Toad-ily Frogs—Taking A Closer look at Amphibians
A new Cleveland Museum of Natural History exhibition takes a closer look at amphibians, the threat of extinction they face and the role of humans in both their decline and survival. The exhibition, “Toad-ily Frogs,” is on display in the Museum’s Corning Gallery through Sept. 28.
Scientists have reported on the decline of amphibians for some time. But the situation is reaching crisis proportions—presently one-half to one-third of all amphibian species worldwide could become extinct within a human lifetime if present conditions continue. To encourage positive change, the global conservation community has dubbed 2008 the “Year of the Frog.” Locally, the Museum, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and more than two dozen other area conservation- and science-oriented organizations have partnered on “Leap into Action,” a regional initiative led by Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to highlight amphibians and their habitats through special events, activities, displays and programs.
As part of this effort, the Museum has produced the new exhibition “Toad-ily Frogs.” Several Museum staff members collaborated on content and presentation, including educators Beth Gatchell, Kate Iverson and Stacey Heffernan, Curator of Vertebrate Zoology, Dr. Tim Matson, Center for Conservation & Biodiversity, Associate Director Renee Boronka and Biodiversity Alliance Conservation Program Coordinator Dr. Cathi Lehn.
“This exhibition will help visitors understand the global problems that face amphibians and show them how to take action to preserve amphibian habitat,” Gatchell said. The exhibition has four areas of focus. The first area provides a general overview of amphibian biology, the habitats in which they can be found and the roles they play within natural systems. High-speed videos of amphibians feeding, taken by Dr. Stephen Deban of the University of South Florida, provide an entertaining look at the impressive insect-eating abilities of these creatures. A tank of bullfrog and green frog tadpoles helps illustrate the amphibian life cycle.
The next area examines threats to amphibians, both on a worldwide scale and locally. These include habitat loss, climate change, pollution and pesticides, introduced species, over-collection for the pet trade, and amphibian chytrid, a deadly disease caused by a fungus that is rapidly spreading throughout the world.
The third area offers a window into the process of biological research by focusing on long-term Museum amphibian studies. Dr. Tim Matson has been studying the secondary effects of the chemical TFM on the mudpuppy, a large, native Ohio salamander. TFM has been applied to certain rivers and streams in Northeast Ohio to stop the spread of the sea lamprey, a parasitic fish species. He is also researching a parasitic fluke that could present a new threat to salamanders.
The final area focuses on conservation, emphasizing the importance of habitat preservation and what visitors can do in their own backyards. It highlights the Museum’s Natural Areas Program, which has protected more than 4,600 acres of property, much of it containing high-quality amphibian habitat. It also touches on Project Golden Frog, an international effort to save the Panamanian Golden Frog from extinction, and highlights a local volunteer effort to monitor chytrid fungus in Northeast Ohio.
“Toad-ily Frogs” is included in the Museum’s admission fee. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is located at 1 Wade Oval Drive in University Circle. For more information, call 216-231-4600 or 800-317-9155 or visit www.cmnh.org.