JDJCSET | Conservation Biology Service Learning Poster Session
Tagging toads: Is PIT tagging a viable mark-recapture method for toads?
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Watershed Science
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Howard H. Whiteman
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Over the past several decades, amphibians have experienced massive global declines due to a variety of factors, one of which being the universal spread of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). Chytrid fungus disrupts normal osmoregulation and respiration in frogs, and infection can be fatal. Boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) were once common throughout the southern Rocky Mountains, but are currently endangered due to widespread mortality from chytrid fungus. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has formulated a boreal toad conservation plan in which they release tadpoles from a state hatchery to restored sites around the state that are chytrid-free. One goal CPW has in their boreal toad conservation plan is to investigate methods for identifying individual boreal toads in order to determine the survival rate and health of individuals at each restored site. Conventionally, boreal toads are identified using their unique markings on their undersides, which can be time-consuming. Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags are small electronic microchips, and have been utilized extensively in mark-recapture studies. Each tag is associated with a unique number, and once an animal is PIT tagged and released, handheld or remote scanners can be used to easily and rapidly scan recaptured individuals. To our knowledge, the technique has not been used on toads in the past. We aimed to determine how PIT tagging impacts toad health and survival in order to ascertain whether the technique should be utilized by CPW in their restored boreal toad populations. Because boreal toads are endangered, we conducted our study using Fowler’s toads (Anaxyrus fowleri). We tagged 16 Fowler’s toads and collected total body length and mass measurements of each in early September. We then released them around Hancock Biological Station (HBS). Subsequently, we conducted weekly surveys in which we captured and scanned toads. Out of the 33 toads captured during our surveys, only three were tagged, which indicates that the toad population around HBS is much larger than anticipated. However, all of the recaptured toads had increased body length and mass at time of recapture, indicating that PIT tagging did not result in a decline in health or body condition. Our limited results indicate that PIT tagging does not negatively affect toads, and that the technique may be best applied in more closed populations.
Fall Scholars Week 2022 Event
Conservation Biology Service Learning Poster Session
Tagging toads: Is PIT tagging a viable mark-recapture method for toads?
Over the past several decades, amphibians have experienced massive global declines due to a variety of factors, one of which being the universal spread of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). Chytrid fungus disrupts normal osmoregulation and respiration in frogs, and infection can be fatal. Boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) were once common throughout the southern Rocky Mountains, but are currently endangered due to widespread mortality from chytrid fungus. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has formulated a boreal toad conservation plan in which they release tadpoles from a state hatchery to restored sites around the state that are chytrid-free. One goal CPW has in their boreal toad conservation plan is to investigate methods for identifying individual boreal toads in order to determine the survival rate and health of individuals at each restored site. Conventionally, boreal toads are identified using their unique markings on their undersides, which can be time-consuming. Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags are small electronic microchips, and have been utilized extensively in mark-recapture studies. Each tag is associated with a unique number, and once an animal is PIT tagged and released, handheld or remote scanners can be used to easily and rapidly scan recaptured individuals. To our knowledge, the technique has not been used on toads in the past. We aimed to determine how PIT tagging impacts toad health and survival in order to ascertain whether the technique should be utilized by CPW in their restored boreal toad populations. Because boreal toads are endangered, we conducted our study using Fowler’s toads (Anaxyrus fowleri). We tagged 16 Fowler’s toads and collected total body length and mass measurements of each in early September. We then released them around Hancock Biological Station (HBS). Subsequently, we conducted weekly surveys in which we captured and scanned toads. Out of the 33 toads captured during our surveys, only three were tagged, which indicates that the toad population around HBS is much larger than anticipated. However, all of the recaptured toads had increased body length and mass at time of recapture, indicating that PIT tagging did not result in a decline in health or body condition. Our limited results indicate that PIT tagging does not negatively affect toads, and that the technique may be best applied in more closed populations.