The Effects of Elevation on Pseudacris maculata Presence in Rocky Mountain National Park
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Authors
Guimond, Madeline
Issue Date
2022
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Boreal chorus frog populations are declining rapidly due to
habitat loss, disease, and invasive species, which will be
compounded by climate change. The changing environment
of the planet has led to an increasing variability in
temperature and precipitation, which has caused a negative
impact on individual amphibian metamorphosis and growth.
Elevation is an environmental variable that has been studied
widely, however it can be hard to tease apart the effects of
elevation in comparison to climate change. Pseudacris
maculata populations are distributed at various elevations,
but it is unclear if this is due to elevation preference or in
response to climate change. This study aims to investigate if
there is a connection between elevation and amphibian
presence, specifically proposing that increasing elevation
would have a negative effect on the presence of P. maculata
in Rocky Mountain National Park. This research was carried
out using double visual encounter surveys at various sites in
the park with elevation and presence recorded at each site.
The binomial linear regression analysis run showed no
significant results. Elevation did not have an impact on P.
maculata presence, and although there was a negative
correlation between P. maculata and elevation, the result was
not statistically significant. Future climate change
consequences indicate a continued rapid population decline,
with high mortality and stunted growth in P. maculata.
Description
1 Broadside. 48"W x 36"H
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo, Mich. : Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.