Summer Stories: Effect of Water Quality on Amphibians
September 29, 2025
Junior Sara Miller, a biology and sustainability major from Chase Mills, NY, spent her summer conducting research to better understand how changes in water quality affect amphibian biodiversity and survival in local ecosystems.
Miller’s research examines how environmental factors, such as pH levels, dissolved oxygen concentration, and temperature impact amphibian larvae. Amphibians live part of their lives in water and part on land, which makes them especially vulnerable to shifts in water quality.
“Amphibians must deposit their eggs in water, so the conditions of those wetlands are critical to their survival,” Miller explained. “We want to see if lower water quality actually limits amphibian diversity and reduces the chances of larvae making it to adulthood.”
Hands-On Research at Local Parks
Her fieldwork was conducted at Mendon Ponds County Park and Powder Mills Park, two Monroe County parks known for their diverse wetland habitats. By comparing amphibian populations in wetlands with different water quality conditions, Miller hopes to identify patterns that could inform broader conservation efforts.
“Being able to do this work in the field makes the project even more meaningful,” she said. “It’s one thing to study amphibians in class, but it’s another to actually collect samples and see firsthand how delicate these ecosystems are.”
Conservation and Impact
The study highlights the importance of amphibians as indicator species, which are animals that can reveal the overall health of an environment. Declines in amphibian populations may signal larger ecological challenges.
“Amphibians are a key part of biodiversity,” Miller explained. “If their numbers are dropping because of changes in water quality, that has implications for the entire ecosystem.”
Beyond contributing to global conservation conversations, Miller’s project gave her valuable experience in ecological fieldwork, data collection, and analysis. These experiences connect directly to her studies as a biology and sustainability major and will support her future career aspirations.
This article was written by Ranya Alsalahi, a senior film and television studies major. Alsalahi is an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the Fall 2025 semester.