Road Proximity Increases Risk of Skeletal Abnormalities in Wood Frogs from National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska
Author Information
Author(s): Reeves Mari K., Dolph Christine L., Zimmer Heidi, Tjeerdema Ronald S., Trust Kimberly A.
Primary Institution: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between anthropogenic influences and the probability of skeletal and eye abnormalities in Alaskan wood frogs?
Conclusion
Proximity to roads is positively correlated with the risk of skeletal abnormalities in Alaskan wood frogs.
Supporting Evidence
- Abnormality prevalence at road-accessible sites in the Kenai and Tetlin refuges is among the highest reported.
- Prevalence of skeletal abnormalities increased with site proximity to the nearest road.
- None of the frogs examined were infected with the trematode parasite Ribeiroia ondatrae.
Takeaway
The closer wood frogs are to roads, the more likely they are to have bone problems.
Methodology
Examined 9,269 wood frogs from 86 breeding sites on five National Wildlife Refuges, testing for skeletal and eye abnormalities in relation to road proximity.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in sampling methods may affect the representation of abnormal frogs.
Limitations
Road proximity may not represent the only source of human disturbance, and not all roads are equal in their impact.
Participant Demographics
Wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) from five National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.004
Statistical Significance
p = 0.004
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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