Date of Award

Winter 12-12-2020

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science - Biology

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Matthew Kwiatkowski

Second Advisor

Stephen J. Mullin

Third Advisor

Christopher M. Schalk

Fourth Advisor

Paul Crump

Abstract

Cuban Treefrogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) are established in Florida and Louisiana and have invasive potential further westward, possibly impacting native anurans at multiple life stages. In anurans, competition at the larval stage can decrease adult fitness through slower development and smaller size at metamorphosis, ultimately decreasing recruitment rates. To examine the potential impacts of O. septentrionalis at the larval life-history stage, I quantified activity levels and growth of their tadpoles and those of two anurans native to eastern Texas: Green Treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) and Gulf Coast Toads (Incilius nebulifer). Tadpoles of the three species were raised in con- or heterospecific treatments. In heterospecific treatments including O. septentrionalis, H. cinerea growth was lowest but I. nebulifer activity and growth were highest. Activity level and growth of O. septentrionalis were highest within the conspecific treatment whereas growth was lowest in heterospecific treatments with H. cinerea, a potential consequence of collective activity level within treatments. To avoid local population declines of native anurans, management of Cuban Treefrogs should focus on preventing establishment of new populations.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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