Records, even for species expected to be common, were often scarce or absent. As a result, maps frequently did not convey the true distribution of species in the state. Additional field work is needed so that the distribution of the amphibians and reptiles in the Commonwealth more accurately reflect the actual distribution of species. Because of changing land-use patterns and successional events, some of these historic populations probably no longer exist. In any event, after several decades to an entire century of no records, it would be wise to re-confirm the existence of historic populations.
Plans are under way to develop an anuran calling survey in Pennsylvania.
PABS amphibian and reptile technical committee has been working on several projects. The first of these is the development of an annotated checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of the state. The checklist will include the common name and parenthetically the scientific name of each species. The checklist will also include the current status of each species and its presence or absence from the physiographic provinces of the state. In conjunction with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the committee has initiated an amphibian and reptile atlas project that is designed to use volunteers to develop a detailed, statewide, distributional database for amphibians and reptiles.