California red-legged frog studies

DeFrancesca et al 2016: The top of Sonoma Mountain is designated critical habitat for threatened red-legged frogs. Over a dozen ponds within the area have potential to support breeding. We study how abundance and distribution vary with habitat.

Pinto et al 2017: To determine the suitability of habitat for red-legged frogs, we assessed negation and water quality of three bodies of water at the Fairfield Osborn Preserve: Kelly Pond, the vernal pool, and Turtle Pond. 

Jain et al 2018: Sonoma Mountain is characterized as critical habitat for the threatened red-legged frog. We are exploring habitat requirements for this species and how they vary among types of aquatic habitat. .​

Surber et al 2019: Research on animal movement patterns and factors that influence these patterns is vital to conservation of endangered species. The California red-legged frog (R. draytonii) is a threatened species native to California. Their rapid decline has been largely attributed to habitat loss and introduction of invasive species, including the American bullfrog (L. catesbeianus). The goal of our study was to better understand the movement patterns of red-legged frogs by asking if 1) bullfrogs or 2) rainfall and season had a significant effect on adult red-legged frog movement rate or distance. Red-legged frogs and bullfrogs were tracked via telemetry from May 2017 to June 2018 on Sonoma Mountain. Preliminary results have indicated that season influences red-legged frog movement distance. Bullfrog and rainfall impacts are still undergoing analysis. The results of this project can potentially be used to determine the pathway size buffers necessary to protect and manage red-legged frog movement.

Project Results

Title	Format	Download	Students
"Ecosystem Dynamics of California Red-Legged Frog Habitat (Rana draytonii) Throughout a Breeding Season"	poster	Defrancesca et al 2016 Defrancesca et al 2016	Lizzie A. DeFrancesca, Syd J. Godfrey, Keith D. Wellstone
"Assessment of suitability of the ponds at Fairfield Osborn Preserve for the Red-Legged Frog"	poster	Pinto et al 2017 Pinto et al 2017	Bryant Pinto, Brian Phillips, Joseph Dutra, Ashley Carpenter
"Radio-telemetry and basking behavior in red-legged frogs (Rana draytoni)"	poster	Jain et al 2018 Jain et al 2018	Heeral Jain, Janet Delgado, Lisa Surber, Samantha Steen
"Habitat Use and Movement of the Threatened California Red-Legged Frog (Rana draytonii)"	poster	Surber et al 2019 Surber et al 2019	Lisa Surber, Samantha Steen, Heeral Jain, Janet Delgado
Red-legged frog locations and movement rates 2017-18	data	Girman Crif Raw Data 190416 Girman Crif Raw Data 190416	Lisa Surber