Environmental Analysis of the Declination of Blanchard’s Cricket Frogs (Acris blanchardi)

Kyle A. Alvarez

Abstract


Blanchard’s Cricket frog has been experiencing declining populations in its northern most regions. 33 frogs were divided into three separate treatment groups (wet, dry, normal) depending on soil hydration so that the effect on their foraging habits and well-being could be observed. ¾ oz of water was added to the normal treatment group, 1.5 oz of water was added to the wet treatment group, and no water was added to the dry treatment group, maintaining a constant soil hydration for all three groups (dry=20, wet=90, normal=60). No dramatic weight change patterns were experienced in any of the three test groups, meanwhile the dry treatment group spent the most time in the water petri dish and therefore the least amount of time foraging in the substrate. Generalized linear mixed models and a linear regression model were used to quantify the data and partially gave us the results we hypothesized. While no correlation between time spent in petri dish and weight change was established the hypothesis that the dry treatment group would spend the majority of its time in the petri dish was correct.

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References


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