Amphibian terrestrial habitat selection and movement patterns vary with annual life-history period
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Abstract
Identification of essential habitat is a fundamental component of amphibian conservation; however, species with complex life histories frequently move among habitats. To better understand dynamic habitat use, we evaluated Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus (LeConte, 1825)) habitat selection and movement patterns during the spring migration and foraging periods and described the spatiotemporal variability of habitats used during all annual life-history periods. We radio-tracked 71 frogs in Maine during 2011–2013 and evaluated spring migration, foraging activity center (FAC), and within-FAC habitat selection. Telemetered frogs spent the greatest percentage of each field season in hibernacula (≥54.4%), followed by FACs (≥25.5%), migration habitat (≥16.9%), and breeding sites (≥4.5%). FACs ranged 49 – 1 335 m2 (568.0 ± 493.4 m2) and annual home ranges spanned 1 413 – 32 165 m2 (11 780.6 ± 12 506.1 m2). During spring migration, Wood Frogs exhibited different movement patterns (e.g., turn angles), selected different habitat features, and selected habitat features less consistently than while occupying FACs, indicating that the migration and foraging periods are ecologically distinct. Habitat-use studies that do not discriminate among annual life-history periods may obscure true ecological relationships and fail to identify essential habitat necessary for sustaining amphibian populations.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Amphibian terrestrial habitat selection and movement patterns vary with annual life-history period |
| Series title | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
| DOI | 10.1139/cjz-2016-0148 |
| Volume | 95 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Year Published | 2017 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| Publisher location | Ottawa, ON |
| Contributing office(s) | Coop Res Unit Leetown |
| Description | 10 p. |
| First page | 433 |
| Last page | 442 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |