Mountain chorus frog, Pseudacris brachyphona
Photograph by Ed Thompson
By fall, amphibians like the mountain chorus frog are preparing to burrow into the mud to spend the winter. But on May evenings in Garrett County this inch-and-a-half long frog is noisily squeaking at a high pitch to attract a mate.
The mountain chorus frog is Threatened in Maryland because its natural breeding places – wooded seasonal pools and springs – are often disturbed by human activities. Much of this natural wetland habitat has been degraded or destroyed.
Scientists are now seeking the causes of an apparent worldwide decline in frogs and other amphibians. Eggs and larvae of amphibians are susceptible to acidification of their aquatic habitat. As adults, their moist skin may facilitate the ingestion of environmental poisons.
