Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)


Once a familiar species across the prairies, the Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) has been designated as threatened in Alberta since 1996. The cause(s) of decline remain unknown but proposed reasons have included drought, game fish introduction, pesticide use, habitat modification, increased UV radiation and disease.

In 1999, the Alberta Conservation Association and Alberta Fish and Wildlife initiated a reintroduction program of this species with the target of repopulating Northern leopard frogs into formerly occupied habitats. During the following 5 years of this program, over 13,000 juvenile frogs were released at three sites in central Alberta. Though much was learned through this effort, it failed to establish sustainable northern leopard frog populations. Reintroductions will undoubtedly play a key role in future recovery strategies for Alberta's northern leopard frogs, yet we know very little about the behaviour of the juvenile life stages.

In order to maximize survival of reintroduced frogs, it is crucial that we understand orientation and movement patterns of juveniles in natural populations because it is uncertain if reintroduced animals will behave exactly as those reared in natural habitats. The first step in understanding juvenile movement behaviour is to examine the initial dispersal and orientation patterns from breeding sites.



Click here to read an Alberta Wilderness Association article on conserving Alberta's amphibians.

To accomplish this, field researchers from the Centre for Conservation Research are using drift fences and pitfall traps to examine the first terrestrial movements of juvenile frogs in naturally occurring breeding ponds in southern Alberta. We are also using this opportunity to test how persistent their movement patterns are and if these are affected by human handling.

The management implications of this work will identify how much human involvement may be required with future reintroductions, and whether captive breeding or installing movement corridors are necessary or suitable for the future conservation of this species.

 

Immediate help is needed in facing the amphibian extinction crisis around the world. Click here to learn more about the Calgary Zoo's efforts to address amphibian extinction and Year of the Frog activities.