Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Fall 2002

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

Committee Chair

Daniel Beck

Second Committee Member

David Darda

Third Committee Member

Patrick Bryan

Abstract

Northern Leopard Frogs (Rana pipiens) were studied in the Potholes Reservoir area in eastern Washington, which is a unique and dynamic system of ponds. The filling and drying cycles of the reservoir cause seasonal fluctuation on pond depth. My goal was to find frogs and document their use of these ponds. I conducted surveys of R. pipiens from April - September 2002.

I caught 178 R. pipiens adults and subadults throughout my field season, gathering weight and length data. I found two groups of egg masses in April, and noted their size, location and point of attachment. Findings were similar to R. pipiens egg masses found elsewhere. I also observed hatching and dispersal of R. pipiens tadpoles and the degrading impact of non-native carp and fluctuating water levels on breeding ponds. In late summer and fall, I used radio-telemetry to track movement before, during and after migration. I attached external radio transmitters to eighteen frogs, tracking ten for part of all of their migration. The longest migration tracked was 4.5 km, more than twice the distances reported in previous literature. I tracked frogs to at least four overwintering ponds. By tracking frogs, I was able to map their use of corridors to facilitate movement between breeding and overwintering ponds.

Comments

This thesis has been digitized and made available as part of the University’s ongoing preservation and access initiatives. Copyright is retained by the original author. The University has made a good faith effort to review this work for copyright and privacy concerns prior to digitization. If you are the author or a rights holder and have questions, concerns or wish to request removal, please contact ScholarWorks@cwu.edu.

Download

Share

COinS