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Monday, February 29, 2016

Leap Day

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS):




Leap Day— It's Leap Day...why don't we take a leap and share this photo of an Ornate Horned Frog? Get it? Leap...Frog...Leap Day? OK, enough with our cheesy jokes. This is a photo of an Ornate Horned Frog which are commonly found in parts of South America and are from the Ceratophryidae family. 

Amphibians play important roles in ecosystems. Frogs, toads, and salamanders contribute to ecosystem function by eating small insects and bugs (like mosquitos) and by being a food source to larger animals. Amphibian health can help us evaluate the overall health of the ecosystem. Unfortunately, USGS scientists, and their scientific partners, have found that amphibian populations are declining across the United States. In a first-of-its-kind study, USGS scientists analyzed nine years of data from 34 sites and 48 species. This study concluded that amphibian decline may be more widespread and severe than previously thought. You can learn more about the amphibian research that USGS does and why this kind of research matters at at http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/wildlife/amphibians.html. Photo by: Yolanda Fong-Sam, USGS.

#USGS #science #frogs #amphibians #leapday#leapyear #biology #ecosystems

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