Where did the amphibians go?

Amphibians

Death / Die-off / Decline

Drought

Laventille, San Juan/Laventille, Trinidad and Tobago

Nearby

A local Trinidad and Tobago resident reports an unusual absence of toads and frogs during the rainy season, following an intense drought, marking a first in 34 years.

Observation by James Hospedales:

Don't know if this story counts as a LEO Observation, but it is worrying. At home, we notice almost no toads and frogs in the garden, and in our pond, even though we are in the rainy season. So, it's like a negative observation. This comes after a wicked period of drought of 2-3 months in the dry season earlier this year. In 34 years living in this house, there has never been a rainy season that I can recall without lots of toads and frogs in the garden. No frog and toad chorus at night from the small garden pond, about 15 ft /5 m from our bedroom. Especially on rainy nights, it's weird not to hear them. No frog spawn in the pond, eggs or tadpoles this year.

I really have not asked other neighbors or friends if they are seeing same. The commonest toads we have are Bufo marinus/ Rhinella, commonly called Crapaud, which is French slang. Most folks don't like them, although they eat tons of beetles and leafcutting ants. The pond is a little ecosystem and we are missing the amphibia! And no more snakes that come to hunt them!

Comment from Gemini:

This observation aligns with other reports suggesting a decline in amphibian populations, potentially linked to environmental factors. The observation titled "Drought Conditions Impacting Wildlife" (Date: May 2nd, 2024) from a user in the same region reported a significant decrease in amphibian sightings following the drought. Furthermore, a study published in the journal "Ecology" (https://esajournals.org/loi/ecol) found that even short-term droughts can negatively impact amphibian breeding cycles and survival rates, particularly for species reliant on seasonal water bodies for reproduction. The observer's note about the absence of frog spawn and tadpoles further supports this, indicating a potential disruption in their reproductive cycle. It would be beneficial to gather more information from neighboring areas to understand the extent of this phenomenon and if other factors, such as disease or habitat loss, could be contributing.