Climate warming and calling phenology of frogs near Ithaca, New York, 1900-1999

Because ambient temperature strongly influences reproduction in frogs, the seasonal timing of frog calling provides a sensitive index of biotic response to climate change. Over the last century, daily temperatures increased during 5 of the 8 months key to gametogenesis in frogs and toads near Ithaca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conservation biology 2001-08, Vol.15 (4), p.1175-1178
Main Authors: Gibbs, James P., Breisch, Alvin R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphibians
animal behavior
animal ecology
Animal vocalization
Anura
Breeding
Climate change
Climate models
Freshwater
Frogs
Global warming
meteorology and climatology
Phenology
Research Notes
Species
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Summary:Because ambient temperature strongly influences reproduction in frogs, the seasonal timing of frog calling provides a sensitive index of biotic response to climate change. Over the last century, daily temperatures increased during 5 of the 8 months key to gametogenesis in frogs and toads near Ithaca, New York (U.S.A.). Earliest dates of calling frogs recorded by Albert Hazen Wright between 1900 and 1912 near Ithaca were compared to those from the New York State Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project for 1990-1999 for the three counties surrounding Ithaca. Four species are now calling 10-13 days earlier, two are unchanged, and none is calling later. The data suggest that climate has warmed in central New York State during this century and has resulted in earlier breeding in some amphibians-a possible first indication of biotic response to climate change in eastern North America.
ISSN:0888-8892
1523-1739
DOI:10.1046/j.1523-1739.2001.0150041175.x