Bird-Voiced Treefrogs are state-threatened habitat specialists requiring high-quality Bald Cypress-Tupelo swamps with appropriate hydrological function. These treefrogs are sensitive to habitat disturbances and are largely intolerant of impoundments that permanently flood their habitat. As such, they may serve as indicators of excessive flooding (or the periodic need for lower water levels).
In addition to monitoring hydrological conditions at bottomland swamps across southern Illinois, we’ve developed a standardized sampling protocol for monitoring Bird-Voiced Treefrogs. We are using this protocol to conduct capture-mark-recapture studies at 10 cypress-tupelo swamp sites in southern Illinois over 3 years.
Our study will provide information on abundance, demographics, growth, and survival vital to this species’ conservation.
See more information on our work in the bottomlands