Differences in Morphology and Behavior in Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans) from Urban and Rural Sites in New York and New Jersey
Item
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Title
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Differences in Morphology and Behavior in Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans) from Urban and Rural Sites in New York and New Jersey
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:40f37c7dacb9:12013
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identifier
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12707
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Creator
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Costello, Jennifer Marie,
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Contributor
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Richard Veit
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Date
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2013
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Behavioral psychology | Morphology | Toxicology | Amphibians | Behavior | Biological indicator | Metals | Urbanization
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Abstract
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Anthropogenic disturbances to freshwater ecosystems are intensifying with the continued growth and expansion of the human population. Urbanization is associated with increased anthropogenic land use and pollution compared to rural areas. Freshwater ecosystems in particular are altered by the input of nutrients and wastes resulting from run-off in urban areas. Pollutants of particular concern to urban ecosystems are metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), particulate matter, and radioactive nuclides. Metals from anthropogenic activities constitute a serious threat to the environment due to their toxic effects on plants, animals and humans and their potential to accumulate up food-chains. Animal behavior is a useful individual-level response that acts as critical link between animal physiology and overall population effects. Therefore, differences behavior within a species impacted by varying degrees of urbanization may be useful in predicting overall population effects. Morphology, likewise, may differ between urban and rural environments as animal growth rates are highly dependent upon survival-related behaviors. Efficient acquisition of prey provides energy necessary for individual growth. When prey capture is deficient, growth rates are reduced which in turn impacts survival. I assess differences in green frog, Lithobates clamitans behavior and morphology in frogs from urban and rural sites. I examine the relationship between anthropogenic metals, one measure of urban pollution, and several levels of biological organization within green frogs. I determine which levels of biological organization are influenced by urbanization and if a link exists between lower levels of biological organization by assessing metal accumulation, and upper levels of biological organization, by measuring feeding behavior, advertisement call, morphology, and population composition. With the exception of cobalt (Co), no relationship was observed between metals present in the environment (sediment and water) and L. clamitans. Prey capture efficiency and prey capture latency were significantly different between frogs from urban and rural sites. Feeding efficiency was negatively associated with total metal concentration of water. Frogs from urban sites were smaller in size than frogs from rural sites. This may be due in part to lower prey capture efficiencies. I did not observe differences in L. clamitans population abundance in urban and rural sites. Therefore, the negative impacts to green frog behavior and morphology may not be severe enough to result in population declines.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Biology
