Seasonal Selection in the Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens

Merrell, David J.; Rodell, Charles F.

doi:10.2307/2406527

Cited by 26 publications

(61 citation statements)

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“…Normal amphibian populations, like those of other vertebrates (Gilbert, 2000), appear to accommodate a low number of malformed individuals. Reports in the literature support the concept of a baseline malformation rate, which has been documented in several large-scale population studies (Merrell, 1969;Meyer-Rochow and Asashima, 1988;Gray, 2000), as well as in numerous reports detailing spectacular anomalies such as ectopic or supernumerary legs (reviewed by Van Valen, 1974 andOuellet, 2000). Occasionally, acute malformation outbreaks occur in which an isolated population has a very high malformation rate (Reynolds and Stephens, 1984;Volpe and Rosenbaum, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Prevalence of Skeletal and Eye Malformations in Frogs From North-Central United States: Estimations Based on Collections From Randomly Selected Sites

Schoff

Johnson

Schotthoefer

et al. 2003

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Skeletal malformation rates for several frog species were determined in a set of randomly selected wetlands in the north-central USA over three consecutive years. In 1998, 62 sites yielded 389 metamorphic frogs, nine (2.3%) of which had skeletal or eye malformations. A subset of the original sites was surveyed in the following 2 yr. In 1999, 1,085 metamorphic frogs were collected from 36 sites and 17 (1.6%) had skeletal or eye malformations, while in 2000, examination of 1,131 metamorphs yielded 16 (1.4%) with skeletal or eye malformations. Hindlimb malformations predominated in all three years, but other abnormalities, involving forelimb, eye, and pelvis were also found. Northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) constituted the majority of collected metamorphs as well as most of the malformed specimens. However, malformations were also noted in mink frogs (R. septentrionalis), wood frogs (R. sylvatica), and gray tree frogs (Hyla spp.). The malformed specimens were found in clustered sites in all three years but the cluster locations were not the same in any year. The malformation rates reported here are higher than the 0.3% rate determined for metamorphic frogs collected from similar sites in Minnesota in the 1960s, and thus, appear to represent an elevation of an earlier baseline malformation rate.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Prevalence of Skeletal and Eye Malformations in Frogs From North-Central United States: Estimations Based on Collections From Randomly Selected Sites

Schoff

Johnson

Schotthoefer

et al. 2003

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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“…We recorded the sex and age class of each captured frog and the snout-to-urostyle length (SUL) was measured using digital calipers. Individuals smaller than 50 mm SUL or with signs of recently absorbed tails were classified as metamorphs (Merrell 1977;Leclair Jr and Castanet 1987) and not included in survival and population estimations. Adults and sub-adults were termed 'adults' for the purposes of this study.…”

Section: Amphibian Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restored Agricultural Wetlands in central Iowa: Habitat Quality and Amphibian Response

et al. 2015

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Amphibians are declining throughout the United States and worldwide due, partly, to habitat loss. Conservation practices on the landscape restore wetlands to denitrify tile drainage effluent and restore ecosystem services. Understanding how water quality, hydroperiod, predation, and disease affect amphibians in restored wetlands is central to maintaining healthy amphibian populations in the region. We examined the quality of amphibian habitat in restored wetlands relative to reference wetlands by comparing species richness, developmental stress, and adult leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) survival probabilities to a suite of environmental metrics. Although measured habitat variables differed between restored and reference wetlands, differences appeared to have sub-lethal rather than lethal effects on resident amphibian populations. There were few differences in amphibian species richness and no difference in estimated survival probabilities between wetland types. Restored wetlands had more nitrate and alkaline pH, longer hydroperiods, and were deeper, whereas reference wetlands had more amphibian chytrid fungus zoospores in water samples and resident amphibians exhibited increased developmental stress. Restored and reference wetlands are both important components of the landscape in central Iowa and maintaining a complex of fish-free wetlands with a variety of hydroperiods will likely contribute to the persistence of amphibians in this landscape. KeywordsLithobates pipiens, mark-recapture, flucating asymmetry, batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, hydroperiod, nitrate RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrights within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. Abstract Amphibians are declining throughout the United States and worldwide due, partly, to habitat loss. Conservation practices on the landscape restore wetlands to denitrify tile drainage effluent and restore ecosystem services. Understanding how water quality, hydroperiod, predation, and disease affect amphibians in restored wetlands is central to maintaining healthy amphibian populations in the region. We examined the quality of amphibian habitat in restored wetlands relative to reference wetlands by comparing species richness, developmental stress, and adult leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) survival probabilities to a suite of environmental metrics. Although measured habitat variables differed between restored and reference wetlands, differences appeared to have sub-lethal rather than lethal effects on resident amphibian populations. There were few differences in amphibian species richness and no difference in estimated survival probabilities between wetland types. Restored wetlands had more nitrate and alkaline pH, longer hydroperiods, and were deeper, whereas reference wetlands had more amphibian chytrid fungus zoospores in water samples and resident amphibians exhibited increased developmental stress. Restored and reference wetlands are both important components of...

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“…Economic and legal status: Gibbs et al 1971;Bury et al 1978. Population characteristics: Stebbins 1951Dole 1965a;Gibbs et al 1971;Merrell 1977;Wyoming Game and Fish Dept. 1977;Sharp 1979;Baxter andStone 1980.…”

Section: Rana Pipiens Northern Leopard Frogmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1977;Sharp 1979;Baxter andStone 1980. Habitat utilization: Baxter 1947;Wright and Wright 1949;Stebbins 1951Stebbins , 1954Maslin 1964;Pennak 1969;Emery et al 1972;Peterson 1974;Merrell 1977;Lynch 1978;Sharp 1979;Baxter and Stone 1980;Hamnerson and Langlois 1981;Livo 1981;Corn 1982. Feeding: Knowlton 1944Stebbins 1951;Gehlbach and Collette 1959;Linzey 1967;Dickman 1968;Hendricks 1973;Wassersug 1975.…”

Section: Rana Pipiens Northern Leopard Frogmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Feeding: Knowlton 1944Stebbins 1951;Gehlbach and Collette 1959;Linzey 1967;Dickman 1968;Hendricks 1973;Wassersug 1975. Breeding: Baxter 1949Stebbins 1951;Merrell 1977;Baxter and Stone 1980;Corn 1981Corn , 1982Livo 1981. Space use and temporal activity : Stebbins 1951;Dole 1965aDole , 1965bMerrell 1977;Campbell and Clark 1981;Livo 1981.…”

Section: Rana Pipiens Northern Leopard Frogmentioning

confidence: 99%

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