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Note: Session titles beginning with an asterisk (*) have student presenters.
AUTHORS: Andrea K. Darracq, Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University; Lora L. Smith, Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center; L. Mike Conner, Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center; Robert A. McCleery, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida
ABSTRACT: Red-imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta; hereafter fire ants) are an invasive predator found across the southeastern United States. Few studies have assessed the effects of fire ants on amphibian populations although they exhibit life history traits that may increase vulnerability to fire ant predation. We used southern toads (Anaxyrus terrestris) as model species to determine the influence of fire ants on amphibians. Our specific objectives were to quantify the effect of fire ants on the survival of southern toad metamorphs. We completed the study on Ichauway, the research site of the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center in Newton, GA. We stocked populations of southern toad metamorphs into eight enclosures with either ambient or reduced fire ant numbers in 2013 and 2014. We completed three and two mark-recapture sessions for the toads stocked in 2013 and 2014, respectively. We assessed fire ant and predator effects on southern toad survival using a generalized linear mixed model. The number of toad metamorphs recaptured was nearly 11.5 times greater in enclosures with reduced fire ant numbers ((x ) ̅ = 10) compared to those with ambient fire ants ((x ) ̅= 0.88; b = 2.43 +/- 0.48, t6 = 5.07, P = 0.0023). While the mechanism is unknown, our results indicate that fire ants decrease survival of southern toad metamorphs. Although southern toads are not a conservation concern, it is important to note fire ants likely have impacts on populations of rare amphibians with similar life history strategies in the southeastern United States.
Tuesday October 31, 2017 1:20pm - 1:40pm EDT
Carroll Ford