due to rising temperatures, according to Bateman.

It concerns him.

“Once you reach the top, there’s nowhere else to go,” Bateman explains.

Karen Lips, a biology professor at the University of Maryland, notes that warming climates force cold-blooded amphibians to spend more time searching for food to maintain their metabolism. Research shows salamanders are shrinking as a result.

He’s not the only conservationist focused on helping amphibians.

Margot Fass runs the Frog House, an advocacy center in Pittsford, New York. In April, she raised funds and organized 70 volunteers to establish three spring pools for Save the Frogs Day. These pools will aid amphibians and also serve as water sources for birds and other wildlife.

Fass passionately discusses chemical-free gardens and their essential role for amphibians. “A single pesticide spray can kill frogs within an hour,” she states.

Together with Bateman, she believes educating communities is vital for amphibians. They frequently speak at schools, libraries, and community groups.

“Many people are unaware that frogs are endangered and that a third of them have gone extinct,” Fass mentioned.

The Genesee Land Trust, a for-profit conservation organization, actively engages in land protection efforts in the Greater Rochester area. It acquired 77 acres of property in Cornwall Reserve, Pultneyville, New York, on the edge of Lake Ontario in 2016, marking the first purchase by a non-farmer in 200 years. By preserving this historic farmland, it has restored wetlands and spring pools.

“The wetlands began providing habitat for birds shortly after we started excavation,” says Eliotte Baulman, the trust’s communications director.

For many, capturing amphibians evokes childhood memories, but for Bateman, that magic remains intact. He believes preserving wetlands and spring pools is vital for fostering childlike wonder, not only in amphibians but also in those who discover these hidden creatures.

“I fear future generations will miss the chance to connect with nature in the same way I did as a child,” he states.

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