Date of Award
2004
Degree Name
Biological Sciences
College
College of Science
Type of Degree
M.S.
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Thomas K. Pauley, Committee Chair
Second Advisor
Dan K. Evans
Third Advisor
Tom G. Jones
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to gather ecological and life history data for the Northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens Schreber, in West Virginia. In Chapter 1, natural history data, such as morphometrics (larval and adult), dorsal coloration, and emergence time were recorded. In Chapter 2, it was discovered that Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas ssp. skin infections affecting R. pipiens could be identified using BIOLOG analysis. The scope of Chapter 3 was to analyze habitat partitioning between 3 sympatric anurans (R. pipiens, R. catesbeiana, and R. clamitans melanota). The following habitat partitioning gradient was discovered. Rana pipiens was the most terrestrial species and R. catesbeiana was the most aquatic species. Rana c. melanota inhabited the transition zone between the terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The purpose of Chapter 4 was to analyze the diet composition of R. pipiens. It was discovered that Coleopterans, Annelids, and Hymenopterans comprised 22.9%, 17.3% and 11.9% of the diet, respectively.
Subject(s)
Northern leopard frog -- Ecology -- West Virginia.
Northern leopard frog -- Habitat -- West Virginia.
Recommended Citation
Sutton, William Bradley, "The Ecology and Natural History of the Northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens Schreber, in West Virginia" (2004). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1276.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1276
