Date of Award

2018

Degree Name

Biological Sciences

College

College of Science

Type of Degree

M.S.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Thomas K. Pauley, Committee Chairperson

Second Advisor

Dr. Jayme L. Waldron

Third Advisor

Dr. Shane Welch

Abstract

As anthropogenic environmental stressors such as urbanization continue to increase, it is necessary to understand their impact on amphibian ecology. Due largely to their biphasic life history amphibians are negatively impacted by the destruction of lotic habitats i.e., wetlands for the creation of roads and urban centers. I examined the effects of three human-made road rut pools on the reproductive success and species richness of amphibians in southwest West Virginia from May to October 2012. I employed three detection techniques: drift fence pitfall trap arrays, funnel traps and dipnet sampling. Additionally, habitat covariates were taken (i.e., water depth) at each sampling. A total of nine species were detected at various life stages (Larval, Juvenile, and Adult). Larvae were the most commonly detected stage. All larvae were aged according to the Gosner and Harrison staging charts. While the objectives of this study were addressed, there was not enough data to make any statistically significant conclusions. However, this study does allow for several anecdotal observations to be made which are important for future studies.

Subject(s)

Amphibians -- West Virginia.

Amphibians -- Conservation -- West Virginia.

Wildlife conservation -- West Virginia.

Download

Share

COinS