Science Saving Amphibians



Compared to mammals and birds, little is known about wild amphibians. Indeed, fully one third of amphibian species are so poorly understood that scientists don't even know whether they are safe or endangered. Better information about amphibian ecology, health and threats is critical for their conservation. Responding to this challenge, researchers at the Calgary Zoo are working to learn more about amphibians both in Alberta and around the world.


Ron Holt, Atlanta Botanical Garden


Centre for Conservation Research studies Alberta's most threatened amphibian

Thirty years ago northern leopard frog populations crashed dramatically across much of their western range, including Alberta. They still have not recovered, and are now Alberta 's most threatened amphibian species. Researchers at the Calgary Zoo's Centre for Conservation Research have been studying northern leopard frog ecology to ensure the species' conservation in our province. Find out more here.

Calgary Zoo Vets survey amphibian disease

As with birds and mammals, disease outbreaks can seriously threaten amphibian populations. Many frog and toad species are facing extinction due to a disease known as "chytrid fungus". Even more concerning is that climate change seems to be increasing chytrid's lethal effects. Disease outbreaks can wipe out healthy populations in a matter of a few years, so understanding disease prevalence is essential to amphibian conservation.

Veterinarians at the Calgary Zoo are currently spearheading the first amphibian disease surveys in Alberta. For the first time, these surveys will establish which diseases are present in our amphibians, their prevalence, and how seriously they threaten Albertan amphibian populations.

Devonian Wildlife Conservation Centre wetlands

The Calgary Zoo's Devonian Wildlife Conservation Centre has been working to keep endangered birds and mammals safe for years, and is now turning its attention to threatened amphibians. This summer, Calgary Zoo staff will survey the DWCC's wetlands, to establish which amphibian species live here, how many there are and how healthy they are. We will also assess the amphibian habitat available at the DWCC, to see if it might be a safe place for future leopard frog reintroductions. Habitat loss is the biggest global threat to amphibians, and is especially important around Alberta 's urban centres where most wetlands have been drained.

Ghana 's threatened amphibians

The Calgary Zoo has a well-established partnership with the Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC), an NGO in the West African country of Ghana. Ghana contains 76 amphibian species (compared to 45 found in Canada, which is more than 40 times bigger!), as well as some of the most threatened amphibian habitat in the world. Researchers at the Calgary Zoo's Centre for Conservation Research are collaborating with the NCRC to assess the status of and potential conservation measures for Ghanaian amphibians.