Recently, endangered species conservation and invasive species management converged for our Aquatics Invasives Strike Force (AISF) crew. In 2019, the AISF crew managed an infestation of invasive water chestnut at a lake in Orange County. This year, the crew planned to return to complete surveys via rake toss as well as pull out any remaining water chestnut. However, after conducting a bit of research, Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator, Devin DiGiacopo, Ph.D., discovered that this lake was, in fact, home to the endangered northern cricket frog! The northern cricket frog is one of New York’s smallest vertebrates at only 1 inch in length. Listed as an endangered species in the state, this particular frog predominantly utilizes aquatic vegetation as both its habitat and breeding ground. With assistance from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Wildlife Technician, Callie Barth-Dwyer, the AISF crew ventured to a lake in Orange County, NY, to determine whether there was an overlap between an invasive water chestnut infestation and northern cricket frog breeding territory. After completing a visual survey of the lake and after determining the densely (and natively!) vegetated south end was premier cricket frog habitat, the crew waited until after sunset to conduct a frog call survey. During the survey, the crew heard a cacophony of sounds including green frogs, gray tree frogs, bullfrogs, and, of course, northern cricket frogs! The high presence of cricket frogs in this native plant-populated area of the lake was encouraging - hopefully signifying a lack of overlap between this frog's breeding grounds and water chestnut growth. With this data set, the AISF crew can now work on a management plan that ensures this tiny amphibian has continued success at this site. |