Amphibians in a changing world: assessing the effects of warming and drought on amphibian larvae in an artificial pond experiment

Elizabeth J. Shadle, Bill A. Hopkins, and Meryl C. Mims

Mentored Undergraduates: Georgia Boley, Kara Hall, Mackenzi Hallmark, and Alexis Jackson

This research investigates how climate related variables, such as changing temperatures and precipitation, are interacting and how these interactions may result in sub-lethal effects on sensitive taxa like amphibians. The primary goal of this study is to examine the developmental responses of anuran larvae to warming temperatures and increased drying rates of larval habitat - both plausible results of climate change in the eastern United States. This research addresses how warming temperatures and shorter hydroperiods independently and interactively affect larval development. To investigate the role of climate variables on amphibians, we are using 48 mesocosms (artificial ponds) to evaluate how survivorship, body size, and rate of larval development of two anuran species, wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) and spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), respond to experimentally manipulated temperature and hydroperiod. This research will provide fundamental and applied insight into how the growth and development in larval amphibians may be affected by multiple, interacting factors resulting from a changing environment.

Project status: The mesocosms were set up in February and ran through the end of July 2019. We are now working on data analysis for a manuscript in Spring 2020!