Environmental factors influencing wood frog (lythobates sylvaticus) tadpole size
File(s)
Date
2015-04Author
Kilibarda, Shelby
Smith, Amanda
Publisher
University of Wisconsin--Stout. Research Services
Advisor(s)
Little, Amanda
Church, James
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Body size variation among individuals and populations within a
species is important to study due to the ecological implications, specifically
life history population dynamics. Variation in growth among individuals has
been attributed to both inherent biological and environmental factors affecting
an organism. Several models have been proposed to describe life history
variation and tradeoffs. Understanding the controlling influence of body size
variation in amphibians requires consideration of all factors. We evaluated
which environmental factors have an impact on Lythobates sylvaticus tadpole
body size. Our study site consisted of 57 wetlands (41 ephemeral and 16
permanent) in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. Tadpole body sizes, measured
as snout vent lengths (SVLs), were surveyed in each wetland using minnow
traps collected after 24 hours of being submerged. Environmental factors, including
dissolved oxygen, canopy cover, pH, temperature, hydroperiod, and
chlorophyll-a were quantified. We also considered possible size variations
occurring in permanent versus ephemeral wetlands. Tadpoles in permanent
ponds were significantly larger (F1,18 = 7.34, p-value = 0.014) than those in
ephemeral ponds. Out of the environmental factors, pH resulted in a positive
correlation with tadpole size (Adjusted R2 = 0.38, F2,17, p-value = 0.006).
The results of our research provide evidence for a relationship between
amphibian body size and environmental characteristics. The pH of wetlands
may serve as a proxy for the relationship between peat accumulation, or
immediate upland landscapes, most often acidifying Pinaceae family and the
SVL of L. sylvaticus.
Subject
Lythobates sylvaticus
ephemeral ponds
body size
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/77528Description
Research article with graphs and table.
Citation
Kilibarda, S. & Smith, A. (2015). Environmental factors influencing wood frog (lythobates sylvaticus) tadpole size. University of Wisconsin-Stout Journal of Student Research, 14, 109-115.