The role of terrrestrial habitat in the population dynamics and conservation of pond-breeding amphibians

Habitat loss and degradation are implicated in the majority of amphibian population declines in the United States and throughout the world. With a complex life cycle requiring both aquatic and terrestrial habitat, pond-breeding amphibians are especially vulnerable to changes in habitat quantity and quality. Conservation of aquatic breeding habitat is clearly essential for these populations, however, changes in terrestrial habitat quality that affect juvenile or adult survival can result in declines and increased extinction rates even when aquatic breeding habitat is protected. Because amphibian research has historically focused on the aquatic larval stage, less is known about terrestrial life history stages and their role in amphibian population dynamics. Recent demographic models have suggested that amphibian population trends are most sensitive to changes in terrestrial stage vital rates, emphasizing the need to better understand factors affecting the terrestrial life history stages of pond-breeding amphibians. In my dissertation research, I used both demographic modeling and experimental field research to evaluate the role of terrestrial habitat in the population dynamics and conservation of pond-breeding amphibians. I have focused on questions that ask how the