Mississippi Project
Geographic distribution, population dynamics, and habitat use of Eleutherodactylus frogs in Cordillera forests of Puerto Rico
October 1996 - December 1999
Personnel
Participating Agencies
- USFWS Region 3
Recent investigations have indicated amphibian species are declining worldwide. Information about ecology of amphibian species is needed to understand this phenomenon. We studied amphibian communities in Puerto Rico during wet (July-December 1997) and dry (February-June 1998) seasons in native and eucalyptus forests of Maricao and Guilarte commonwealth reserves. Distribution and relative abundance of frog species was determined for both reserves. Population structure and dynamics, habitat use, and habitat variables influencing population density was determined for a common frog species, Eleutherodactylus coqui. Eucalyptus plantations negatively affected population density of this species. A regression model predicting adult E. coqui density from 2-minute call counts was developed. Survey methods (mark-recapture, line transect, and point count) were compared and evaluated with respect to information obtained, time requirement, and species detectability rate.
| Research Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Fogarty, J. H., and F. J. Vilella. 2003. Use of eucalyptus plantations and native forest by Eleutherodactylus frogs. Journal of Wildlife Management 67(1):187-196. | January 2003 |
| Fogarty, J. H., and F. J. Vilella. 2002. Population dynamics of Eleutherodactylus coqui in cordillera forest reserves of Puerto Rico. Journal of Herpetology 36(2):193-201. | June 2002 |
| Fogarty, J. H., and F. J. Vilella. 2001. Evaluating methodologies to survey Eleutherodactylus frogs in montane forests of Puerto Rico. Wildlife Society Bulletin 29(3):948-955. | October 2001 |
| Technical Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Fogarty, J. H. and F. J. Vilella. 1999. Geographic distribution, community ecology, and habitat use of Eleutherodactylus frogs in Cordillera Forests of Puerto Rico. Final Report, Unit Cooperative Agreement No. 14-45-009-1543-39. U. S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Mississippi State, MS. 150 pp. (Keywords: amphibian conservation, biodiversity, Caribbean, Eleutherodactylus, Puerto Rico) (FY2000) | January 2000 |
| Theses and Dissertations | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Fogarty, J. H. 1999. Geographic distribution, community ecology, and habitat use of Eleutherodactylus frogs in Cordillera Forests of Puerto Rico. M.S. Thesis, Mississippi State University. 150 pp. | December 1999 |