Use of Amphibian Communities as Indicators of Restoration Success

We will use established sampling methodologies such as mark-recapture to investigate survival, movement, and density, develop new methods for sampling across hydroperiod gradients (drift fence arrays), and use newly developed statistical techniques to estimate the proportion of area occupied by and to define amphibian communities. Our objectives include:

1. Define amphibian communities appropriate for evaluating restoration success. 2. Develop methods for measuring the area occupancy of amphibian communities across habitats and environmental gradients. 3. Investigate the relationship of occupancy, survival, movement probability, and density with hydroperiod and other environmental factors. 4. Develop restoration targets for the amphibian community of the Everglades. 5. Develop a restoration tool for amphibian communities that measures restoration success and compares restoration alternatives. 6.Develop an index of biological integrity for amphibians that provides a framework for scientifically defensible decisions by restoration managers.