- Biodôme, Espace pour la vie
The Biodôme is actively involved in conservation projects designed to prevent the decline and eventual disappearance of endangered species, including the western chorus frog. One of the strategies employed is the reintroduction into the wild of individuals resulting from assisted reproduction.
This year, 2,607 tadpoles were released in Longueuil and in Mont Saint-Bruno. This is a significant increase over previous years: in 2022, 984 were released, and in 2023, 1,498.
In the field
Collecting western chorus frogs in the field intended for reproduction was carried out by the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs. Specialists collected 43 males and 26 females. Eggs were harvested from their natural habitat in order to hatch at the Biodôme. All those individuals were released either in their original site in Longueuil – around the Boisé Du Tremblay – or at Mont-Saint-Bruno Provincial Park, a site that figures in the historical distribution of the species.
The principal goal is to support the frog in its breeding and to make sure it reaches a stage of development that will optimize its survival in the wild.
The western chorus frog: a wetland sentinel species
This is the smallest frog that lives in Québec: the adult measures between 1.9 and 3.7 centimeters. It can be found in Montérégie and in Outaouais.
The main threat to the species is loss of its habitat caused by urban development and agricultural intensification. Over the last few decades, the species has lost 90 percent of its distribution in Montérégie and 30 percent of its distribution in Outaouais.
Despite its small size, the western chorus frog plays an important role in the ecosystem. Indeed, it is an indicator (sentinel species) of the pressures on biodiversity, particularly those found in wetlands, which are important for ecosystem balance. These protect against erosion, regulate the effect of flooding and play a key role in the water cycle for filtration. In addition to the chorus frog, there are many species of flora and wildlife that thrive here.
This project is possible thanks to the collaboration of a number of organizations:
- Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
- Sépaq
- Université Laval
- University of Ottawa
Discover Espace pour la vie’s endangered species fund, which supports this conservation project.