Chapter 10. Surveys and monitoring: challenges in an age of rapid declines and discoveries

Surveys and monitoring are the core means of generating knowledge about the distributions, natural history, andconservation status of amphibians. In an age of rapid declines and discoveries across the globe, it is increasinglyurgent that surveys and monitoring efforts are well-designed and linked to clear conservation goals. Here,we surveyed the amphibian conservation community and literature to review the state of the field and updaterecommendations for surveys and monitoring. Many of the advances of the past 15 years have been technological,including shrinking size and cost of hardware like data loggers and transmitters, which has enabled collection of vastamounts of data and required concomitant advances in analytical tools. Visual encounter surveys are still the mostcommon field method for sampling amphibians, although use of eDNA and automated recorders have increasedin recent years. There are new opportunities to couple field techniques with rigorous sampling frameworks andrecent advances in analytical methods. Myriad knowledge gaps persist, however, including basic understandingof amphibian biodiversity and natural history in under-sampled regions like the Congo basin and in understudiedgroups, such as caecilians. Because many knowledge gaps exist and surveys are resource intensive, there isheightened need to apply decision science to prioritise limited resources available for surveying and monitoring. Thelinks between surveys and monitoring and conservation outcomes can ultimately be strengthened by: 1) definingclear conservation objectives for surveys and monitoring through a participatory process with stakeholders; 2)using decision support frameworks to prioritise survey efforts; 3) selecting the most appropriate combination ofsurvey methods, monitoring framework, and analytical approach for the conservation objective; and 4) effectivelycommunicating survey and monitoring results to decision-makers. Finally, 5) by leveraging new methods,technologies, and funding mechanisms, scientists and practitioners can enhance the surveys and monitoring effortsthat are essential to achieving amphibian conservation goals.