Major
Environmental Science
Anticipated Graduation Year
May 2022
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Anuran (frog and toad) populations are in decline worldwide, including around the Great Lakes. Simultaneously, the abundance of the hybrid cattail, Typha x glauca, has expanded in Great Lakes coastal wetlands. This invasive plant alters wetlands by forming dense stands, negatively impacting anuran species by fragmenting their suitable habitat. To quantify the effects of Typha on different anuran species, sound recorders were placed in paired invaded and uninvaded wetland sites in the spring of 2021 in northern Michigan. Vegetation surveys were conducted around the sound recorders and I listened to the audio data to determine the presence of anuran species.
Community Partners
Sault Tribe Natural Resources Department
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Drew Monks, School of Environmental Sustainability; Shane Lishawa, School of Environmental Sustainability; Dr. Brian Ohsowski, School of Environmental Sustainability
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Impacts of Great Lakes Typha Invasion on Anuran Species
Anuran (frog and toad) populations are in decline worldwide, including around the Great Lakes. Simultaneously, the abundance of the hybrid cattail, Typha x glauca, has expanded in Great Lakes coastal wetlands. This invasive plant alters wetlands by forming dense stands, negatively impacting anuran species by fragmenting their suitable habitat. To quantify the effects of Typha on different anuran species, sound recorders were placed in paired invaded and uninvaded wetland sites in the spring of 2021 in northern Michigan. Vegetation surveys were conducted around the sound recorders and I listened to the audio data to determine the presence of anuran species.