Dispersal & Migration in Rana draytonii

Examining the movement patterns among two life stages of Rana draytonii (California Red-legged frog)

Presenter: Hale Garcia-Dean

Co-Presenter(s):
Jennaca Hajek, Beth Day, Monica Mendia, Jeffery Wilcox, Derek Girman

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 22-23

Semester: Fall

Faculty Mentor: Dereck Girman

Department: Biology

Funding Source/Sponsor: CEI

President's Strategic Plan Goal: Sustainability and Environmental Inquiry

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1Qfy0ZHiPk6FyxDYfQfnbQkUZuYhLJjfY

Abstract:
The California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) is California’s state amphibian, and a protected species in decline, that has been extirpated from approximately 70% of its former range. This project aimed to understand the movement rates and patterns of California red-legged frogs at the froglet and adult life stages as they disperse and migrate away from the breeding/natal pond. Since water is a limited resource amphibians are heavily reliant on, it was hypothesized that both adult and juvenile individuals would preferentially travel along moisture corridors, and shelter in appropriately moist microhabitats in times of little precipitation.