An Invasive Species as a Threat to Native Biodiversity: Larval Competition Between Native Anurans and an Invasive Treefrog

<p>Cuban Treefrogs (<em>Osteopilus septentrionalis</em>) are established in Florida and Louisiana and have invasive potential further westward, possibly impacting native anurans at multiple life stages. In anurans, competition at the larval stage can decrease adult fitness through slower development and smaller size at metamorphosis, ultimately decreasing recruitment rates. To examine the potential impacts of <em>O. septentrionalis</em> at the larval life-history stage, I quantified activity levels and growth of their tadpoles and those of two anurans native to eastern Texas: Green Treefrogs (<em>Hyla cinerea</em>) and Gulf Coast Toads (<em>Incilius nebulifer</em>). Tadpoles of the three species were raised in con- or heterospecific treatments. In heterospecific treatments including <em>O. septentrionalis</em>,<em> H. cinerea</em> growth was lowest but <em>I. nebulifer </em>activity and growth were highest. Activity level and growth of <em>O. septentrionalis</em> were highest within the conspecific treatment whereas growth was lowest in heterospecific treatments with <em>H. cinerea</em>, a potential consequence of collective activity level within treatments. To avoid local population declines of native anurans, management of Cuban Treefrogs should focus on preventing establishment of new populations.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science - Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Wasley, McKenzie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Matthew Kwiatkowski
• Stephen J. Mullin
• Christopher M. Schalk

• Activity Level
• Anura
• competition
• frog larva
• growth
• Hyla
• Incilius
• invasive species
• Osteopilus
• population declines
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/385

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1385