Variations in abundance of Psuedacris regilla in relation to canopy and shrub cover near bodies of water in the Chuckanut Mountains, WA
Research Mentor(s)
McLaughlin, John
Description
The abundance of Pacific Chorus Frog varies between bodies of fresh-water due to the influence of canopy and shrub cover on predation by birds. Wetlands in the Chuckanut Mountains have diverse canopy and shrub coverage allowing for a range of habitat for Pacific Chorus Frogs, and their predators, but a direct effect of canopy or shrub cover on frog abundance has yet to be established for this region. If chorus frog density is limited by avian predators, then we expect frogs to be in greater abundance in wetlands with greater shrub coverage, because the shrub cover provides camouflage and hinders catching by predators, while canopy cover provides perching sites for avian predators. We determined frog breeding distribution using the Wisconsin frog and toad aural survey protocol at wetland sites spanning a wide range in canopy and shrub cover. We estimated the relationship between frog distribution and shrub cover by fitting a logistic regression model to our field data. These results have implications for amphibian conservation, habitat management, and wetland buffer regulations.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
18-5-2017 9:00 AM
End Date
18-5-2017 12:00 PM
Department
Environmental Sciences
Genre/Form
student projects; posters
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Amphibians--Northwest, Pacific; Pacific treefrog--Behavior; Pacific treefrog--Breeding
Geographic Coverage
Northwest, Pacific
Type
Image
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this documentation for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Variations in abundance of Psuedacris regilla in relation to canopy and shrub cover near bodies of water in the Chuckanut Mountains, WA
The abundance of Pacific Chorus Frog varies between bodies of fresh-water due to the influence of canopy and shrub cover on predation by birds. Wetlands in the Chuckanut Mountains have diverse canopy and shrub coverage allowing for a range of habitat for Pacific Chorus Frogs, and their predators, but a direct effect of canopy or shrub cover on frog abundance has yet to be established for this region. If chorus frog density is limited by avian predators, then we expect frogs to be in greater abundance in wetlands with greater shrub coverage, because the shrub cover provides camouflage and hinders catching by predators, while canopy cover provides perching sites for avian predators. We determined frog breeding distribution using the Wisconsin frog and toad aural survey protocol at wetland sites spanning a wide range in canopy and shrub cover. We estimated the relationship between frog distribution and shrub cover by fitting a logistic regression model to our field data. These results have implications for amphibian conservation, habitat management, and wetland buffer regulations.