Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar Theses, Dissertations and Capstones 1-1-2003 Abiotic Factors Influencing the Breeding, Movement, and Foraging of the Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) in West Virginia Keith A. Johnson Follow this and additional works at: http://mds.marshall.edu/etd Part of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, and the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons Recommended Citation Johnson, Keith A., "Abiotic Factors Influencing the Breeding, Movement, and Foraging of the Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) in West Virginia" (2003). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. Paper 675. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses, Dissertations and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abiotic Factors Influencing the Breeding, Movement, and Foraging of the Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) in West Virginia Thesis submitted to The Graduate College of Marshall University In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Science Biology by Keith A. Johnson Dr. Thomas K. Pauley, Committee Chairperson Dr. Dan Evans Dr. Donald Tarter Marshall University May 2003 This thesis was accepted on_______________________________ Month Day Year as meeting the research requirements for the master’s degree. Advisor_____________________________________ Department of _______________________________ ____________________________________________ Dean of the Graduate College ii ABSTRACT Abiotic Factors Influencing the Breeding, Movement and Foraging of the Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) in West Virginia By Keith A. Johnson Haphazard searches and telemetry methods were used to track movements and habitat use of two recently discovered and only known populations of Scaphiopus holbrookii in West Virginia. It was the purpose of this study to determine the home range and habitat use of S. holbrookii. Toads were found to forage a mean distance of 13.5 in. (34.5 cm) from their burrows. Habitat consisted of open areas with soil textures of sandy loam, loamy sand, or sand. Radio- transmitters were surgically implanted in two specimens from one breeding site to provide data about habitat use and emergence. Data loggers were installed at each of the two sites. Abiotic factors were recorded to help determine conditions required for breeding and foraging of S. holbrookii. Toads emerged at a minimum relative humidity of 73%, and a mean air temperature of 63.9 °F (17.7 °C). Toads were found at a minimum soil temperature of 59 °F (15 °C). Rain was not a factor in toad emergence. Toads did not breed at either site in 2002. iii Acknowledgements I would first like to thank the West Virginia Non-game Heritage Program, Marshall University Summer Research Grant Program, and the NASA Student Scholarship Program for funding this project. Additional thanks go out to Mayor Morrone and the Virginia Point Park Board for allowing the study at Virginia Point, Jeff Smith of Allied Warehousing for allowing the study at that site, Jack Wallace of the WVDNR for equipment use, Drs. Thompson and Linner at the Audubon Animal Clinic for surgical implantation of transmitters, Jeff Davis for a tour of the Spadefoot sites in Ohio, Patricia Morrison for information about the Belleville site, Nanci Bross-Fregonara for help with publications in Wildlife Diversity News and West Virginia Wildlife, and all the herpers in 310 who gave assistance and/or advice during the study. Thanks to Drs. Evans and Tarter for being on my committee. Thanks to my wife Nancy who helped, and put up with, long nights of “toading”. Thanks to Dr. Pauley for putting up with me for 2 years and providing little assistance in the study. Making me struggle was the best thing he could have done. iv Dedication I would like to dedicate this to all field biologists. May we stand the test of the molecular age. v Table of Contents ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements.............................................................................................. iv Dedication.............................................................................................................v Table of Contents................................................................................................. vi List of Figures ..................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ....................................................................................................... ix Chapter I ...............................................................................................................1 Introduction .......................................................................................................1 Objectives......................................................................................................1 Background....................................................................................................1 Description.....................................................................................................6 Habits and Habitats .......................................................................................9 Breeding ......................................................................................................12 CHAPTER II........................................................................................................16 Materials and Methods ....................................................................................16 Study sites ...................................................................................................16 Allied Warehousing......................................................................................16 Virginia Point Park .......................................................................................19 Haphazard searches....................................................................................22 Data logging equipment...............................................................................25 Soil collection and analysis..........................................................................26 Transmitter implant procedure.....................................................................28 Telemetry.....................................................................................................32 Chapter III ...........................................................................................................33 Results ............................................................................................................33 Overview......................................................................................................33 Monthly Data................................................................................................33 Telemetry.....................................................................................................40 Movement, Foraging, and Breeding.............................................................42 Historical Site Searches and New Records .................................................44 Soil...............................................................................................................51 Chapter IV...........................................................................................................52 Discussion.......................................................................................................52 Environmental Factors and Breeding...........................................................52 Telemetry and Movement ............................................................................53 Emergence ..................................................................................................54 Soil...............................................................................................................55 Summary ............................................................................................................58 Literature Cited ...................................................................................................59 Supplementary Data ...........................................................................................62 Curriculum Vitae .................................................................................................63 vi List of Figures Figure 1.1. Range of Eastern Spadefoot in United States................4 Figure 1.2. Map showing Eastern Spadefoot distribution in WV. Yellow indicates counties with historic records...................................5 Figure 1.3. Eastern Spadefoot found at Virginia Point Park. Notice olive-brown coloration and lyre or hourglass pattern on dorsum........7 Figure 1.4. Spadefoot at Allied Warehousing. Notice that toad is mostly black. Dark area behind toad is burrow. In front of toad is railroad track. .....................................................................................8 Figure 1.5. Spadefoot burrow at Virginia Point Park. Notice the turnip shape of the opening..............................................................11 Figure 2.1. Topographic map detailing locations of study sites. Flags represent approximate locations. ...........................................17 Figure 2.2. Breeding