Undergraduate Honors Theses

A Combination of Environmental and Landscape Variables Drives Movement and Habitat use in Two Anaxyrus spp. in the Eastern Coastal Plain

Alexander Ferentinos, William & MaryFollow

Date Thesis Awarded

4-2024

Access Type

Honors Thesis -- Open Access

Degree Name

Bachelors of Science (BS)

Department

Biology

Advisor

Matthias Lau

Committee Members

Randolph Chambers

Robert Rose

James Tumulty

Abstract

Amphibians are among the most endangered taxa and are largely threatened by habitat loss. Little work has been conducted on the movement and habitat use of amphibians outside of their breeding season. In this study, we examined the movement patterns of two species of toads inhabiting the Eastern Coastal Plain of Virginia: the Eastern American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus americanus) and the Fowler’s Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri). Based on three years of movement data, we estimated the median migration distance of toads from their breeding locations and the propensity for site fidelity, related variation in distance traveled to environmental (e.g., rain, temperature, humidity) and landscape variables (e.g., coniferous forests, distance to trails, terrain ruggedness index), and compared microhabitat selection for daytime refugia between the two species. We found similar median distances from breeding grounds for the two species, 63 m for the Eastern American Toad and 64 m for the Fowler’s Toad, but Eastern American Toads had a greater range of moved distances (3rd quartiles were 122 m for Eastern American and 73 m for Fowler’s Toads). We also found that both species exhibited site fidelity. Distance to trails and minimum temperature related positively with increased movements. Compared to Fowler’s Toads, Eastern American Toads favored woody structures and leaf litter for daytime refugia. Our research provides crucial information for two toad species about the extent of their movements and habitat use during the nonbreeding season. To lessen the decline of amphibians, habitats occupied during the nonbreeding season need to be included in conservation strategies at biologically relevant distances around breeding areas.

Recommended Citation

Ferentinos, Alexander, "A Combination of Environmental and Landscape Variables Drives Movement and Habitat use in Two Anaxyrus spp. in the Eastern Coastal Plain" (2024). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 2076.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/2076