MOVEMENT ECOLOGY AND HABITAT USE OF THREE SYMPATRIC ANURAN SPECIES

Studies focused on movement ecology and habitat use allow for the identification and prioritization of critical habitats and movement corridors for species conservation in altered landscapes. We used radio-telemetry to examine the movements and habitat use of three sympatric anuran species in two forested study landscapes with diverse aquatic resources in the drought-prone Piedmont ecoregion of the southeastern USA to identify required habitats and movement corridors. We tracked 15 Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus), 11 Southern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates sphenocephalus), and six Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans) between 27 January and 30 June 2012. Wood Frogs and Southern Leopard Frogs moved among ephemeral wetland, marsh, and stream habitats. Green Frogs used ephemeral wetland, swamp, and stream habitats. At the 2-m scale, Wood Frogs and Green Frogs selected areas with ample deciduous leaf ground cover; Southern Leopard Frogs selected areas with ample fern ground cover. At the 20-m scale, Wood Frogs selected areas with high relative humidity; Southern Leopard Frogs and Green Frogs selected aquatic areas. The variation in habitat use by the three species supports the importance of conserving heterogeneous features within a landscape to maintain biodiversity.