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Urbanization negatively affects natural ecosystems in many ways, and aquatic systems in partic- ular. Urbanization is also cited as one of the potential contributors to recent dramatic declines in amphibian populations. From 2000 to 2002 we determined the distribution and abundance of native amphibians and exotic predators and characterized stream habitat and invertebrate communities in 35 streams in an urbanized landscape north of Los Angeles (U.S.A.). We measured watershed development as the percentage of area within each watershed occupied by urban land uses. Streams in more developed watersheds often had exotic crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii) and fish, and had fewer native species such as California newts ( Taricha torosa) and California treefrogs ( Hyla cadaverina). These effects seemed particularly evident above 8% development, a result coincident with other urban stream studies that show negative impacts beginning at 10-15% urbanization. For Pacific treefrogs ( H. regilla), the most widespread native amphibian, abundance was lower in the presence of exotic crayfish, although direct urbanization effects were not found. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities were also less diverse in urban streams, especially for sensitive species. Faunal community changes in urban streams may be related to changes in physical stream habitat, such as fewer pool and more run habitats and increased water depth and flow, leading to more permanent streams. Variation in stream permanence was particularly evident in 2002, a dry year when many natural streams were dry but urban streams were relatively unchanged. Urbanization has significantly altered stream habitat in this region and may enhance invasion by exotic species and negatively affect diversity and abundance of native amphibians. Efectos de la Urbanización sobre la Distribución y Abundancia de Anfibios y Especies Invasoras en Arroyos del Sur de California Resumen: La urbanización afecta de muchas formas negativas a los ecosistemas naturales, particularmente a los sistemas acuáticos. La urbanización también está reconocida como uno de los potenciales causantes de las dramáticas declinaciones recientes en las poblaciones de anfibios. Entre 2000 y 2002 determinamos la distribución y abundancia de anfibios nativos y depredadores exóticos y caracterizamos el hábitat y las comunidades de invertebrados en 35 arroyos en un paisaje urbanizado al norte de LosÁngeles. Medimos el desarrollo de la cuenca como el porcentaje de la superficie ocupada por usos urbanos en cada cuenca. ‡ ‡email seth riley@nps.gov † †Current address: Environmental Science and Policy, Riley et al. Urbanization and Stream Amphibians 1895Los arroyos en cuencas más desarrolladas a menudo tenían cangrejos de río exóticos (Procambarus clarkii) y peces, y tenían menos especies nativas, como tritones (Taricha torosa) y ranas arborícolas (Hyla cadaverina). Estos efectos parecieron particularmente evidentes arriba de 8% de desarrollo, un resultado que coincide con otros estudios de arroyos urbanos que muestran impactos ...

Nearly two decades ago, the global biodiversity crisis was catapulted to the front pages of newspapers with the recognition of worldwide amphibian declines. Amphibians earned their appellation, 'canaries in a coal mine', because of apparent high sensitivity to human-mediated environmental change. The most frequently cited causes for high susceptibility include permeable skin, a dual aquatic-terrestrial life cycle and a relatively rudimentary immune system. While some researchers have questioned the basis for the canary assertion, there has been no systematic evaluation of amphibian sensitivity to environmental challenges relative to other taxa. Here, we apply a database representing thousands of toxicity tests to compare the responses of amphibians relative to that of other taxonomic groups. The use of standardized methods combined with large numbers of identical challenges enables a particularly powerful test of relative effect size. Overall, we found that amphibians only exhibit moderate relative responses to water-borne toxins. Our findings imply that, as far as chemical contaminants are concerned, amphibians are not particularly sensitive and might more aptly be described as 'miners in a coal mine'. To the extent that amphibian declines have been mediated by chemical contaminants, our findings suggest that population losses and extinctions may have already occurred in a variety of taxa much more sensitive than amphibians.

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