Many of Ohio's amphibian species live in permanent bodies of water, including ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. While these are often man-made, some were formed naturally due to beaver activity or past glaciation.
In Ohio, permanent bodies of water range from small backyard ponds to the massive Lake Erie. The presence of predaceous fish in permanent waters greatly affects what amphibian species can utilize the habitat, and usually is the most important factor seperating these areas from vernal ponds.
Bathtubs make poor amphibian habitat.
Steep-sided, deep ponds and lakes (shaped like bathtubs) are usually devoid of all but the most common amphibians, like the American Bullfrog and Northern Green Frog. Ponds and lakes having gentle slopes leading to areas of warm, shallow water, however, may support a much larger assemblage of amphibian species. These shallow areas offer protection to amphibians such as the Blanchard's Cricket Frog and Eastern Red-spotted Newt, which would otherwise be devoured in the open water by predaceous fish. They also provide areas for amphibian larvae to hide and forage.
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