Date Thesis Awarded
5-2019
Access Type
Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only
Degree Name
Bachelors of Science (BS)
Department
Biology
Advisor
Matthias Leu
Committee Members
Randolph Chambers
Linda Morse
Matthias Leu
Abstract
Amphibian populations have declined precipitously in recent decades, and effective management plans are needed to combat this ongoing decline. However, most amphibian management plans tend to be extremely generalized, and little research has explored species-specific responses of amphibians to microhabitat or climatic variables. Using a relatively novel tracking method, I examine the annual microhabitat and movement of two Anaxyrus species (A. americanus and A. fowleri), one of which has suffered population declines, for the purpose of informing management practices regarding these species. My study found large differences in microhabitat use between the two species. A. americanus primarily utilize microhabitats associated with forest, while A. fowleri utilize a variety of microhabitats, some of which are never used by A. americanus. Additionally, A. fowleri are more mobile and cover more distance on average than A. americanus, though both species tend to move greater distances at higher temperatures, higher cumulative 3-day rainfall, and earlier in the year. Overall, my results indicate the need for management practices that are tailored to conserve species-specific habitat requirements.
Recommended Citation
Check, Courtney, "Annual Movement Patterns and Microhabitat Use of Two Anaxyrus Species in the Southeastern Coastal Plain" (2019). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 1289.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/1289
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
