Indy greenways provide a safe haven for frogs

The Indianapolis Greenways have served as a place for people to escape from urban life for many years. But a report by IU graduate Lori Block shows that the greenways might have a much more important role -- as a sanctuary for the frog and toad population of Indianapolis.\nBlock and Vicky Meretsky, associate professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, recently presented the research findings to the Indiana Academy of Science.\nIn urban areas, amphibians are confined to patches. Block set out to determine if the greenways are sufficient to support frog and toad populations in Indianapolis. \nGreenways are corridors of undeveloped land, often along rivers, that are preserved for recreational use and for environmental preservation.\nBlock found that Indianapolis' network of greenways may provide the frogs and toads with the territory necessary to survive.\n"I have an interest in wetlands, and frogs are bio-indicators of what is going on in aquatic and terrestrial areas," Block said.\nThe frogs are important bio-indicators because of the way they use osmosis to absorb air and water through their skin, Block said.\n"They pretty much act like little sponges that absorb everything in their environment," Block said. \nThe health of the frog population has been of interest in the science community because of their importance as a reflection on the overall health of the environment.\n"There has been a big call to action for scientists concerning frog and toad populations since they have been in major declines over the past 15 to 20 years," Block said.\nDespite the interest in frogs, there was a scarcity of information concerning frog populations in Indianapolis. Aside from some historic research from one individual, Block was only able to find modern research from one area -- Eagle Creek Park.\nThis made it necessary for Block to establish a baseline of frog populations.\nTo determine the sites that she would study, Block spent four to six weeks assessing the habitats during the day and then performing the auditory surveys -- listening to the frogs calling -- at night.\n"I did a lot of driving around and stopping at night," Block said.\nThe opportunity to present the findings of Block's senior thesis came when Meretsky, Block's research adviser, submitted the abstract to the Indiana Academy of Science.\nAccording to the Indiana Academy of Science Web site, it is the state's oldest scientific society. The Academy's intent is to provide scientists with the ability to exchange ideas.\nPresenting to the Indiana Academy of Science was a "way of recognizing the excellence of Lori's research," Meretsky said.\nPresenting research also gives a chance for a bit of closure on the research, Meretsky said.\nWhile Block's senior thesis project has ended, her work with frog research at the Indianapolis Greenways has not. She is working with Kara Salazar, education outreach coordinator for the Center for Earth and Environmental Science at IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis, to continue researching frogs in Indianapolis.\n"We are just looking at populations and trying to determine what kind of species we are finding in these urban river settings," Salazar said.\n-- Contact staff writer Matt McNabb at mmcnabb@indiana.edu.