Climate Warming and Calling Phenology of Frogs near Ithaca, New York, 1900–1999

Abstract

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.Resumen: Debido a que las temperaturas ambientales influyen fuertemente sobre la reproducción de ranas, el registro estacional de vocalizaciones de ranas provee un índice sensible de respuesta biótica a los cambios climáticos. Durante el siglo pasado, las temperaturas diarias incrementaron durante 5 de los 8 meses clave de la gametogénesis en ranas y sapos cercanas a Ithaca Nueva York (E.U.A.). Las fechas más tempranas de vocalizaciones de ranas registradas por Albert Hazen Wright entre 1900-1912 cerca de Ithaca fueron comparadas con aquéllas del Proyecto del Atlas de Anfibios y Reptiles del Estado de Nueva York para 1990-1999 para los tres condados de los alrededores de Ithaca. Cuatro especies están ahora vocalizando entre 10 y 13 días más temprano, dos no han cambiado y ninguna está vocalizando tarde. Los datos sugieren que el clima se ha calentado en la parte central del estado de Nueva York durante este siglo y ha resultado en reproducciones tempranas en algunos anfibios-una posible primera indicación de respuesta biótica a los cambios climáticos en Norteamérica Oriental.

Climate change correlates with rapid delays and advancements in reproductive timing in an amphibian community

“…Previous work has described earlier breeding in several amphibian species in regions that have experienced recent climate warming [3,18,19]. However, discussions continue over the breadth of this phenomenon and its implications for amphibian communities [18,20 -24], a dialogue that is hampered by a scarcity of long-term data.…”

Detrimental effect of temperature increase on the fitness of an amphibian (Lissotriton helveticus)

“…The response of palmate newts to temperature increase could thus be viewed as alarming. Studies investigating a relationship between phenology of breeding and climate change have found contradictory results between amphibian species, some were breeding earlier and others were not (Gibbs and Breisch, 2001). Our results highlight that phenology would not change only because temperatures start to be warmer earlier (Beebee, 1995;Walther et al, 2002), but also because late-breeding would be counter-selected by high temperatures.…”

“…Amphibians are declining dramatically in many areas of the world and have done so particularly over the past 25 years (Houlahan et al, 2000;Lips et al, 2006). Climate change has been recognized as a proximate factor of extinction (Carey and Alexander, 2003;Collins and Storfer, 2003) and phenological change, such as earlier spring shifts (Beebee, 1995;Gibbs and Breisch, 2001). It is also believed to affect patterns of distribution of both localised and widespread species (Denoël et al, 2009;Popescu and Gibbs, 2009).…”

An overview of wetlands of Saudi Arabia: Values, threats, and perspectives

“…Importantly, the negative effects of climate change will thus merely be 'additive' to ongoing and increasing human-induced pressures. Ectotherms such as amphibians (Beebee 1995;Gibbs and Breisch 2001) and Odonata (Hassall et al 2007;Parr 2010;Dingemanse and Kalkman 2008) are closely linked to climatic factors, and their biology is driven by weather patterns (Blaustein et al 2001).…”