Vernal Pool Monitoring
I coordinate an effort to survey vernal-pool breeding amphibians in Centre County, PA. We conduct visual encounter surveys of egg masses following spring breeding, and conduct dip-net surveys of larval amphibians throughout the summer. We have been monitoring this network of 48 wetlands since 2014 and hope to track changes in population size and occupancy through time. The three species we currently focus on include the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), Jefferson salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum), and wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus). |
I am currently working with an undergraduate student to:
I hope to work with another undergraduate student in spring 2020 to determine the factors that influence oviposition site selection within wetlands (e.g., are eggs laid in warmer parts of a given wetland, in the deeper parts of the wetland, etc.). We will be conducting this field work during the 2020 spring breeding season, so stay tuned for more information!
- Estimate true egg mass abundance of these three pond-breeding species, while accounting for imperfect detection; and
- Determine the biotic and abiotic features that influence the temporal and spatial variation in species-specific oviposition site selection within this monitored wetland network.
I hope to work with another undergraduate student in spring 2020 to determine the factors that influence oviposition site selection within wetlands (e.g., are eggs laid in warmer parts of a given wetland, in the deeper parts of the wetland, etc.). We will be conducting this field work during the 2020 spring breeding season, so stay tuned for more information!
These projects are still in progress - check back soon for more updates!