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Kitson_Honors Thesis Final.pdf (798.8 KB)

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Upland forest leaf litter: Effects on growth and development of Lithobates sylvaticus tadpoles

Kitson, Sarah R
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1367944142

Abstract Details

2013, BS, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Biological Sciences.
Amphibians fill many niches within an ecosystem and have important interactions with other species in their habitats. In this study, wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) tadpole growth and development was monitored until metamorphosis under four different leaf litter treatments; red oak (Quercus rubra), red maple (Acer rubrum), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and a mixture of the three in artificial pools that simulated their typical vernal pool habitat. While tadpole size, morphology, and developmental stage changed significantly over time, there were no significant effects of leaf litter treatment, nor were there significant time*treatment interaction effects. Following completion of the experiment, leaf chemistry analyses were also conducted to compare biochemical characteristics associated with different leaf litter treatments that might have implications for tadpole populations. Of the biochemical analyses, % polar extractives, % lignin, lignin:N, and % C were significantly different among treatments. Thus, despite leaf litter differences, tadpoles showed no significant treatment effects. These data indicate that wood frog tadpoles exhibit broader plasticity relative to vernal pool conditions than might be expected. Ultimately, this may make L. sylvaticus more resilient to changing upland forest communities, particularly with respect to tree species present.
Mark Kershner (Advisor)
Chris Blackwood (Committee Member)
Dan Ross (Committee Member)
Paul Sampson (Committee Member)
43 p.
Biology; Conservation; Ecology; Environmental Science; Evolution and Development; Freshwater Ecology; Organismal Biology; Plant Biology; Wildlife Conservation
Lithobates sylvaticus; tadpole; upland forest; leaf litter; growth; development

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kitson, S. R. (2013). Upland forest leaf litter: Effects on growth and development of Lithobates sylvaticus tadpoles [Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1367944142

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kitson, Sarah. Upland forest leaf litter: Effects on growth and development of Lithobates sylvaticus tadpoles. 2013. Kent State University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1367944142.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kitson, Sarah. "Upland forest leaf litter: Effects on growth and development of Lithobates sylvaticus tadpoles." Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1367944142

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ksuhonors1367944142
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© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University Honors College and OhioLINK.