Date on Honors Thesis

Spring 4-23-2025

Major

Wildlife & Conservation Biology

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Howard Whiteman, Advisor

Examining Committee Member

John Hewlett, Committee Member

Examining Committee Member

Rachel Carroll, Committee Member

Abstract/Description

With the rise of fungal disease such as Chytridiomycosis, known as chytrid, causing massive population declines for many species of frogs and toads (order Anura), specific conservation strategies are needed now more than ever. In many cases, being able to mark and identify individuals is a necessary step in developing an effective conservation plan. Individual identification allows researchers to obtain accurate population estimates, which are needed to test the progress and validity of conservation management decisions. However, due to their unique life history, including cutaneous respiration and a dichotomous lifestyle, anurans are among the most difficult wildlife species to effectively mark for individual identification. In a mesocosm study, I tested two different implantation methods of Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) tags on Anaxyrus fowleri in western Kentucky to determine if PIT tags are a safe and effective marking technique for this and related species, including the Boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas), which is heavily affected by chytrid. In 2023, I implanted PIT tags directly into the body cavity of Anaxyrus fowleri, and in 2024 I inserted them subcutaneously in the left leg axillary region. As hypothesized, I saw no statistically significant body condition or survival differences between PIT-tagged toads (both body cavity and subcutaneous) and their respective control groups. While retention varied between the implantation methods, I did not find a statistically significant difference between implanting in the body cavity or subcutaneously, however, I recommend subcutaneous implantation in Anura because the literature also supports a higher retention rate for this implantation method (Brannelly et al. 2014; Rowley et al. 2024). Our results lead us to conclude that PIT-tagging as a safe and effective method for individual identification in Anaxyrus boreas boreas, and that PIT-tagging is a useful, but not ideal, method for marking Anaxyrus fowleri.

Additional Author Comments

I would like to thank Dr. Howard Whiteman, my research advisor, for providing the opportunity and support for this research project, as well as mentorship and assistance with statistics. Thank you to John Hewlett and Rachel Carroll for playing a role on my defense committee. Additionally, I would like to thank the Watershed Studies Institute (WSI) and the Hancock Biological Station (HBS) for the funding and resources to complete this study. Thank you to Whiteman Lab members Dr. Dustin Owen, Megan Zerger, and Andrew Brown for assisting in data collection, including digging up toads.

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